California · Hiking · Yosemite Wilderness · Near Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Border

3.3 mi
round trip
534 ft
climb
5,715 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Yosemite Border open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Stanislaus National Forest. It doesn't name Yosemite Border, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Stanislaus National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Yosemite Border is a 3.25-mile moderate hike in the Yosemite Wilderness, on the Groveland Ranger District of Stanislaus National Forest in California. The land is managed by the National Park Service, and the route is an out-and-back that gains about 534 feet from a low point of 5,169 feet to a high of 5,715 feet. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically May and October, when typical averages from the nearby Cherry Valley Dam weather station run around 70°F for highs and 44°F for lows. That station sits roughly 950 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Summer is hot, with typical July and August highs near 89°F. The trail is on natural surface, and it allows horses and bikes. A fee is charged. Nearby, Camp Mather Trails and the Mather hike are both about 2.5 miles away. Dimond "O" campground is about 3.3 miles off, and the Middle Tuolumne River offers canoeing about 3.6 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Dimond "O"

    Campground

    Campground · 3.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Jack Spring Dining Hall

    Fast food

    On your way back · 2 mi
  • If it rains

    Union Point

    Viewpoint

    In town

    Mountain in California, United States of America

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Yosemite Valley
  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Yosemite Border

    Best months: May–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      49° / 31°

      10 wet · 5 snow

    2. Feb

      51° / 31°

      10 wet · 5 snow

    3. Mar

      55° / 33°

      10 wet · 5 snow

    4. Apr

      61° / 37°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      70° / 44°

      6 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      80° / 51°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      89° / 58°

      1 wet

    8. Aug

      89° / 57°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      82° / 53°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      70° / 44°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      57° / 36°

      7 wet · 2 snow

    12. Dec

      49° / 31°

      9 wet · 4 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cherry Valley Dam, CA, 4.8 mi away at 4,765 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

MatherPhoto: Charkrem, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mather

~4 min drive

Mather is a 2.62-mile out-and-back trail in California with 387 feet of elevation gain.

HIKE

Poopenaut Valley Trail

~7 min drive

This short, steep hike down to the Tuolumne River in Poopenaut Valley is a great spot for wildflowers in spring. Be aware that this is a steep hike on the return trip to the parking area. If you hike down, you must be able to hike back up! Parking is very limited. Distance…

Kibbie Lake TrailPhoto: Jonathan Dinh, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Kibbie Lake Trail

~9 min drive

10.94-mile out-and-back trail in California with 3,088 ft elevation gain.

Camp Mather TrailPhoto: Charkrem, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Camp Mather Trail

~4 min drive

1.83-mile out-and-back trail in California with 434 ft gain.

Golden Stairs TrailPhoto: Eeekster, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Golden Stairs Trail

~15 min drive

3.8-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,056 ft elevation gain

Tuolumne CanyonPhoto: Nerds For Nature, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tuolumne Canyon

~19 min drive

10.45-mile out-and-back trail in Tuolumne Canyon, California with 2,628 ft elevation gain.

Spur from 19E58Photo: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Spur from 19E58

~5 min drive

1.84-mile out-and-back trail from 19E58 with 564 ft gain in California

Golden Forest Interp. TrailPhoto: stevelyon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Golden Forest Interp. Trail

~22 min drive

3.08-mile out-and-back hike in California with 402 ft gain.

Moss Canyon Truck TrailPhoto: epredator, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Moss Canyon Truck Trail

~21 min drive

13.86-mile out-and-back trail in California with 3,824 ft elevation gain and loss.

Overlook TrailPhoto: HansNYC, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Overlook Trail

~5 min drive

0.6-mile out-and-back trail in California with 115 ft of elevation gain.

Route details

Distance
3.3 mi round trip
Climbing
About 534 ft
Summit
5,758 ft
Difficulty
Moderate

Season

Season: Year-round.

Other routes up North Mountain

Questions about this route

How long is the Yosemite Border on North Mountain?

About 3.3 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Yosemite Border?

About 534 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Yosemite Border?

It is rated moderate.

When is the best time for the Yosemite Border?

Year-round.

How many routes go up North Mountain?

3: North Mountain Lookout, North Mountain Lookout Trail and Yosemite Border.

Conditions and forecast on North Mountain

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.