Yosemite Half Marathon
Bass Lake, CA
- Half Marathon
- Road (Paved), Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
The Yosemite Half Marathon offers a little bit of everything, starting with wide-open fire roads and rolling trail terrain that ease you into the race. As you settle in, the course transitions into a long, fast downhill stretch on pavement—your chance to pick up the pace and let gravity do … MORE
Local Historical Weather (May 08):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 88 | 91 | 79 | 75 | 69 |
| L (°F) | 56 | 54 | 51 | 52 | 48 |
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Well organized and very scenic
This review is for the 2026 race. Extraordinarily well organized event! I arrived early for the shuttle and got right on board. These are coach type buses not school buses, … MORE
This review is for the 2026 race. Extraordinarily well organized event!
I arrived early for the shuttle and got right on board. These are coach type buses not school buses, very comfortable. It’s about a 30 minute ride to the starting area. Keep in mind with over 3500 runners you need to arrive early or you will wait in line! Starting area was well furnished with ample porta potties, hot chocolate, and banana slices. There was a table for last minute pick ups of bib numbers for those unable to make it to the pre-race expo. There was also a clothing drop just before the start line and my sweatshirt was at the finishers area when I arrived. The race utilizes a rolling start so you start when you are ready and chip timing starts as soon as you cross the start line.
As others have noted the first 4.6 miles of the course is forest service dirt and gravel road, then paved road to the finish. Although the course is overall downhill, there are some hill climbs around mile .9, 1.6 to 2.6, around mile 7, and rolling hills from mile 10 to the finish. Well stocked aid stations starting at mile three and then every two miles. Porta potties at each aid station, though there seemed to be a wait line for the porta potties each time so I kept going. But they are there if ya need ’em!
Super beautiful course! Starts in the tall trees of the national forest and crosses several gorgeous spring flow creeks and even a cascading waterfall around mile 11. Scenic vistas throughout. Only complaint would be the finishers chute was quite narrow and the chute crossed a ditch just after entering, I saw a girl fall ahead of me because of this ditch. Otherwise an amazing well thought out course. Not much at the after finish line corral other than water and chocolate milk (could have used some bananas.) Finishers medal is absolutely stunning with an engraving of Yosemite Valley. After you exit the finishers corral there is a large area to just chill around the lake and great photo ops. If you couldn’t make the previous day expo the merchandise tent is open at the end of the race for those wishing to buy shirts hats cups stickers etc. VR offered a lot of very nice race related items. The wait for a return shuttle was just a few minutes and ride back was about 20 minutes.
I did this run to celebrate my 60th birthday and it was spectacular. Met lots of amazing people from all over the western United States while running. Highly recommend staying the weekend and visiting inside the national park the next day.
Downhill for miles
The shuttle line was very long. We waiting in line for around 45 minutes, then it was another 40 minute ride to the start of the run. So we did … MORE
The shuttle line was very long. We waiting in line for around 45 minutes, then it was another 40 minute ride to the start of the run. So we did not start near as early as we were expecting to. The shuttle ride to the run is on curvy roads and being on a large bus triggered some motion sickness in me, which was not a great start to the run.
The first 4-5 miles of the course are on mixed terrain and small rolling hills. I struggled more than I expected to in this section of the run, likely due to the elevation (and the motion sickness). Once the downhill begins, it is pretty much consistent downhill until about mile 10, when you get close to Bass Lake. At this point it goes back to small rolling hills. The sun was out the day I ran and by mile 10 it was hot! There is limited shade on the last 3 miles of the course, and I struggled. My legs were tired from all the downhill running. I made great time, but I overused several muscles that I don’t normally work that hard. It took a few days of recovery for my legs to feel strong again (I normally recover by the next day).
Overall I enjoyed the run, I just wish I would have known how long the shuttle ride was ahead of time. I would have arrived earlier and taken motion sickness medicine.
