East to west, these views include Taft Point, Dewey Point, Crocker Point, and Stanford Point. Starr King > back towards Clark Point > JMT > Happy Isles > TH Parking lot > pizza and beer at Curry. Wilderness permits are required year-round for backcountry camping in the Yosemite Wilderness. Trekking Poles are a must, especially in rocky areas of the trail, especially in the mile between Inspiration Point and Tunnel View.The path here is rigid and uneven. I think the Pohono Trail is too close to the "front country" (day hikers) to offer me a great backcountry experience, but some folks have found some solitude. When hiking in Yosemite in the summer, temperatures are high and hat and sunscreen are a must. Hiking the Pohono Trail in Yosemite requires a few pieces of essential gear. There is an excellent route description and tips on All Trails.. Starting at 11am the day before your hike, you can get a first-come, first-served backpacking permit from one of the Wilderness Permit Stations in the park. Why you should go: Nab exquisite views of Yosemite Valley and escape the crowds on this overnight adventure. Difficulty: Moderate to Hard This route takes you up and into some remarkable alpine country, and takes a few days to complete. Type of trail: Circuit. Permits are required to hike the John Muir Trail. An optional 0.5 mile (0.8 km) side trail gains the summit of Sentinel Dome. Have you ever been asked if you’d rather have the power of flight or the power of invisibility and found it difficult to decide between the two? I had booked the Wilderness Use Permit for our first ever backpacking trip during Labour Day weekend as early as mid-July. With Yosemite’s Pohono Trail, you don’t have to choose – you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the famed Yosemite valley and beyond, along with the kind of solitude […] Length of route: 19.5 miles We had been prepping gear for weeks, even trying out part of it on the Alamere Falls dayhike two weeks ago. They give priority to the closest Wilderness Permit Station in relation to the trailhead, so for the Pohono Trail you would want to go to the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Station. An optional 0.5 mile (0.8 km) side trail gains the summit of Sentinel Dome after approximately 1 mile of hiking from Glacier Point. Or, if you live in California, you can choose to hike the John Muir Trail in Segments, which is what I’ve been doing. Distance: 14 miles; Elevation Gain: 5,622 feet (total) Difficulty: Challenging; Park in the lot to the right of the infamous Tunnel View, lace up your boots, and get ready to climb. The permit system insures that these wilderness areas are not overcrowded and offer opportunities for solitude, as required by the Wilderness Act. The spectacular peaks of the Clark Range are the backdrop to these vistas. Pohono is perfect for those interested in hiking a trail with fewer people AND stunning views. Pohono Trail To Glacier Point Photo by Darold Massaro. Hikers compete for permits every year to spend 2-6 weeks backpacking this 211 mile long hike. You can camp wherever you want, meaning you don't have to be in a specific designated campsite, but there are some reasonable restrictions and one of those is that for first night you must be on the trail your permit … You can read all about how to get them in this >> John Muir Trail Permits guide. > Sentinel/Glacier Points > camped at Illilouette towards Mt. Most commonly hiked one-way (downhill) from Glacier Point, the Pohono Trail rewards hikers with several viewpoints of Yosemite Valley from the south rim. Permits are issued to a limited number of people based on the trailhead that you wish to start your trip. We did a little different route in the Fall of 2015: took the shuttle to the Pohono bridge > hiked up the Old Wawona Road to the Pohono Trail > camped @ Dewey Point (windy and some precip but well worth it.) I think hiking back to Glacier Point would be easier. Parking: Tuolmne Meadows Permits: Wilderness permits for overnight camping.. Trailhead: Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Permit Station.. There are bear boxes and cars parked overnight at the far end of the parking lot. Your permit is for the Pohono -- from Glacier Point to Illilouette is no way to get to the Pohono. Pohono Trail Wilderness Permit Question I'm interested in doing the Pohono Trail starting from Glacier Point but I wanted to start from the valley and hike up 4-mile to Glacier Point and then back down Pohono (as opposed to taking the tour bus or car shuttling). 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