Is the Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley permit a good first Yosemite backpacking trip?
Little Yosemite Valley is the classic first overnight out of Yosemite Valley. A fair question is whether the short mileage makes it beginner friendly or whether the climb says otherwise.
1 Answer✓ Answered
It is a strong first trip, with one honest caveat: the mileage is short but the climb is not. Little Yosemite Valley sits about 4.7 miles from Happy Isles at 6,150 feet, and you start from the Valley floor at 4,035 feet, so you gain over 2,000 feet with a full pack, most of it on granite steps.
You get a choice of routes that rejoin above Nevada Fall. The Mist Trail is shorter and climbs about 600 granite stairs through the spray of Vernal Fall, which is spectacular and soaking in early season. The John Muir Trail switchbacks more gently and adds distance. Many parties take the Mist Trail up and the JMT down.
The camp itself is a flat, sandy area along the Merced River, one of the most popular backpacker camps in the park, which means neighbors but also an established, easy-to-manage first night. Water from the Merced is close, and the approach passes the last flush toilets at the Vernal Fall footbridge around mile 1.
The hard part is the permit. This trailhead carries some of the highest demand in Yosemite, so reserve the moment your dates are available, keep weekday flexibility, and treat cancellation openings as a legitimate backup plan.
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