Great point to point, phenomenal runner
Great transportation of runners, then of family in this beautiful area. Nice mostly downhill course with water, hydration fueling, and portables with sufficient availability along the course. Loved the support … MORE
Great transportation of runners, then of family in this beautiful area. Nice mostly downhill course with water, hydration fueling, and portables with sufficient availability along the course. Loved the support to get spectators to the finish line given limited parking availability. Great runner support.
new ownership C-
New owners are not up to the standards Vacation Races once was. Late to start line because shuttle was not timely. Ran out of water at finish line. Atmosphere at … MORE
New owners are not up to the standards Vacation Races once was.
Late to start line because shuttle was not timely. Ran out of water at finish line.
Atmosphere at the finish line was not as energetic as it was in past VR races.
Diverse terrain with amazing scenery
Overall - one of my favorite races! Race course - 3 distinct sections. First 5 miles - rocky trail. You had to be careful because it was very uneven and … MORE
Overall – one of my favorite races! Race course – 3 distinct sections. First 5 miles – rocky trail. You had to be careful because it was very uneven and difficult. Next 5 miles – downhill on paved road – loved it! Last 3 miles – flat, boring road along a lake and vacation cabins. Logistics – very easy! I stayed in Oakhurst at one of 3 hotels side by side that provided a bus within walking distance to the start line. Packet pickup – (also the finish area) was at a local lake with an expo and lots of Vacation Race merch to choose from although parking was a problem. Finish of the race – shuttles were provided for spectators at the hotel and some other locations because there was no parking available. That was ok because the buses were plentiful and timely. After race – a box of goodies was given to each participant. Lots of photo sites and plenty of room. Swag – Great shirt and finisher medal! Also, free photos. We flew into Fresno and enjoyed Yosemite National Park for several days after the race. Overall – I love Vacation Races – very organized and the communication is good. I would do any Vacation Race in any location!
Walked to enjoy the beauty
My friend was injured and so I walked the race with her. This allowed us to start at 5:15 - first out before the fast runners! This race allowed you … MORE
My friend was injured and so I walked the race with her. This allowed us to start at 5:15 – first out before the fast runners! This race allowed you to get the bibs the day of the race – no extra charge. There were free photos, water station every two miles and gu at most of the water stations along with pot-a- potties – I mention this as I see more races no gu and not enough potties. The scenery was breath taking. The weather was perfect for running – the trail was wide enough for the runners to get by us walkers two abreast. Vacation races puts on a great race. I volunteered giving the resuable cup and founds the folks running to understand why they needed to check “yes” next time.
A Beautiful, Fast Course
I thought this race was extremely well run, from the 5 (well stocked) aid stations to the volunteers who were happy to help! The one thing I wish I would … MORE
I thought this race was extremely well run, from the 5 (well stocked) aid stations to the volunteers who were happy to help! The one thing I wish I would have thought about a little more when training was that the first 4.5-5 miles were on a trail. The ground was uneven and full of rocks (both big and small) and my road shoes weren’t the greatest for that section. It was nice to get that tough part out of the way in the beginning and then head down the mountain for the next 5 miles. It was a gorgeous run and one that I would happily do again if I’m ever in the area! I highly recommend this race to anyone!
Bad production, bad course
If a perfectly ran race is a 5 this has to be a 1. The course isn’t in Yosemite, it’s also completely downhill and has very few lookouts or anything … MORE
If a perfectly ran race is a 5 this has to be a 1. The course isn’t in Yosemite, it’s also completely downhill and has very few lookouts or anything that would qualify as scenic. The dirt road is washed out and hard to navigate. There’s no start times, you just go whenever. You have to get up really really early and take a long bus ride to the top. There’s very few hotels and restaurants nearby. The whole town gets overrun and finding a bite to eat is hard. The dumbest part was the gear drop at the top, they claimed it would be down within an hour of the first finisher, but it never came. We waited, no one knew anything, they kept saying it wouldn’t be too long. It took until 3pm to get our stuff and many people were stressed and had to check out of their hotel or catch a flight home. It was just kind of lame in many ways. I PR’d but it was all downhill so does it even count? Sure you might think these are all things you know when you sign up, but the combo of all these factors with the poor production and course condition really dropped it from a 3/5 potential to 1/5.
