Hey Cirque Substack community! Hope you all had a great weekend, whether you were out putting in the time during a long run, or tapering down for an upcoming race.
Here’s your weekly dose of trail running stoke! If you're looking for the most bang for your buck in the Sierra, I highly recommend running down to Illilouette Falls from Glacier Point via the Panorama Trail in Yosemite National Park.
It's hard to beat the views Glacier Point provides in Yosemite. From Nevada and Vernal Falls, to Half Dome, Clouds Rest, the Royal Arches, and down to Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point is really the one stop shop to gather all those iconic photos you're looking to take during your trip to Yosemite. Glacier Point also offers a multitude of trails to follow down to the Valley floor or further into the backcountry. While this short clip takes us down to Illilouette Falls via the Panorama Trail, there's also the popular Pohono Trail and Four Mile Trail that also offer up incredible trail running in the heart of the Sierra.
The Panorama Trail is a very popular trail so be ready to share it with other trail runners and hikers alike. Oddly enough, I had the trail nearly all to myself during this trip, most likely because it was towards the end of the day and on a weekday. I used this run as a shakeout so kept it relativity short, clocking in at a little over 5 miles roundtrip and slightly over 1,400' feet of elevation gain. While I ran this as an out and back, if you follow the Panorama Trail all the way to the Valley floor, you'll be rewarded with some spectacular views as you run down Nevada and Vernal Falls which takes you along the Mist Trail.
Make sure to check out our Trail Running GPX page so you can download the route and upload it to your watch or phone. This GPX page will be a continuous work in progress so make sure to take advantage of the GPX files we already have posted and be sure to check back weekly as we continue to update the page.
Also, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel @CirqueRunning to keep up to date with all of our latest trail running edits. Enjoy this short clip of Illilouette Falls via the Panorama Trail in Yosemite!
Cirque Running's other sites and media channels
Website: cirquerunning.com
Coaching: Cirque Running Coaching Service
Instagram: @cirquerunning
Facebook: Cirque Running
Cirque Running’s mission is to inspire our trail running community through elevated retreats and professional coaching, with certified UESCA ultrarunning coaches. We’re Trail Runners, Mountain Guides, Educators, Coaches and Stewards of the Sierra and California, and we want to share these remarkable places with all those seeking natural abundance in the Range of Light and beyond.
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