How To Backpack The Eagle Peak Trail In Yosemite

Eagle Peak trail might be one of the most underrated trails in Yosemite especially if you’re looking for a quick overnight backpacking trip.

While the Clouds Rest trail is by far the more popular backpacking choice in Yosemite, Eagle Peak trail also offers incredible panoramic views – minus the crowds. In fact, we were the only people camping at the Eagle Peak overlook during our backpacking trip in Yosemite, something that is almost hard to believe. 

So why isn’t this trail more popular? Because it’s hard and it kicks your butt. Truly.

This trail consists of endless switchbacks that gain almost 4000 feet in elevation in less than 3 miles. It’s not easy and it will push you to your physical limits. But in the end, you will be rewarded with one of the most epic camping spots overlooking the valley.

With an early head start, it is also possible to do the Eagle Peak trail as a day hike. For those that plan to tackle the Eagle Peak trail as a day trip, our guide has a lot of helpful information for you too – like where to start, how long it takes, available water sources, and other tips.

If you’re thinking about hiking or backpacking the Eagle Peak trail, here is our guide covering everything you need to know:

• Quick Trail Facts
• Trail Description
• Wilderness Permits
• Campsites
• Where To Park
• What To Bring
• Water Sources
• When To Go
• Cost
• Photography Tips

Quick Trail Facts

Before we dive into the details, here is a quick overview of the Eagle Peak trail in Yosemite:

• Length: Around 12 miles out and back
• Trail difficulty: Hard
• Starting point: Camp 4 in Yosemite Valley
• Starting elevation: 4000 feet
• Destination point: Eagle Peak Viewpoint
• Destination elevation: 7700 feet
• Trail: Upper Yosemite Falls To Eagle Peak
• Where to camp: At Eagle Peak (wilderness permit required to camp)

Trail Description

The Eagle Peak Trail is a 12-mile out-and-back hike in Yosemite National Park that is relatively short but very tough.

The trailhead for The Eagle Peak hike starts at the Camp 4 campground in Yosemite Valley.

The first 3 miles of this hike follow the Upper Yosemite Falls trail which consists of steep switchbacks that are by far the hardest part of this hike. These switchbacks lead to the top of the mountain where, thankfully, the hike flattens out a bit and continues through a mossy forest.

At the 3-mile mark, there will be a junction going west towards the Eagle Peak overlook. But before you take the turn, there is a spot to fill up on water by Yosemite Creek slightly to the right. This is the only spot along this trail to get water so I highly recommend doing that here.

From the turnoff, it’s another 3 miles before you reach the Eagle Peak overlook. As an option, some people choose to continue on to El Capitan located 2.5 miles west of Eagle Peak.

We chose to stop and set up camp near the Eagle Peak viewpoint for the night and watched an incredible sunset from our tent. The next morning we ate a quick breakfast and headed back down to the valley before it got too hot.

The trail is only 6 miles each way but it took us 6 hours to get up to the Eagle Peak overlook and 4 hours back down the next day. You’re hiking straight up most of the time so the hike is steep and slow. Coming back down isn’t much faster because the trail is full of rocks and sloped steps that are equally tough on your legs and knees.

Wilderness Permits

For those who plan to do any backpacking trips in Yosemite, you will need to arrange a permit before heading out into the wilderness. These permits are not required for day hikes but are required for any overnight backpacking trips.

Yosemite wilderness permits are free and can be reserved online or picked up at the Yosemite Wilderness Center by the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center.

Each trail has a quota on how many online and walk-in wilderness permits can be issued per day. Most of the online permits get booked up quickly so unless you plan your trip months in advance you’re better off getting a “Walk-In” permit.

The Eagle Peak trail is one of the less-traveled trails for backpacking in Yosemite, at least in September when we went. There were plenty of walk-in permits available for the weekend so we just picked up a permit in the morning before heading out on the trail.

You can get the walk-in permits as early as 11 am the day before – in the busy season I would highly recommend getting the permit as soon as possible to secure your spot. Most days there are even lines of people waiting outside the Wilderness Center when the doors open at 8 am to reserve a permit or talk to the rangers.

