10 Crowded Yosemite Trails That Frustrate Hikers

Yosemite National Park boasts some of America’s most breathtaking landscapes, drawing millions of visitors each year to its granite cliffs and towering waterfalls. While the park spans nearly 750,000 acres, most hikers flock to the same popular trails, creating human traffic jams that can turn a peaceful nature experience into a theme park-like ordeal. I’ve battled these crowds myself and compiled this list of the most frustratingly packed trails to help you plan a less stressful Yosemite adventure.

1. The Mist Trail Madness

Standing at the trailhead of the Mist Trail feels more like waiting in line at a popular amusement park than starting a wilderness hike. During summer weekends, this 3-mile round trip to Vernal Fall transforms into a slow-moving conga line of sweaty tourists in flip-flops, selfie sticks extended like antennae.

Though the waterfall views are genuinely spectacular, you’ll share them with hundreds of others jostling for the same photo spot. The stone steps near the falls become particularly hazardous when wet, not from the mist alone but from the constant traffic of unprepared hikers.

If you absolutely must experience this trail, arrive before 7 AM or visit during weekdays in May or September when the crowds thin slightly but the falls still flow impressively.

2. Lower Yosemite Falls Logjam

What appears on the map as a simple 1-mile loop to Lower Yosemite Falls morphs into a chaotic shuffle during peak season. Strollers, tour groups, and visitors of all mobility levels converge on this paved pathway, creating human gridlock that defies the natural setting.

Ironically, during summer when crowds reach their peak, the falls are often reduced to a disappointing trickle. You’ll find yourself wondering why everyone’s fighting for viewing space of what amounts to little more than a damp rock face in August.

However, this accessible trail becomes magical in spring when the waterfall roars at full volume and during winter when icy formations create spectacular displays. Visit at sunrise (before 7:30 AM) or after 6 PM to experience this iconic spot without feeling like you’re navigating through a shopping mall on Black Friday.

3. Glacier Point Gridlock

While not technically a hiking trail, the short paved path from the Glacier Point parking lot to the actual viewpoint might as well be an extension of Disney’s Main Street. Tour buses disgorge hundreds of visitors hourly, creating a sea of bobbing heads that transforms one of America’s most spectacular vistas into an exercise in crowd management.

Finding parking becomes a competitive sport, with vehicles circling like vultures and tempers flaring in the summer heat. Once you finally reach the viewpoint, prepare for an elbow-to-elbow experience as everyone angles for the perfect Instagram shot of Half Dome.

Nevertheless, the panoramic view remains breathtaking if you can mentally filter out the crowd. For a more peaceful experience, arrive for sunrise or hike up via the Four Mile Trail – the uphill challenge deters most tourists and rewards you with the same view but a fraction of the company.

4. Half Dome Highway

Securing a permit for Half Dome should feel like winning the lottery, but instead, it’s more like getting tickets to a sold-out concert where everyone shows up at once. Despite the permit system limiting daily climbers to 300, the narrow cable section creates a nerve-wracking bottleneck where you’ll wait 30+ minutes while dangling precariously on the granite face.

Many hikers underestimate this 14-16 mile journey, arriving at the cables exhausted only to face this final frustrating obstacle. The trail itself becomes a social highway where solitude is impossible and conversations from other hikers echo across the valley.

If Half Dome remains on your bucket list, aim for a Tuesday or Wednesday permit in late September when school’s back in session and the summer crowds have dispersed.

5. Mirror Lake Mayhem

If tranquil reflection is what you seek, Mirror Lake’s name becomes cruelly ironic during summer months. This relatively flat 2-mile trail attracts families and casual visitors by the hundreds, transforming what should be a peaceful pond experience into something resembling a busy public pool without lifeguards.

Though I’ve always found the “lake” itself underwhelming (it’s really more of a seasonal pond that often dries up by late summer), crowds still flock here for the classic Half Dome reflection photo. Kids splash in the shallows while hikers circle the shoreline in both directions, creating constant human traffic that scares away any wildlife that might otherwise visit.

For a more authentic experience, visit during early spring when snowmelt fills the lake to its prime reflective state, or try an evening visit when day-trippers have returned to their accommodations and the alpenglow on Half Dome creates magical photo opportunities.

