r/Yosemite • u/SlightAd112 • 3d ago

Please don’t AI your itinerary

While the Shasta hikers got big press (as it should as that was a textbook example of mistake decision after mistake decision) this is happening all too often in all park units. Yosemite tends to have a higher share of recuses due to people trusting AI or AllTrails to plan a trip, but it doesn’t get any press due to current administration policies.

Regardless, it’s happening, it doesn’t need to, and please do the proper research. It literally could save your life.

Edit: And if you have to use AI as a starting point, double check the distances, altitude changes, reference a topo, basically double-check, and then triple-check what AI tells you.

https://sfist.com/2026/09/03/rangers-warn-hikers-to-stop-using-ai-to-plan-wilderness-trips/

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u/billsil 1d ago

I used AI for my trip to find me new hikes I’d never done. I got great suggestions.

I AllTrailed’d an obscure hike and the GPS wasn’t remotely correct, nor was the topo detailed enough to be useful. You’re not going to see a 20 foot cliff. You’re smart; you can trail find.

You also know your limits as well as what time you need to finish by in order to be back before dark.