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This isn't really related to the JMT and is not a search for a "workaround" but I am somewhat curious why the Chilnualna Falls trailhead out of Wawona is not a more popular entry point to do loops in southern Yosemite, potentially making possible long loops that could incorporate parts of the JMT. The starting elevation is not much different from Yosemite Valley and rises up quickly to the falls, just as one would hiking up to Nevada Fall from Happy Isles. Then, you're at higher elevations and could cross over Merced Pass and Red Peak Pass, eventually coming down to either Merced Lake or Vogelsang, and then proceeding to Tuolumne (either via Rafferty Creek or Lyell Canyon) and then back on the JMT toward Happy Isles. I'm not suggesting crossing Donohue Pass which would not be allowed on this permit.

Maybe there are good reasons why this isn't a common entry point for longer trips, but the quota is large, YARTS serves Wawona, there's a campground and lodging in the area for prior to the hike, etc...?

On Fri, Mar 22, 2024 at 06:57 AM, ravi_jmt2013 wrote:

I am somewhat curious why the Chilnualna Falls trailhead out of Wawona is not a more popular entry point to do loops in southern Yosemite

There's lots of pleasant but unspectacular forest hiking, with the occasional nice lake, at least until one has gone east quite a ways.? It's sort of like walking south on the Illilouette Creek Trail from Glacier Point: nice enough but not A-list stuff.? At least based as of my last excursion back there (17 years ago!), there's evidence of a fair amount horse traffic leading back Buena Vista Lake.
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Jim Ringland

Have to agree with Jim on this one. That area, at least on day one, is hiking through mostly forest until you get into some altitude. Once we arrived at the Ottoway Lakes area, it became a more interesting hike. Red Peak pass and the area over to Three Peaks Fork was really scenic, mostly granite, dotted with small lakes and ponds. And yes from there, you can descend down into Merced lake and up Lewis to Vogelzang on onward. Worth the hike IMO.?