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Yosemite Grand Traverse, California, United States

Photograph by Russ Bishop, Aurora

By Peter Potterfield

Post Peak Pass to Tuolumne Meadows

Round-Trip: 60 miles, 6 to 7 days

When to Go: Reaching as high as 12,000 feet, this trans-Sierra route is open only from mid-July to mid-September.

It’s hard to say “Sierra in summer” without thinking of granite towers rising above sparkling high-country lakes into deep blue skies.  The traverse is a cheat sheet of Yosemite backcountry, touching more than a few of the real high points of the Sierra in just a week, including an ascent of Half Dome via the Cable Route.  

Starting on obscure trails in the Ansel Adams Wilderness with unexpected views of the Minarets and other landmark Sierra Nevada peaks, this hike soon enters Yosemite National Park to follow the unique drainage of the Merced River.  The traverse then joins the ionic John Muir Trail for a spectacular finish among the spires of the Cathedral Range.  An unexpected highlight is the jaunt through the extensive drainage of the Merced River, the lifeblood of Yosemite Valley, where the route traces the headwaters through waterfalls, granite basins, and channels, interspersed with sprawling, sublime sub-alpine meadows.

Insider Tip: The trailhead logistics for this trip can be challenging, so make things easy by doing this trip with the Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, who pioneered the route and have mastered the journey from start to finish.