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CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW THE FULL PRINTJohn Conway was Yosemite’s veteran road and trail builder. He surveyed and constructed the Yosemite classics: the Four Mile Trail in 1872, and the Yosemite Falls Trail in 1885.
Beginning at the Valley floor near Sentinel Bridge, the Four Mile Trail climbs more than 3,200 feet to Glacier Point, traversing the south wall of Yosemite Valley in a series of carefully engineered switchbacks. The route offers continuously changing perspectives of Yosemite Falls, Sentinel Rock, and the sheer expanse of El Capitan across the Valley.
Conway’s trail reflects a remarkable sensitivity to the landscape. Rather than forcing a straight line, he allowed the terrain to dictate the route, producing a path that feels both natural and enduring. The trail remains one of the finest approaches to the high country and one of the most rewarding walks in Yosemite.
For climbers, the trail became more than a means of access; it was part of the rhythm of Yosemite life. Ascending toward Glacier Point or descending after long days on the walls, generations of climbers have followed Conway’s path, absorbing the scale and spirit of the Valley.
FOUR MILE TRAIL, Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, California, 2000.
Photo: Tom Frost
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW THE FULL PRINTJohn Conway was Yosemite’s veteran road and trail builder. He surveyed and constructed the Yosemite classics: the Four Mile Trail in 1872, and the Yosemite Falls Trail in 1885.
Beginning at the Valley floor near Sentinel Bridge, the Four Mile Trail climbs more than 3,200 feet to Glacier Point, traversing the south wall of Yosemite Valley in a series of carefully engineered switchbacks. The route offers continuously changing perspectives of Yosemite Falls, Sentinel Rock, and the sheer expanse of El Capitan across the Valley.
Conway’s trail reflects a remarkable sensitivity to the landscape. Rather than forcing a straight line, he allowed the terrain to dictate the route, producing a path that feels both natural and enduring. The trail remains one of the finest approaches to the high country and one of the most rewarding walks in Yosemite.
For climbers, the trail became more than a means of access; it was part of the rhythm of Yosemite life. Ascending toward Glacier Point or descending after long days on the walls, generations of climbers have followed Conway’s path, absorbing the scale and spirit of the Valley.
FOUR MILE TRAIL, Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, California, 2000.
Photo: Tom Frost