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Photo: Richard Wood, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Panorama Trail offers panoramic views of the valley and passes by three of Yosemite's most impressive waterfalls, although you'll likely only see two of them; while Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls are easily viewed, there is no viewpoint of tall Illilouette Fall despite the fact that the trail crosses Illilouette Creek only a short distance from the top of the waterfall. Panorama Point is accessible via an easily-missed unmarked side trail that can be found from the Illilouette Creek bridge and is a detour that should not be skipped. From late May/early June through October, a fee-based hikers bus will take you up to Glacier Point, where you can then hike two downhill miles to Illilouette Creek, ascend in elevation over , and eventually descend on either the Mist Trail or the John Muir Trail back down to the valley floor, ending at Happy Isles.
The Panorama Trail is a marked hiking trail in Yosemite National Park that descends along the south wall of Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point, past several major waterfalls, to Happy Isles. The trail derives its name from the panoramic vistas visible along the route, most notably Panorama Point.
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The only guide service licensed to operate in Yosemite, offering a range of options from daily 8:30AM climbing lessons for beginners through multi-day guided ascents of El Capitan for experienced climbers. Also offers rental camping and climbing gear.
The ice rink at Curry Village is open from mid-November until early March, conditions permitting. Skating sessions last 2.5 hours with one hour breaks between sessions.
to Mirror Lake, around the lake
The first mile of the trail follows a paved service road and eventually leads to what is a large pond in spring and a meadow the rest of the year. When it contains water the lake reflects Half Dome, but even when the lake is dry the meadow still offers scenic views. Those who are interested can also hike around the lake bed and along Tenaya Creek.
round-trip
This relatively easy trail leads to the edge of Yosemite Valley. As the trail approaches Taft Point watch for fissures, which are deep cracks extending hundreds of feet downwards. The railed-in Taft Point offers a breathtaking view of Yosemite Valley, below.
round-trip
The Sentinel Dome trail is an easy hike that leads to the base of Sentinel Dome, where you can scramble up the granite slope of the dome (it is not especially steep on its northeast side). From the top, you have a spectacular 360° view of Yosemite Valley (including Yosemite, Vernal, and Nevada Falls) and parts of the high country. A loop including Taft Point is a nice addition, but the climb from Taft Point to the top of the dome goes up several hundred feet.