One of the more popular hikes north of highway 120 is along the Tuolumne River starting at Tuolumne Meadows. The trail follows the river 5 1/2 miles before reaching Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp. From there you have the option of heading south to May Lake High Sierra Camp, north to the more remote area of the north part of the park, or continue along the river and see some great waterfalls. You'll start out at Tuolumne Meadows at about 8500 feet, and descend to Pate Valley at about 4500 feet before starting to climb up the White Wolf Campground at about 8000 feet. You're more likely to see rattlesnakes on this route, but they aren't a real problem. All the rattlesnakes I've seen in the park have been below 6,000 ft, but I've heard of them being seen higher. Pate Valley is known for its bears, but proper use of bear canisters means you shouldn't have a problem, unless you leave some food item in your pack. The water falls on this route more than make up for the negatives. They can be spectacular.

Backpacker camps are available at Tuolumne Meadows, Glen Aulin, and White Wolf. That means there are restrooms and bear boxes available The bus stops at Tuolumne Meadows and White Wolf.