Billy DeKom

blog

Day Hiking Taft Point and the Fissures - Yosemite National Park

billydekom_taft-point-1.jpg

Today I’m sharing this short but awesome day hike to Taft Point and the Fissures. It’s 2.2 miles round trip, and holds one of the biggest wow factors in the park. No doubt a tall order in a park known for so many incredible views, but this popular trail lives up to the hype. 

For anyone new to Yosemite, this is one of the first hikes I recommend. This vantage point showcases the immense beauty of the massive walls of granite that make this park so unique. Nearly guaranteed to blow you away. You can count on some truly breathtaking views of Yosemite’s most iconic features - including El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Sentinel Rock, and the Valley below. 

If you haven’t figured out whether or not you’re afraid of heights - you’re likely to find out once you get near the cliff’s edge. Definitely a place to keep kids close and watch your step near the Fissures, but would say it’s a trail friendly for hikers of all levels.

Starting elevation is at 7700’ and drops to 7500’ with a total elevation change of 200 ft. Expect an easy stroll through the woods until you get closer to Taft Point (this is where you will lose most of the elevation). This is a highly trafficked trail and you will likely not have the place to yourself. But it’s absolutely worth sharing. 

If you’re looking for a more extended time out on the trail, you can attach this hike to Sentinel Dome. You won’t be disappointed with the views waiting for you over there either. But on it’s own it makes for a super satisfying day hike. If you can catch it at sunrise or sunset? Even better.

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

 
billydekom_taft-point-18.jpg
 

QUICK FACTS

  • WHERE TO PARK: There is a parking lot with limited space at the trailhead for Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. There’s also some parking along both sides of Glacier Point Road.

  • WHERE’S THE TRAILHEAD: Right off Glacier Point Road. Head up there and you can’t miss it.

  • TRAIL DIFFICULTY: Easy, short hike. You’ll have some elevation gain when you leave Taft Point to head back to your vehicle but overall it’s a breeze.

  • WHAT TO BRING: A camera! You won’t want to miss capturing all this beauty. The rest is really up to you and how long you plan on staying out there. Snacks, lunch, water, sunscreen if you’ll be out midday.

  • BUGS & WILDLIFE: As with any of the areas near water in Yosemite, if you’re there while the weather is warm bring bug spray or spray yourself down before you hit the trail. Be mindful of best practices about being in bear country, ask a ranger if you’ve never been to Yosemite before. And do not leave food in your car, visible or not.

  • TIME OF DAY: Anytime is great, but sunset is my favorite out there for gorgeous colors and striking shadows.

  • SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURES: Glacier Point Road (along with Tioga Rd) both close seasonally depending on snowfall. They’re at higher elevations than the Valley so while you can experience plenty of Yosemite in the winter, not all of it will be accessible by car during the snowiest part of the season. 

billydekom_taft-point-3.jpg

MORE VIEWS FROM TAFT POINT AND THE FISSURES

Here’s some more shots from the hike to help you decide if you wanna add it to your list when you’re visiting Yosemite National Park. Be sure to pin and save this post to your travel board as a resource for later.

Btw, if you’ve got any questions about this trip, the park, or trail specifics - leave them in the comments below & I’ll get back to you. I’m an open book when it comes to sharing info with fellow hikers, backpackers, and photographers.

PIN + SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER

Billy DeKom