Stargazing at Yosemite National Park — 7 hand-verified trails with the data below, and a guided option if you'd rather not plan it yourself.
The moon rules the Milky Way: aim for the nights around Aug 13, when it's near-new — 99% lit tonight. Times are computed for Yosemite National Park's own timezone, not yours.
| Trail | Length | Gain | Dog | Kids | Shade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Loop (paved sections) | 6.5 mi | 100 ft | Yes | 4+ | 45% |
| Bridalveil Fall | 0.5 mi | 80 ft | No | 3+ | 30% |
| Lower Yosemite Fall | 1.2 mi | 50 ft | No | 3+ | 40% |
| Mirror Lake | 2 mi | 100 ft | No | 5+ | 50% |
| Mariposa Grove (Grizzly Giant Loop) | 2 mi | 300 ft | No | 5+ | 80% |
| Mist Trail to Vernal Fall | 3 mi | 1000 ft | No | 8+ | 40% |
| Half Dome | 16 mi | 4800 ft | No | 14+ | 30% |
This guide is backed by 7 hand-verified trails — length, elevation gain and shade for each are in the data table above.
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