Update: As of 2021 Yosemite is no longer giving out walk-in permits. All overnight wilderness permits now must be reserved online ahead of time!

Before you head out on the trail you will also need to pick up a bear canister. Bears are very active in Yosemite so anything with a scent like food and toiletries will need to be stored in a bear canister during your backpacking trip. You can rent one at the same Wilderness Center in Yosemite Valley and it costs $5 for the week.

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Campsites

Yosemite is pretty far from any major cities so before you arrive in Yosemite you will need to think about where to spend the night before your hike.

Thankfully Yosemite has a designated backpacker’s campground set up specifically for people that are planning to do an overnight backcountry trip in Yosemite.

This campground is located behind the North Pines campground and backpackers are allowed to stay here one night before their backpacking trip and one night after their backpacking trip. BUT you will need to show a valid wilderness permit to stay here. This means that if you don’t have one already reserved online, you will need to stop by the Wilderness Center and pick up a wilderness permit before coming to this campground.

Once you arrive at the backpacker’s campground you will need to fill out a slip at the registration board, pay $6 per person (in exact cash) and leave a copy of the slip by your tent for the camp host to see.

It’s pretty awesome that Yosemite has this option since getting a regular camping spot in Yosemite is really hard as they get booked up months in advance. The nice part about this campsite is that it’s only used by backpackers so there won’t be any loud people drinking all night by their campfire.

Once you’re on the actual trail, you can camp on any flat surface around the Eagle Peak area as long as you are 40 steps from a water source and not disturbing vegetation. We spotted a few different established camping spots around Eagle Peak and got one with a pretty incredible view overlooking Yosemite Valley.

Where To Park

Although the Eagle Peak trail starts at the Camp 4 campground, we were not allowed to park our car there. Instead, we had to park in the Curry (Half Dome) Village and take the bus to Camp 4 in the morning to start our hike. If there are no spots in the Curry Village parking lot you can also check the Yosemite Valley Trailhead parking lot.

It actually worked out pretty well since Curry Village is within walking distance from the Backpackers Campground. We just left our car at the Curry Village parking lot for the entire weekend and didn’t move it once. Yosemite National Park offers a free shuttle service that runs every few minutes and makes it super easy to get around.

What To Bring

We hiked this trail in mid-September and the weather was still hot during the day (around 80° F) but chilly at night (around 40° F). If you’re wondering what essentials you should bring on the Eagle Peak Trail, here is our packing list for the trip.

Tent

Our favorite ultralight tent for backpacking trips like this is the MSR Carbon Reflex 2. We have written a detailed post on why we love this tent for backpacking here but essentially it’s extremely easy to set up, it is surprisingly roomy inside, and it is the lightest tent that we’ve ever used.

The MSR Carbon Reflex 2 weighs just under 2 pounds so it’s the tent we use every time we’re going on a backpacking trip when shedding any weight possible will help make the hike faster and more enjoyable.

This is essential for any hike that has a large elevation gain and any extra weight we carry really gets our legs burning – especially during those crazy switchbacks leading up to Yosemite Falls.

Check it out on REI

Sleeping Bag

The Eagle Peak viewpoint is located at 7700 feet in elevation so it gets pretty chilly up there at night. For sleeping bags, I love this one from REI because it keeps me warm during our backpacking trips but it also compresses super small, it’s easy to pack up, and doesn’t weigh too much. Overall it’s a pretty versatile sleeping bag so you can use it in all types of conditions from beach camping to high mountain hikes – perfect for California.

Check it out on REI

Sleeping Pad

I’m not a very good sleeper when it comes to camping and backpacking trips, but one thing that has recently made a huge difference for me is using a blow-up sleeping pad with a pillow for extra cushion. Before, we used rollup sleeping pads that took up a lot of room and didn’t really make it that much more comfortable. After switching to a blow-up sleeping pad I am now getting a lot better sleep when camping.

Backpacking Pack

For a multi-day trek, you want to keep everything as light as possible, including your pack. You want to go for a backpacking pack with a good solid frame but one that is lightweight. This 65 Liter Osprey backpack from REI has more than enough room for all of my gear, it is lightweight and has very comfortable padding.

