Pacific Crest Trail

Overview

This is Yosemite’s slice of the 2,650-mile Mexico-to-Canada Pacific Crest Trail—a committing, high-country traverse that strings together meadows, lakes, and polished granite from Donohue Pass at the park’s south boundary to the northern boundary near Dorothy Lake Pass. The Yosemite segment is approximately 70 miles one way, not an out-and-back. Expect sustained time above treeline, big views, and a steady rhythm of passes, valleys, and classic Sierra water features.

Highlights you’ll actually notice

Southbound or northbound, you’ll glide through Lyell Canyon’s long meadow corridor, crest the 11,056-foot Donohue Pass (Yosemite’s high point on the PCT), and cruise the Tuolumne Meadows area before working into canyon-and-lake country north toward the low point near Benson Lake (7,560 feet). Reaching Tuolumne Meadows is a fun milestone—you’re roughly 942 miles from Mexico and 1,714 from Canada. If you’re continuing beyond the park, the northbound run toward Sonora Pass is famed for sweeping, high-alpine scenery.

Best time to hike

Late July through August is the sweet spot for generally snow-free travel in Yosemite’s high country and for reliable access to services. Shoulder seasons can still hold snow and complicate creek crossings and navigation. Start early for cooler miles and calmer afternoon winds on passes.

Permits and regulations (read this twice)

• Long-distance hikers with a valid interagency PCT Long-distance Permit may camp along the PCT corridor in Yosemite. If you leave the PCT to camp elsewhere in the park, you’ll need a Yosemite wilderness permit for that itinerary.
• Half Dome is not covered by a PCT permit; a separate Half Dome permit is always required if you plan to climb the cables.
• For Yosemite-issued JMT itineraries, an exit quota of 45 hikers per day over Donohue Pass is enforced—plan early or adjust your route/dates.
• Bear canisters are mandatory park-wide; hanging food is not permitted. You can rent canisters at wilderness permit stations.

Logistics that make this smoother

• Long-term parking is available in Tuolumne Meadows (including the Lembert Dome area off Tioga Road) and in Yosemite Valley for wilderness trips. Public transportation is recommended when feasible; note there’s no public transit connecting Whitney Portal and Yosemite, though bus services link nearby towns for creative shuttles.
• Resupply: Ranger stations won’t accept packages. Use General Delivery at Yosemite Valley (year-round) or the seasonal Tuolumne Meadows Post Office.
• Maps: Carry paper maps. The PCT Association offers overview maps and planning data that pair well with on-trail navigation.

What you’re walking on (and why it looks this way)

Yosemite’s sculpted look is the Sierra Nevada Batholith on grand display—hard, durable granite formed from ancient magma bodies later uplifted and exposed. Repeated glaciations carved U-shaped valleys, domes, jagged ridgelines, lakes, and moraines, leaving the glacially polished slabs you’ll cross throughout the route. It’s a living, rising fault-block range, which is why the topography feels so bold and uncompromising.

Is it worth it?

If you’re after sustained High Sierra travel with classic Yosemite granite and true backcountry vibes, yes—this is the goods. It’s a commitment, though: real mileage, elevation, and logistics. First-timers who want a taste without going all-in might sample a shorter PCT/JMT overlap from Tuolumne Meadows into Lyell Canyon and back before tackling the full traverse.