First VR
My first vacation race.. loved the course, the views and the people. The organization lacked with the whole busses mishap, and the lack of information to those of us lined … MORE
My first vacation race.. loved the course, the views and the people. The organization lacked with the whole busses mishap, and the lack of information to those of us lined up was discerning. There was minimal to no swag, and the expo was meh. Good photo ops though. I’d definitely still do another VR, hoping this one was a one off for hiccups.
Great race
I flew in to Fresno and the drive was about an hour to Oakhurst where I stayed. This was only about 15 min from packet pickup which was easy. The … MORE
I flew in to Fresno and the drive was about an hour to Oakhurst where I stayed. This was only about 15 min from packet pickup which was easy.
The start line could only be accessed by shuttle which was simple enough, but a last minute issue with one of the companies caused significant delays. Frustrating on race morning, but things happen. The ride was about 30 minutes to the start.
There were plenty of porta potties without significant lines, but I’m not sure how much of this was because of the delays. Gear check was right there which made it convenient to stay warm until you were ready to start.
It was a rolling start where you pretty much start when you’re ready, which I had not experienced before. Just make sure you will finish within the time limit. I liked it as I didn’t have to wait around and there was not much congestion, which was nice. The first five or so miles was on trail, which had some fairly large rocks making the ground, uneven, but not awful. There were great views for pictures if that’s your thing.
The majority of the rest of the race was paved road, which was mostly downhill. The grade on the road was not bad and I didn’t really have any issues with finding a good place to run that didn’t bother my knees or ankles like I have experienced other races. Some people did have issues with the long downhill causing knee pain, but was fine for me.
There were plenty of aid stations with nutrition at the later stops, including gels, oranges and bananas.
I really appreciate the cup free vacation races as it eliminates so much trash on the ground!
There was decent crowd support as you reached back into town and headed towards the finish. There wasn’t much to the finish line as the post run festivities were held at an alternate location. I didn’t make it to this so I can’t comment on it. I spent the afternoon in Yosemite park. Shuttles back to the pickup areas ran smoothly.
If you’re planning on visiting Yosemite, just realize especially from Oakhurst it’s about an hour and a half to the main part of the park. It’s an absolutely beautiful place with tons to do and would recommend spending some extra time there if you have the chance. You do need a park reservation for the weekend.
There were a few issues, but overall I would recommend and would do again.
Another great Vacation Race!
The extent of downhills is no joke. We were really sore from braking so much. The course is scenic and I loved the combination of trails and pavement. There were … MORE
The extent of downhills is no joke. We were really sore from braking so much. The course is scenic and I loved the combination of trails and pavement. There were some unavoidable hiccups for the race organizers but they were accountable and made the most of it. Otherwise it was another great Vacation race! Note to future participants that to visit Yosemite on the weekend you DO need a park entrance ticket and need to pre-purchase them and they are competitive. Just fyi!
Beautiful Course
A fast downhill course with beautiful scenery to help get you thru for a potential PR. The unpaved portion at the beginning can be a little rough if not used … MORE
A fast downhill course with beautiful scenery to help get you thru for a potential PR. The unpaved portion at the beginning can be a little rough if not used to running unpaved/trail.
Beautiful downhill race
This is a beautiful race in the Sierra National Forest just outside Yosemite! Expo: Bib pick-up day before the race was located at Bass Lake (the finish area for the … MORE
This is a beautiful race in the Sierra National Forest just outside Yosemite!
Expo: Bib pick-up day before the race was located at Bass Lake (the finish area for the race) and went smoothly. There are a couple of merch and vendor tents, and the lake is a great place to chill and relax before the race.
Start logistics: Getting to the start required parking by Oakhurst High School and taking a shuttle. This was the worst part of the race experience. Vacation Races updated us all the night before saying one of the shuttle company owners had unexpectedly passed away so there would be fewer shuttles than normal. The line of runners was massive and I ended up waiting almost 2 hours, and the ride up to the start took another 30 minutes. There was coffee and fruit by the start line, but the portapotties were mostly out of toilet paper. The start line was a rolling start which was nice because it wasn’t crowded at all.
