Tuolumne River Trail is a 2.3 mile out and back trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features a river and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October.
Yosemite National Park charges a fee to enter. Fees are $35 per vehicle or $30 per motorcycle. If you are entering on foot, horse, or bike the fee is $20 per person. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $70. Enjoy a relaxing break to the sounds of the Tuolumne River after this short hike through the meadow. Please note that renovations are being made along this trail so some sections may be closed (08/24/2020). The hike is short but sweet, and offers a great view of Tuolumne Meadows, especially during spring when the snow has melted and the wild flowers are out on full force. You will start by walking through the meadow, between Pothole Dome and the Tuolumne River, before reaching a few cascades of the Tuolumne River where you can sit in the shade, soak your feet, and have a snack. You can continue further down the cascades and through another meadow or loop back with an optional climb up to Pothole Dome for some great views before heading back to the trailhead.
Park your car along Hwy 120 near Pothole Dome, there should be a smaller area on the north side of the road (on the meadow side).
September 8, 2020September 4, 2020Short and easy little trail that ends at the perfect lunch spot.
September 4, 2020August 18, 2020Nice, less crowded, gorgeous trail. Sections of the trail were closed off due to the restoration project and we had to take a longer route. The part of Tuolumne River that the trail touches was very interesting with cascading water falls. Highly recommend.
August 7, 2020August 6, 2020Meadows are closed for restoration. Go around on the trail side.
August 4, 2020July 28, 2020July 24, 2018Beautiful
September 8, 2017Very beautiful river, not sure why it is not in the park hiking map
September 7, 2017Just a note to update the map is no longer correct as they are doing meadow restoration. It looked like the new trail skirted Pothole Dome but I didn't have time to see. It looks like this could be correct per Karen F. Recording
September 6, 2017Great spot to escape the crowds in Tuolumne Meadows. I had a couple of hours to kill before meeting up with the rest of my group and had driven by this trail a few times. On the Saturday morning of a holiday weekend (Labor Day), I was the only one on the trail between 9am and 10:30am. The trail skirts the meadows and then joins the river for a nice cascade and I was fortunate that, on my return, I spotted a bear and her cubs on the opposite of the river, just after they had caught a fish (or deer?). It was just me and them for half an hour. If you're looking for a short, peaceful stroll in Tuolumne, this is the one.
August 10, 2016Came off Lembert Dome and wandered through the meadow to loop back to my car. Very pretty! Was there before 9am and it felt like I had Yosemite to myself.
June 15, 2008
First to ReviewI seem to do this little hike every time I go to Tuolumne with my family. The walk is pretty short and very flat, and you end at a number of waterfalls after walking through a meadow. There are a number of great places to sit and have a snack, dip your feet, or climb around on the nearby rocks. Great for families, especially with little kids who like water or climbing on rocks.
October 31, 2020October 22, 2020October 17, 2020October 6, 2020September 12, 2020September 5, 2020August 7, 2020August 3, 2020August 3, 2020July 30, 2020July 14, 2020July 14, 2020July 5, 2020July 2, 2020October 28, 2019
