About
Length (round trip)2.5 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyModerate
Elevation gain600 ft up
Typical time1 hr 30 min
TrailheadHetch Hetchy entrance, Mather
SurfaceFaint trail through brush and burn
Best seasonWaterfalls peak in May and June. Tioga and Glacier Point roads open late May or June and close with the first big snow.
DogsNot allowed
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🌼 Wildflowers

Get a bird's-eye view of the Hetch Hetchy area from one of two day hiking destinations, Lookout Point or Smith Peak. Hetch Hetchy's relatively low elevation provides one of the longest hiking seasons in Yosemite. Lookout Point The Lookout Point trail is a two-mile hike with moderate elevation change. The trail leads to a rocky outcropping overlooking Hetch Hetchy. Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km) round-trip Elevation gain: 680 ft (207 m) Time estimate: 1 hour Smith Peak The Smith Peak (7,751 feet) trail takes you through forest and meadow to the highest point in the area and offers outstanding views of the Hetch Hetchy area. The Smith Peak trails can be used to access the Yosemite high country. Permits are required for all overnight hikes. Visit a wilderness center for more information. Distance: 13.5 miles (21.6 km) round-trip Elevation gain: 3,700 ft (1128 m) Time estimate: 6 to 8 hours Route variation: Smith Peak can also be accessed via a trail at the Hetch Hetchy entrance station. This route is 16 miles round-trip. Tips & Hours Watch for rattlesnakes and poison oak in this area. Unlike other areas of Yosemite, the road to Hetch Hetchy is open from sunrise to sunset only. Hetch Hetchy trailheads are not reachable by vehicle when the road is closed. From November through March, the Hetch Hetchy Road may be subject to closures or chain requirements due to ice and snow. Call 209/372-0200 (press 1, then 1) for current road conditions. Pets are prohibited on all hiking trails. Swimming and boating are prohibited in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in order to maintain a clean source of drinking water.

Tips
The trail is faint in places - watch for the cairns. Superb wildflowers in April. Almost nobody walks it.
Location

Hetch Hetchy entrance, Mather

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
Your Hikes

🔒 Login or create an account to record the trails you've done, rate them, and tie them to a trip.