The course: The first 5 miles on the dirt trail were absolutely beautiful and my favorite part of the race. The trail wasn’t technical but there were a few muddy spots and some rocks to watch out for. It starts going downhill about 4 miles in and eventually switches to road. It’s a VERY long downhill until about mile 10 and took a beating on my quads/knees. The last 3 miles were around Bass Lake past lakefront houses. This part also shares the road with cars so it was less fun to run on. The last quarter mile or so turns back onto a grassy area right before the finish.
The finish: We were immediately met with medals and some awesome snack boxes right after crossing the finish line. Lots of people were also hanging out by the lake and taking a dip.
Overall this race was great aside from the shuttle experience. Pre-race communication was also super detailed and helpful.
Breathtaking Scenes!!!
This is one of the most beautifully scenic races I’ve ever run. Surrounded by nature’s beauty for 13.1 miles!! You will not be disappointed with this race. The elevation was … MORE
This is one of the most beautifully scenic races I’ve ever run. Surrounded by nature’s beauty for 13.1 miles!! You will not be disappointed with this race. The elevation was a kicker so you definitely have to train for it. It was such an amazing experience and I’m excited to completes the Vacation Races Series!!!
I would definitely do it again!
Beautiful scenery and I really liked the course. The fire road was more challenging with rougher terrain but finishing on the road was great. Aid stations were well spaced out. … MORE
Beautiful scenery and I really liked the course. The fire road was more challenging with rougher terrain but finishing on the road was great.
Aid stations were well spaced out. Clothing drop offs were missing at each one except mile 3. If we hadn’t been expecting to find them it wouldn’t have been an issue.
Overall, great half and I would definitely do it again!
A fun scenic race
Lots of fast downhill through forests, treelined road and along Bass Lake. Be prepared with hydration and electrolytes. Make sure you look good at the finish line as the pictures … MORE
Lots of fast downhill through forests, treelined road and along Bass Lake. Be prepared with hydration and electrolytes. Make sure you look good at the finish line as the pictures are free.
Forest to Lakeshore Half near Yosemite
Five miles of a wide challenging trail through a beautiful forest followed by 5 miles of a fast paved downhill, ending in rollers along beautiful Bass Lake. Great medals and … MORE
Five miles of a wide challenging trail through a beautiful forest followed by 5 miles of a fast paved downhill, ending in rollers along beautiful Bass Lake. Great medals and pre-and-post race management by Vacation Races
PR with incredible scenery
There was a hiccup at the beginning with busses canceling last minute, but I don't fault vacation races for that. They did well with what they had, and the rolling … MORE
There was a hiccup at the beginning with busses canceling last minute, but I don’t fault vacation races for that. They did well with what they had, and the rolling start ended up being beneficial with all the mud towards the start of the course. The course was downhill nearly the entire time which makes it great opportunity for a PR, but is a beast on the knees! Half trail and half paved roads, all with gorgeous views. The quantity of portajohns at the start and finish were amazing. I never had to wait more than a few seconds. Coffee at the start and bananas at the finish. I wish they had vegan chocolate milk like they had at a previous race.
Fast, downhill course with stunning view
A great course to try and PR at! It is both trail and road running and tree lined the whole way except for the last couple of miles where you … MORE
A great course to try and PR at! It is both trail and road running and tree lined the whole way except for the last couple of miles where you run around Bass Lake. As someone from sea level, altitude is always a concern at these mountainous areas, but it was not a factor really here. Vacation Races did a great job of dealing with a last minute bussing issue and still put on an amazing race. It is a point to point and neither point has parking so you do need to take the shuttle both ways.
Logistics were lacking
This race was entirely dependent upon a shuttle to the start. Less than 12 hours before the race start, a vendor backed out. While this wasn’t the fault of Vacation … MORE
This race was entirely dependent upon a shuttle to the start. Less than 12 hours before the race start, a vendor backed out. While this wasn’t the fault of Vacation Races, it didn’t seem like there was any backup or contingency plan. This became a logistical nightmare and significantly negatively impacted our race experience.
That aside, the race was a beautiful course. The people were very friendly and helpful, even though circumstances were outside of their control. I would like to do this run again when things are going smoothly to truly be able to experience this run as it was meant to be, instead of being highly anxious about the logistical nightmare it became on race day.