El Capitan Trail
Hard · IvyYosemite Valley, California
No photos yet
Add the first8.5 km5.3 mi
Distance
669 m2195 ft
Elevation gain
3h 0m
Est. time
Route
Route type
What to expect on this trail
- Steep
- Rolling
- Hiking
How these were worked out
- Steepestimated
- Nine tenths of this trail is at or below a 23.0% grade, and its steepest climb reaches 41.1%. Source: DEM terrain profile, high confidence.
- Rollingestimated
- The grade varies by 11.2 percentage points along the route rather than climbing steadily. Source: DEM terrain profile, moderate confidence.
Biking is not listed. That means no explicit permission is recorded, which is not the same as a prohibition — see the bike section below.
Ivy's Peak Challenge Steep, long, or rough. Experienced hikers will love it.
About this trail
El Capitan Trail is a 8.5 km trail in Yosemite Valley, California. Route imported from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); community descriptions, photos, and condition reports welcome.
Play the route
Fly the trail end to end, with the climb as it comes.
Conditions
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Elevation profile
Terrain sampled every 35 m from public elevation data.
- Descent
- 117 m
- High point
- 2356 m
- 90th percentile grade
- 23.0%
Bike access & suitability
Legal permission and physical difficulty are evaluated separately.
Legal access
Confirm before riding
Estimated MTB suitability
Difficult
35% confidence - score 52/100
- - Terrain: 23.0% 90th-percentile grade and 79 m climbing per km.
Source: No access source recorded - checked Aug 2, 2026 - rules v2
Posted signs and current land-manager closures always override OpenTrail.
Report incorrect bike access
Trails nearby
Other routes within about 15 km.
- 2.7 km away
Pohono Trail
Hard · IvyYosemite Valley, California
11.51 km · 4h 15m · ↑ 1033 m
- 5.2 km away
Valley Loop Trail
Moderate · AceYosemite Valley, California
6.76 km · 1h 35m · ↑ 63 m
- 5.8 km away
#18 Dewey Point Meadow Trail
Moderate · AceYosemite Valley, California
3.92 km · 1h 0m · ↑ 61 m
- 8.7 km away
Upper Yosemite Fall Trail
Moderate · AceYosemite Valley, California
4.69 km · 2h 30m · ↑ 880 m
- 9.0 km away
Four Mile Trail
Moderate · AceYosemite Valley, California
7.59 km · 3h 20m · ↑ 1000 m
- 9.6 km away
Sunnyside Bench Climber's Descent
Very hard · IvyYosemite Valley, California
966 m · 20m · ↑ 66 m
- 10.7 km away
Sentinel Dome Trail
Hard · IvyYosemite Valley, California
1.05 km · 20m · ↑ 62 m
- 11.9 km away
Royal Arches Climber's Descent
Very hard · IvyYosemite Valley, California
1.49 km · 40m · ↑ 182 m
- 12.6 km away
Buena Vista Trail
Moderate · AceYosemite Valley, California
3.43 km · 55m · ↑ 110 m
- 12.6 km away
North Dome Gully Climber's Descent
Very hard · IvyYosemite Valley, California
1.30 km · 15m · ↑ 0 m
- 12.8 km away
Panorama Trail
Hard · IvyYosemite Valley, California
3.22 km · 1h 5m · ↑ 244 m
- 12.9 km away
North Dome Trail
Moderate · AceYosemite Valley, California
7.26 km · 2h 15m · ↑ 372 m
Photos
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Frequently asked
How long is El Capitan Trail?
El Capitan Trail is 8.5 km (5.3 miles) as a route. Allow roughly 3h 0m at a steady walking pace, not counting stops.
How hard is El Capitan Trail?
OpenTrail rates it hard. It climbs about 669 m overall, and its steepest sustained stretches run around 23%.
Where is El Capitan Trail?
El Capitan Trail is in Yosemite Valley, California. The map on this page shows the full route, where it starts, and any mapped parking nearby.
Is there parking at El Capitan Trail?
No parking area is mapped within 1.5 km of this route in OpenStreetMap. That is not the same as there being none — check local access rules before you go.