Check it out on REI

Hiking Boots

On a long hiking or backpacking trip having a good pair of hiking boots is essential. There is nothing worse than a pair of boots that are too small, rub your feet or cause blisters. I highly recommend getting a pair of over-the-ankle boots like these Vasque ones.

Coming back down on those switchbacks from the Upper Yosemite Falls portion was pretty tough on my ankles and I slipped a few times. Over-the-ankle boots prevent your ankles from rolling and potentially getting injured when your feet become tired.

Check them out on REI

Cooking Set Up

If you plan to camp at Eagle Peak overnight, you will most likely need a small camping stove with a burner to make your dinner and breakfast.

We use this type of camping stove on our backpacking trips. It works pretty great and we use it to make quick meals like rice with chicken, oatmeal, and coffee in just a few minutes. Note that you’ll need to buy the gas separately but you can get that at any outdoor store like Big 5.

Check it out on Amazon

Recently, I also started really getting into dehydrating my own backpacking food. It’s a lot healthier and often tastes much better than buying pre-packaged food. My favorite things to dehydrate are fruit snacks, especially bananas, kiwis, and strawberries. It’s the perfect little snack on the trail and adds a bit more flavor to our breakfast oatmeal.

Read Next: How To Dehydrate Fruit The Easy Way

Clothing

The weather during our Yosemite backpacking trip in September was hot during the day and cold at night. I highly recommend wearing shorts and breezy shirts during the day and bringing lots of layers for the nighttime. Your packing list might change depending on the season, but here are a few things that I recommend to bring clothing-wise:

• Shorts during the day. I ended up bringing only leggings on the hike and I was super hot during the day. If I had to do it again, I would have chosen shorts during the day.
• Leggings or sweats at night. It got really cold up at the Eagle Peak viewpoint at night so I ended up wearing two pairs of leggings at night.
• Thermal shirt and a warm jacket. You won’t need these during the day but will definitely want some warm tops and a jacket for the evening.
• Hiking socks. You want to get a good pair of hiking socks that won’t rub blisters on your feet and won’t make your feet sweat. I always bring an extra pair to switch out in the morning.
• Hat & sunglasses to cover up from the sun during the day.
• Beanie & gloves for the evening and nighttime.

Toiletries

• Most of this trail is super-hot and exposed to the sun offering little to no shade so a strong sunscreen is a must.
• Wipes to clean off dust and dirt at the end of the day but don’t worry – hot showers are available in Yosemite Valley at the end of the hike.
• Backpacking shovel to go to the bathroom in the wilderness.
• Toilet paper. Note that all toilet paper in Yosemite needs to be packed and carried out – do not bury it.
• Travel toothbrush & toothpaste set.
• Deodorant.

Other

• Headlamp for when it gets dark.
• Battery charger. To keep your phone charged for emergencies – there was actually a little bit of reception at the Eagle Peak overlook.
• First aid kit for emergencies & blisters.
• At the Eagle Peak campsite, there was a surprising amount of bees that swarmed our tent during dinner and breakfast. If you are concerned about bee stings, bring along some pain & itch relief swabs like these ones.
• Ibuprofen or aspirin in case you start feeling pain from the tough hike. My husband’s legs started cramping and hurting pretty bad during the switchbacks so it’s best to be prepared.
• Small trash bag to carry out any trash.

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Water Sources

As I mentioned earlier, there is only one water source along this trail so that is something to keep in mind, especially if you go during the dry season in fall.

On the Eagle Peak trail, the only available water source is located 3 miles in at the Yosemite Creek by the Upper Yosemite Falls viewpoint. Make sure to bring along a water filter to filter the water from this creek.

We had already finished 4 bottles of water by the time we got here and there are no other sources past this point so you’ll need to fill up enough water for the evening and the hike back in the morning.

When To Go

The best time to hike or backpack the Eagle Peak trail is in early summer. Part of this hike follows along Yosemite Falls, the 20th tallest waterfall in the world. This waterfall is especially stunning in early summer when it gets extra water from the snowmelt in the mountains.

We did the Eagle Peak hike in mid-September and Yosemite Falls by then had completely dried out. The hike was still beautiful because you get amazing panoramic views from the Eagle Peak viewpoint, but if you want to see the waterfall, it’s best to go in early summer.

