McGurk Meadow Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Wildflowers · Wildlife

An easy trail to run on, not a lot of traffic or obstacles to avoid.

The trailhead is 7.5 miles from the Glacier Point Road turnoff on Highway 41. There is a sign marking the trailhead, with parking along the shoulder of the road. With a low crowd factor, you should be able to find parking.

The trail begins with a small descent through lodgepole pines toward the largely hidden Peregoy Meadow before slowly climbing to a low divide. The trail then drops again to the south edge of McGurk Meadow. Here, at the edge of the meadow, is an old log cabin built by Mr. McGurk at the end of the 1800s before it was determined that he did not own the land. It's a small cabin, but perfect for children to explore.

Once you are ready to continue, the trail meanders across the meadow, crossing a creek that feeds the meadow. The meadow is too soggy to explore by foot, so it's best to stay on the footpath. June and July is the perfect time to visit for flower lovers. The trail follows the edge of the forest, allowing you great views of the many varieties of wildflowers that can be found in the meadow.

Once you get to the end of the meadow, you re-enter the forest, following the path northward, descending until you reach the Pohono Trail. There aren't great views, but there also aren't large crowds, so you probably will have this part of the trail to yourself. Once you reach the trail junction with the Pohono Trail, you can return to your car via the path you took, or continue your exploration of the area by turning left and going to Dewey Point, where there are great views of El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, and the High Sierras beyond the North Rim of Yosemite Valley.

Deer, dozens of wildflower varieties in the meadow in June and July. Shooting stars, paintbrush, cinquefoil, snow plants, and corn lily are just some of the flowers that you'll find in this area.