Four Mile Trail

The Four Mile Trail is kind of misleading because it’s more like the 4.7 Mile Trail (or 9.4 miles round-​trip).
I originally thought about parking my car at the Visitors’ Center and then taking the shuttle to the trailhead, but the El Capitan shuttle didn’t start until 9AM. I didn’t want to sit around the Visitors’ Center for an hour so I went off on my own. I started from the trail at 8:30, so the temperature was still cool.
A series of switchbacks slowly took me above the treeline and lo and behold the great Yosemite Falls was in the distance. It was a pretty sight — too bad I only had my wide angle lens with me so I couldn’t zoom in on it. I seared it into my memory instead.
Continuing up I eventually reached the trail gate, where the view opened up even more. Now the Half Dome and North Dome, as well as Tenaya Canyon and the Royal Arches were all visible. By then I started to feel a slight fatigue to my calves from the Half Dome hike the day before. But as I was already ~2.7 miles in, it would have been silly to turn back. Onward I went.
The last fifth or so of the trail flattens out and leads into the forest before opening back out onto Glacier Point. The crowd factor suddenly jumped from zero to a hundred. Since Glacier Point is accessible by car, a lot of people just drive there. There was also a crew there filming an ad for the state of California. So it was a party up at Glacier Point.
There’s a shuttle that goes from Glacier Point back to the Four Mile trailhead, but that’s $ 25 a head. Heck no.

From Glacier Point, I took the four mile trail back to the valley floor. It is actually 4.7 miles. It is all switchbacks and almost all downhill. However, it was still difficult because my legs felt like jelly already from going up the Mist Trail and Panorama Trail. From certain aspects, it is more difficult going down on a hike because you have to brace yourself from going down the mountain too fast. There are steep drops that you will see so you absolutely do not want to slip. The trail is closed in parts of the year (e.g. winter) when it is too slippery. I would definitely not go down it if it is raining or just rained. Nevertheless, it is not very dangerous in good weather. Like the rest of my hike, there are incredible views as you walk down. Especially after you have done a lot of hiking already, the journey to the bottom can seem endless. After 90 minutes of descending, I ran into a family with young kids also on the way down. The father asked me how I was doing. I pointed down. He acknowledged my gesture and said «I know. Unbelievable [view]» While I totally agreed with his statement, I told him I actually meant to suggest how crazy it is that we are still not even close to the bottom. Of course, you eventually make it and get the ultimate feeling of satisfaction of completion.
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Shuttle stop #7 and about ½ mile walk to four-​mile trail head, at the foot of Sentinel Dome.
Its a great moderate to strenuous hike (actually 9.4 miles round trip)
Views of Yosemite Falls, Sentinel, El Cap, and Yosemite Valley the entire time until you reach the top at Glacier Point. LOTS of switchbacks meaning about 85−90%. Your knees will hate you for it but once you get to the top at Glacier Point you’ll forget all about it until you have to head back down again. There is shuttle service back down from Glacier Point but you have to buy the ticket ahead of time and not offered all year long. I say challenge yourself and do the full round trip. My toes and ankles still hate me for it but I can say I did it.
Glacier Point is a must at Yosemite Valley. I’ve never hiked to it but definitely worth it. Views are priceless. Last time I was at Yose I did the Clouds Rest and it was awesome to see it behind Half Dome. I believe I have now seen Half Dome 360 degrees. Spent about an hour taking in the views of Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, North Dome, Basket Dome, Polly Dome and Tenaya Canyon, along with all the peaks left and right of Half Dome, .
6 – 8 hours depending on how fast and how much time you want to spend on Glacier Point.