The upside from doing this trail in fall is that the air is getting a little cooler and the crowds are thinning out so it’s easier to get permits. Whichever season you choose, you’re guaranteed pretty amazing views at the end.

Cost

Backpacking in Yosemite is one of the cheapest ways to visit this park – if you plan it right.

• The current fee to enter Yosemite National Park is $35 per car.
• In order to backpack or camp in Yosemite’s wilderness, you will need to arrange a permit. These wilderness permits are free which means that with a valid wilderness permit you can camp in Yosemite’s backcountry at no cost!
• To backpack in Yosemite you will need to rent a bear canister which costs $5 per week.
• With a valid wilderness permit, you are also allowed to stay at the backpacker’s campground in Yosemite Valley the night before and after your backpacking trip for $6/pp which is pretty cheap.
• Yosemite Valley offers a variety of food options from cafes, restaurants, and grills (even a Starbucks!). But if you’re looking to save cost, I always recommend bringing your own food and making it at the campsite.

Photography Tips

The Eagle Peak trail is one of the best photography spots in Yosemite that I have experienced, especially for sunset. The sun sets behind the Eagle Peak viewpoint so you’re likely guaranteed a colorful sunset in front of you.

I was also hoping to get some photos from this location in the morning but as soon as the sun came out from behind the Half Dome, the valley just looked like a dark shadow. So if you plan to take any photos at the Eagle Peak viewpoint, sunset is by far the better time to do it.

Interested in stepping up your photography game? Here is the camera gear that I carry everywhere I go to create amazing travel photos:

• Main camera: Sony a7c Camera. The Sony a7c is tiny, light, full-frame, and durable – in other words, amazing!
• Polarizer Filter: Hoya 40.5 mm Filter. Polarizing filters reduce glare in water, protect the lens from getting scratched and bring out the best colors when it’s bright outside. Having a polarizing filter is a must-have if you plan to photograph lakes, oceans, rivers, and waterfalls.
• Wide Lens: Sony 16-35 mm F4. Great for capturing wide panoramas, nature landscapes, and cramped city streets. Mounts to any Sony mirrorless camera and features autofocus, image stabilization, and incredibly sharp images.
• Lightweight Travel Tripod: Manfrotto Carbon Fiber Tripod. A good tripod is essential for capturing images in low light conditions, such as during sunset and sunrise, or creating smooth water effects when shooting waterfalls. The Manfrotto Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod is very sturdy, light, and folds small so you can take it on all of your adventures!
• Memory Cards: SanDisk Extreme 256 GB. It’s always good to bring a few extra memory cards on trips. SanDisk Extreme is ultra-fast for capturing high-quality images, bursts, long exposure night shots, and 4k videos. This memory card is also durable and reliable yet very affordable.
• Camera Batteries: Wasabi Power Battery Set. I’ve made the mistake of getting to a location to realize my camera is out of battery. Always keep your batteries charged with this camera charger set.
• Camera Bag: Lowepro adventure shoulder bag. A camera bag is something you should definitely invest in! Without having a proper place to store it I would get my camera scratched, sandy, or even occasionally drop it.

Looking for more Yosemite travel inspiration? Here are a few other popular posts that you may enjoy:

• Amazing Things To Do In Yosemite For First-Time Visitors
• The 10 Best VRBO Rentals Near Yosemite National Park
• 20 Amazing Places To Stay Near Yosemite National Park
• Guide To Visiting Yosemite National Park In The Winter
• Visiting Yosemite In October & November For Fall Colors
• Staying At Curry Village Tent Cabins In Yosemite

Can’t decide which hike to do in Yosemite? Be sure to check out these posts below that cover some of our favorite Yosemite hiking routes:

• 10 Best Day Hikes In Yosemite That Should Be On Your List
• How To Hike Mirror Lake Trail In Yosemite National Park
• Hiking Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Trail In Yosemite
• Hiking Yosemite Valley Loop Trail In California
• Backpacking The Cathedral Lakes Trail In Yosemite
• Backpacking North Dome Trail In Yosemite

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