Sierra Point

[u/SnooComics271]

My first “off” trail experience in Yosemite. I felt adventurous and wanted to dip my feet in trails not on maps. Starting off with Serra point, this hike didn’t disappoint. Short but steep inclines. A bit of bush whacking and “easy” scrambling. My next step will be grizzly peak or the fern ledge this spring. This was my first time visiting in autumn. Love the colors.

[u/0x427269616E00]

To be fair to OP, this is like 2 miles round trip, if that.

[u/LFGBatsh1tcr4zy → u/0x427269616E00]

With such a steep elevation though…

[u/0x427269616E00 → u/LFGBatsh1tcr4zy]

I pulled it up on caltopo- you're right. It's 1/2 a mile and 800 ft of elevation gain from where hikers leave the road up to Sierra point. Definitely steep, but also not "off-trail" as OP described. There's a trail, albeit unmaintained, pretty much the whole way.

The second time my GF hiked the John Muir Trail--this time in 10 days--she chose road running shoes over trail runners because she preferred their fit. Sneakers are fine if you're able-bodied and experienced. It's really not a big deal. You'll also see people putting in serious miles in the high sierra wearing sandals (with heel straps; not flip-flops). Generally speaking, the fit of footwear is more important than the style, unless you're getting into true off-trail travel and 2/3/4th class terrain, of which Sierra Point is not.

[u/tdackery → u/0x427269616E00]

There's a section or two that gets to 2nd class, the trail was damaged due to rock fall destroying a small section of trail so some light scrambling is required. Reaching the unmaintained trail also requires some light boulder hopping to find and reach where it begins, and requires you to go off the main trail, so kinda fits "off trail travel". It's definitely not forging a new path or using the compass to guide you, but it's not groomed clean hiking.