Yosemite Wilderness is a vast wilderness area encompassing over 94% of Yosemite National Park, characterized by diverse landscapes from high alpine meadows to towering granite peaks. This region features pristine lakes, creeks, rivers, and waterfalls, providing a setting for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, road cycling, mountain biking, and more. The varied elevation and ecological zones within Yosemite Wilderness contribute to its unique appeal for outdoor pursuits.
Yosemite Wilderness offers a wide range…
142
Routes
4.8
(3731)
Average rating
39772
People visited

5.0
(5)
6,991
riders
20.9km
01:13
110m
110m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(4)
93
riders
11.6km
00:42
60m
60m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

62
riders
55.7km
03:38
800m
800m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
39
riders
10.3km
00:38
80m
80m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.9
(616)
4,862
hikers
13.4km
05:19
680m
680m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.9
(134)
1,060
hikers
8.51km
03:54
590m
590m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.9
(134)
1,060
hikers
8.51km
03:54
590m
590m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.8
(349)
3,419
hikers
10.3km
03:50
460m
460m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.0
(2)
152
riders
20.3km
00:48
100m
100m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

101
riders
80.5km
04:31
1,770m
1,770m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

20
riders
149km
07:45
2,640m
2,640m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

14
riders
111km
05:54
2,160m
2,160m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

14
riders
20.4km
01:04
100m
100m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
9
riders
11.6km
00:38
70m
70m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
4
riders
9.78km
00:47
250m
250m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
149km
09:56
2,610m
2,610m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

5.0
(1)
11
runners
14.7km
02:04
520m
520m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
runners
37.6km
06:34
1,820m
1,820m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

3
runners
17.5km
02:28
480m
480m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

20.0km
02:56
850m
850m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Yosemite Wilderness offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, backpacking, touring cycling, road cycling, mountain biking, jogging, and mountaineering. The area features over 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) of trails for exploration. Komoot lists 175 routes across these sports.
Yes, Yosemite Wilderness provides extensive hiking and backpacking opportunities with over 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) of trails. These range from challenging ascents to multi-day adventures. For more information, refer to the Hiking in Yosemite Wilderness guide.
Yosemite Wilderness offers trails suitable for various skill levels, including easier options. These trails allow visitors to experience the diverse landscapes without extreme difficulty. Consult the Easy hikes in Yosemite Wilderness guide for specific routes.
Yosemite Wilderness features numerous backpacking trails, including sections of the John Muir Trail. Popular multi-day options include the Sunrise Lakes and Clouds Rest Loop or the Ten Lakes Loop. Backpacking trips require a wilderness permit for overnight stays.
While specific wilderness areas have restrictions, cycling is popular in other parts of Yosemite National Park, particularly Yosemite Valley. Komoot offers guides for various cycling disciplines. Explore options in the Cycling in Yosemite Wilderness and Road Cycling Routes in Yosemite Wilderness guides.
Mountain biking within the designated wilderness area is generally restricted to preserve its natural state. However, mountain biking is available in nearby National Forests or at Exchequer Mountain Bike Park. For available routes, see the MTB Trails in Yosemite Wilderness guide.
The Yosemite Wilderness is characterized by diverse landscapes, including high alpine meadows, towering granite peaks, pristine lakes, creeks, rivers, and waterfalls. Iconic features like Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls are part of or visible from within the wilderness. Other notable areas include Cathedral Lakes and Clouds Rest.
Overnight stays in Yosemite Wilderness require a wilderness permit. These permits can be obtained through Recreation.gov. Specific trailheads like Happy Isles and Lyell Canyon serve as entry points for continuous wilderness travel.
Komoot offers several guides for Yosemite Wilderness, including Hiking in Yosemite Wilderness, Waterfall hikes in Yosemite Wilderness, and Cycling in Yosemite Wilderness. Other guides cover easy hikes, road cycling, mountain biking, running, and mountain hikes.
Yosemite Wilderness is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 94,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The routes in the area have an average rating of 4.88 out of 5 stars from over 9,300 ratings. There are 175 routes available across various sports.
For wilderness-specific questions, contact the Yosemite Conservancy Wilderness Hub at 209-372-0740 or Yosemite National Park wilderness rangers at 209-372-0826. These lines are typically available Monday-Friday during business hours.
The primary official resource for information regarding Yosemite Wilderness, including permits and regulations, is the National Park Service website for Yosemite. Wilderness permits are managed through Recreation.gov.

