Taft Point Trail
A forest and meadow walk to dramatic fissures and an exposed cliff-edge view over Yosemite Valley.
Route overview
Taft Point Trail in Sierra Nevada.
Taft Point crosses forest and meadow before reaching the south rim of Yosemite Valley. Near the viewpoint, deep granite fissures open beside the path and the cliff drops roughly 600 m in places. Some railings are present, but substantial sections remain unguarded and demand strict edge discipline.
Trail facts
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Sierra Nevada
- Distance
- 3.5 km return
- Typical duration
- 1–2 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation gain
- Not published by official source
- Best season
- When Glacier Point Road is open and the trail is free of significant snow or ice
- Trail type
- Out and back
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- Park entrance pass; no hiking permit
Safety context
Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
Fatal cliff exposure, granite fissures, thunderstorms, wind, limited shade and darkness after sunset
Highlights
Yosemite National Park, Taft Point, Yosemite fissures, cliff hike, Glacier Point Road
Why find a buddy
A buddy provides critical edge awareness, weather checks and safe spacing near the fissures.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.