Are hiking shoes necessary for Yosemite?

Take a lunch or snacks that includes trail mix and energy bars. Other essentials would be a backpack, sunscreen, sunglasses, a windblocker hat, all weather gloves, and extra socks. Footwear: Warm, waterproof (preferably Gore Tex) hiking boots are essential to keep your feet dry. Gaiters are a definite plus.



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A sturdy pair of hiking boots or runners will protect your feet and ensure maximum comfort while you're exploring on foot. Try to bring a pair of boots that support your ankle and have decent grip to prevent slips and trips. If you're buying new boots, make sure you break them in before you go.

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Be sure that you have breathable layers, including a waterproof lightweight jacket, a mid-layer long sleeve shirt for both sun coverage and warmth, and a baselayer such as a tank or t-shirt for when it gets hot. Opt for sports fabric over cotton. Jeans or denim of any sort are not recommended.

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Personally, trail runners will do but if I'm walking all day, mine do not have enough support and my feet ache more. To go to vernal falls, upper Yosemite falls etc I strongly prefer my hiking shoes (grip and support).

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It's a big undertaking and requires a permit, but hiking to the top of Half Dome is one of the bucket list challenges in Yosemite. This hike is not for the faint hearted and we don't recommend anyone taking this on without some training.

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Make sure you know before you go. In national parks where grizzlies live, such as Glacier or Grand Teton, rangers encourage you to carry bear spray. In others, such as Yosemite, where only black bears live, bear spray is not even permitted.

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For the best “bang for your buck,” do exercises that use your large muscle groups, perform four to six exercises in a row, and alternate between a lower body, upper body push, upper body pull, and core exercise. Repeat three to five times with no rest between exercises, rest one to two minutes between sets.

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Always keep your food within arm's reach and don't turn your back to your food; never leave food unattended. Bears may investigate picnic areas or backpacks for food even in your presence, so be alert.

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Hiking Poles: While hiking poles aren't always necessary, they come in handy on long hikes, especially when a lot of elevation gain is involved.

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Yosemite Valley: The Valley doesn't usually have sufficient snow for skiing or snowshoeing, but sometimes conditions will require microspikes or snowshoes in the higher elevations of hikes that start out in the Valley, you can always check with a ranger beforehand to find out the current conditions.

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Yosemite is particularly famous for its numerous waterfalls, many of which present impressive scenery with their splashing water, surrounding trees, and stunning rocks. While many of these waterfalls can be easily seen from a distance, a little hike is usually required to get the best views of the natural attraction.

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