Mono Meadow to Panorama Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fishing · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

A majority of this trail moves through an area with little to no shade, so make sure that you bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and a hat in order to help deal with the sun. The Illilouette Creek provides water at the beginning of the hike, and another small creek shortly into the hike, but otherwise there is no water along the trail.

The Mono Meadow to Panorama Trail starts shortly after the Mono Meadow Trail crosses the Illilouette Creek. Once you climb up the hill just past the creek, you come to a fork in the trail. If you go to the right, this is the Mono Meadow Trail that makes its way out closer to Mount Starr King and the granite domes. By continuing straight, you follow the Mono Meadow to Panorama Trail as it works its way through high country toward the Panorama Cliffs and Trail. The trail is a singletrack sand and dirt trail that meanders through fields, small meadows and small wooded areas.

Surprisingly, there is quite a bit of climbing on this trail. After crossing the sandy bench, the trail drops through a small creek drainage that has been burned and is recovering. After a couple of rocks hops, the trail starts climbing out of the drainage and will continue climbing for over a mile. Mount Starr King and granite domes can be seen on the right side of the trail while glimpses of Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome can be seen on the left side of the trail.

Most of the trail is exposed at this point, but as you start descending after 1.5 miles, there is a little more shade at this point. The trail passes through some pine trees before it starts climbing up the hillside until it meets up with the Mono Meadow Cutoff Trail that comes in from Merced Pass and the Ottoway Lakes. Around 2.5 miles, the trail reaches the top and then starts descending again. Views of the back side of Half Dome start coming into view and stay into view until you reach the Panorama Trail at 2.9 miles.

When you reach the junction of the Panorama Trail, you can turn right and drop down to Nevada Falls or you can turn left and make your way over the Panorama Cliffs and down to Illilouette Creek and Illilouette Falls before following the trail back up to Glacier Point. Combined with some of the other trails in the area, this makes for a good loop for hiking if you are looking for getting away from the Yosemite crowds.

This area has been burned in recent years, so the area is starting to recover. There are wildflowers (lupine, paintbrush, etc) that can be seen along the trail in the spring.

Deer can be seen in the morning or evenings when they are feeding. Black bears can be found throughout the park, so you may encounter one in this area of the park.

Various species of birds can be seen throughout the course of this hike. They can be heard singing as you move through this area away from the crowds that can be found in the popular areas of the park.