6. Bridalveil Backup

First-time visitors to Yosemite inevitably stop at Bridalveil Fall, creating a perpetual traffic jam both on the road and the short 0.5-mile trail. Though the walk takes merely minutes in normal conditions, during peak hours you’ll spend more time shuffling behind slow-moving groups than actually hiking.

The small viewing area becomes impossibly congested, with everyone competing for the same vantage point. Meanwhile, the parking lot transforms into a battleground where drivers circle endlessly, pouncing on spaces with predatory intensity that seems wildly out of place in a national park.

Despite these frustrations, Bridalveil remains worth visiting for its ethereal beauty, particularly when afternoon breezes blow the mist sideways (hence its name). My secret? Visit during a light rain when most tourists retreat to their cars, and you’ll likely have this magnificent waterfall almost entirely to yourself.

7. Yosemite Valley Loop Traffic

The Valley Loop Trail should be a pleasant escape from Yosemite’s more famous attractions. Instead, sections of this 11.5-mile trail frequently intersect with roads and popular sites, creating bizarre situations where you’re simultaneously “wilderness hiking” and dodging tourists photographing the visitor center.

What particularly grinds my gears is how the trail’s proximity to parking areas means you’ll encounter plenty of unprepared visitors in flip-flops and jeans who wander onto the path for short stretches. These casual walkers often block the trail while taking photos or move in unpredictable patterns that make passing difficult.

Nevertheless, the western portions of the loop offer surprising moments of solitude if you push past the first mile or two. For maximum enjoyment, hike clockwise from Lower Yosemite Fall and continue past El Capitan, where the crowds thin considerably and you can finally experience the valley’s magic without a constant stream of strangers.

8. Vernal Fall Bridge Bottleneck

Just one mile up the Mist Trail sits the Vernal Fall Footbridge, a scenic spot that offers the first clear view of the waterfall. Unfortunately, this bridge creates a natural bottleneck where hundreds of hikers converge, transforming a simple crossing into a test of patience.

Many day-trippers make this bridge their final destination, turning around after snapping photos. The result? A constant two-way traffic jam where serious hikers attempting to continue upward must navigate through clusters of people posing for photos or resting on the limited sitting areas.

While the views are undeniably spectacular, the experience feels more like navigating a subway station at rush hour than communing with nature. My recommendation is to cross quickly without stopping, continue at least a quarter-mile up the Mist Trail where crowds thin slightly, then enjoy the same waterfall view with significantly more breathing room and far fewer selfie sticks invading your personal space.

9. Tunnel View Turmoil

Though technically not a trail, Tunnel View deserves mention as perhaps the most frustratingly crowded photo spot in Yosemite. The small parking area fills by mid-morning, forcing visitors to either circle repeatedly or park illegally along the narrow road shoulder.

Once you’ve secured a spot, prepare to join the photography mosh pit. Dozens of tripods compete for prime positions while tour groups block significant portions of the viewing area. Amateur photographers with selfie sticks extend their reach in all directions, creating an obstacle course of potential eye injuries.

Yet despite the chaos, I still find myself returning to this iconic vista that frames El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall in one magnificent panorama. The hack? Visit during stormy weather when clouds dramatically swirl around the valley walls and most tourists retreat to gift shops, or arrive 30 minutes before sunset when day-trippers have largely departed and the valley glows with magical golden light.

10. Taft Point Tourist Trap

Since exploding on social media as a popular proposal and wedding photo location, Taft Point has transformed from a relatively peaceful hike into an influencer runway. The 2.2-mile trail now regularly hosts impromptu photoshoots with couples in formal wear who’ve hiked in carrying garment bags, complete with changing tents set up near the viewpoint.

What makes this particularly frustrating is how these staged photoshoots monopolize the most dramatic spots near the cliff edge for extended periods. Regular hikers often find themselves waiting to experience the vertigo-inducing views while models change outfits or photographers adjust lighting equipment.

Though challenging, finding solitude at Taft Point remains possible during weekday mornings, particularly in late fall when temperatures drop. The stunning views of Yosemite Valley from this precipitous perch are worth the effort, especially when you can enjoy them without witnessing someone’s TikTok dance routine on a cliff edge that drops 3,500 feet.