Tuolumne Meadows is a great area to visit to get away from the large crowds in Yosemite Valley. This area is a few thousand feet higher than the valley and may take some time before becoming completely acclimated. From Tuolumne, there are a number of great hiking options, such as to Mt. Dana, or Lyell Canyon, or along the Tuolumne River. Come in Spring to see the meadows full of brightly colored wildflowers, or explore the High Sierra back country with trips to the High Sierra Camps.
Trails
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
May Lake
An easy day hike or overnighter to a popular and beautiful subalpine lake.
An easy day hike or overnighter to a popular and beautiful subalpine lake.
Easy
1.3 mi/
2.1 km
2.1 km
Tuolumne River
Enjoy a relaxing break to the sounds of the Tuolumne River after this short hike through the meadow
Enjoy a relaxing break to the sounds of the Tuolumne River after this short hike through the meadow
Easy
1.6 mi/
2.6 km
2.6 km
Tuolumne River Loop - Dana and Lyell Forks
An easy 4 miles long loop hike traverses both forks, Dana & Lyell, of Tuolumne River and provides great scenic views.
An easy 4 miles long loop hike traverses both forks, Dana & Lyell, of Tuolumne River and provides great scenic views.
Easy
4.0 mi/
6.4 km
6.4 km
Elizabeth Lake - Yosemite National Park
An glacier-carved alpine lake located at the base of Unicorn Peak offers scenic views and tranquility.
An glacier-carved alpine lake located at the base of Unicorn Peak offers scenic views and tranquility.
Easy
4.6 mi/
7.4 km
7.4 km
Lembert Dome
Enjoy scenic views of Tuolumne Meadows from the top of the dome.
Enjoy scenic views of Tuolumne Meadows from the top of the dome.
Moderate
2.4 mi/
3.9 km
3.9 km
Tioga Peak
Tioga Peak is a nice and easy peak found near Tioga Pass just east of the Yosemite boundary.
Tioga Peak is a nice and easy peak found near Tioga Pass just east of the Yosemite boundary.
Moderate
2.9 mi/
4.7 km
4.7 km
Cathedral Lakes, Yosemite NP
Worship the great outdoors from the heart of Yosemite National Park.
Worship the great outdoors from the heart of Yosemite National Park.
Moderate
8.0 mi/
12.9 km
12.9 km
Upper Young Lakes Loop
Loop trail from Tuolumne Meadows to Upper Young Lake and return.
Loop trail from Tuolumne Meadows to Upper Young Lake and return.
Moderate
14.9 mi/
24 km
24 km
Lyell Canyon-Vogelsang Loop
A tramp through the heart of Yosemite's Cathedral Range.
A tramp through the heart of Yosemite's Cathedral Range.
Moderate
20 mi/
32 km
32 km
Mount Conness
A classic Yosemite peak, highest in the Sierra north of Highway 120 and holding the second largest glacier in Yosemite.
A classic Yosemite peak, highest in the Sierra north of Highway 120 and holding the second largest glacier in Yosemite.
Difficult
9.0 mi/
14.5 km
14.5 km
John Muir Trail: Happy Isles to Tuolumne Meadows
"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
Difficult
21 mi/
34 km
34 km
Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley
A strenuous 2-4 day backcountry trip full of meadows, mountains, and waterfalls
A strenuous 2-4 day backcountry trip full of meadows, mountains, and waterfalls
Difficult
28 mi/
45 km
45 km
John Muir Trail: Tuolumne to Reds Meadow
"Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue." - John Muir
"Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue." - John Muir
Difficult
34 mi/
55 km
55 km
Guides
Worship the great outdoors from the heart of Yosemite National Park.
Experience deep valleys, sheer cliffs and some of North America's best waterfalls in the country's 3rd National Park
"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
"Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue." - John Muir
Enjoy scenic views of Tuolumne Meadows from the top of the dome.
An glacier-carved alpine lake located at the base of Unicorn Peak offers scenic views and tranquility.
