Panorama Trail

{{Short description|Hiking trail in Yosemite National Park, California, US}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox hiking trail

|name = Panorama Trail

|photo = File:Nevada Falls with Liberty Cap and the back of Half Dome (with Mt Broderick below). View north from Panorama Cliff trail. Little Yosemite Valley is above Nevada Falls on the right. - panoramio.jpg

|caption = Nevada Falls with Liberty Cap and the back of Half Dome from Panorama Trail

|location = California, United States

|length = {{convert|8.5|mi|km}} one-way

|trailheads = Happy Isles trailhead, Yosemite Valley
Glacier Point

|use = backpacking, hiking, trail running, trail riding

|elev_change = {{convert|3200|ft|m}}

|highest_name = Glacier Point trailhead

|highest = {{convert|7200|ft|m}}

|lowest_name = Happy Isles trailhead

|lowest = {{convert|4000|ft|m}}

|difficulty = Moderate to strenuous

|months = Year-round

|sights = Glacier Point, Panorama Point, Illilouette Falls, Nevada Fall, Emerald Pool, Vernal Fall

|hazards = Snowmelt, icy slopes early season, altitude

}}

The Panorama Trail is a marked hiking trail in Yosemite National Park that descends along the south wall of Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point, past several major waterfalls, to Happy Isles. The trail derives its name from the panoramic vistas visible along the route, most notably Panorama Point.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/glacierhikes.htm|title=Day Hikes along the Glacier Point Road - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)|website=nps.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-01-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.yosemite.com/what-to-do/panorama-trail/|title=Panorama Trail Yosemite|website=Discover Yosemite National Park|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-07}}

Description

=Route=

The Panorama Trail trailhead at Glacier Point is located near the Glacier Point Amphitheater at a clearly-marked junction. The trail follows the south wall of Yosemite Valley east to Illilouette Falls. The trail then crosses Illilouette Creek and ascends briefly before continuing down toward Nevada Fall. From Nevada Fall, the trail is concurrent with the Mist Trail as it continues west along the Merced River, past Vernal Fall, to its northern trailhead at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yosemitehikes.com/glacier-point-road/panorama-trail/panorama-trail.htm|title=The Panorama Trail|website=Yosemite Hikes|access-date=2020-01-07}}

=Restrooms=

Restrooms are available at the Glacier Point trailhead, along the trail above Nevada Fall and Vernal Fall, and at the Vernal Fall footbridge just east of Emerald Pool.

=Shuttle bus=

A shuttle bus from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point is available for a fee from June to October, when Glacier Point Road is open. The bus leaves the Yosemite Lodge at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and takes a little over an hour to get to Glacier Point. There is no regular shuttle bus service from Glacier Point down to Yosemite Valley.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/guided-bus-tours/|title=Guided Bus & Tram Tours {{!}} Yosemite National Park CA {{!}} TravelYosemite.com|website=Yosemite|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-04}}

Related hikes

References

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