A strenuous 2-4 day backcountry trip full of meadows, mountains, and waterfalls
Enjoy a relaxing break to the sounds of the Tuolumne River after this short hike through the meadow
Loop trail from Tuolumne Meadows to Upper Young Lake and return.
A tramp through the heart of Yosemite's Cathedral Range.
A classic Yosemite peak, highest in the Sierra north of Highway 120 and holding the second largest glacier in Yosemite.
Tioga Peak is a nice and easy peak found near Tioga Pass just east of the Yosemite boundary.
Community Trips
Our original plans for the weekend were for a mellow family backpack with the girls but when the girls started to bail we changed plans and headed out to the Eastern Sierra. After leaving San Jose at 6am we arrived in Bridgeport at 12pm to pick up our wilderness permits at the ranger station. Unfortunately(or maybe serendipitously) our first choice of the Green Creek trailhead had filled up with 40 people by 8am...
My highest hike yet! I made to the summit of Mt Dana at 13,000 ft. The last 1000 ft has almost no trail to speak of, so it's a scramble through the rocks, taking a lot of energy, and making breathing that much more difficult. The views at the top were priceless!Full trip story at:http://tmeekins.blogspot.com/2011/08/mt-dana-aug-26-2011.html
Mount Dana is the second highest mountain in Yosemite Natioanal Park and also one of the easiest accessible high mountain in the park. However, with the elevation of 13,053 feet, it is never an easy hike to summit the mountain. The trailhead to the summit is located at the parking lot next to the Tioga Pass kiosk. From there, it is a 3-mile one-way trip to the top of Mount Dana and gains...
This is a semi loop hike, with diversions to side trails, in 20 Lakes Basin just outside the Tioga Pass entrance station to Yosemite. I will do a full write up on my blog soon.http://randyswaypoints.blogspot.com/2012/09/20-lakes-basin-inyo-national-forest.html
Final get to visit High Sierra Camps in Yosemite's backcountry. Beautfiul does not do it justice. The pictures only give a glimpse of what magnificence and granduer that is all around you out there. Fortunately we had wonderful weather; we had reports of 3 to 4 days prior of rainstorms, hail and lightning.
Elizabeth Lake is an apline lake located below Unicorn Peak. The trailhead to the lake is located in the B loop of the Tuolumne Meadows campground. The trail basically follows along Unicorn Creek upstream to the lake and gains most elevaton in the first mile hike. The hike is 4.6 miles roundtrip with elevation gain of 1,000 feet.I hiked the trail in mid-July but still encountered snow in the way. By the time I...
A side trip before we depart May Lake. Up to the top of 10,850 Mt. Hoffman. The summit of Mt. Hoffman can't be seen from May Lake. We asked Mookie, the camp assistant manger, how long it would take. The general rule is one hour plus your age in minutes. Fortunately for us we made it up in about 1:20. We were told, back at Glen Aulin, the views of Yosemite from...
Mt Dana is an impressive peak right next to the Tioga Pass road at the east entrance to Yosemite. I have often thought about hiking it, but hadn't done it until I used it to acclimatize for longer hike. There are two hiking routes. One is from the entrance station, the other is just outside the park next to Tioga Lake. I picked the second because I had heard it was a...
The Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River flows from Mount Dana and meets the Lyell Fork descending from Mount Lyell in Tuolumne Meadows somewhere near theTuolumne Meadows campground. During our stay in Tuolumne Meadows, we decided to pay it a visit to hike the delta area near the merge. We started at the trailhead to John Muir Trail near the Dog Lake parking lot. After five minutes hiking along Dana Fork upstream,...
As I failed to complete the Glen Aulin hike in the morning due to the flooding water in Delaney Creek, I decided to hike Gaylor Lake instead in the afternoon. By the time I arrived at the parking lot near the Tioga Pass toll station, I was supprised to find out people standing on the summit of Mt. Dana via super zoom shot. Gladly I changed my mind to hike Mt. Dana...
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