Hiking

Yosemite National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Tuolumne Meadows Map and Area Information Take the Tuolumne Meadows shuttle bus along Tioga Road! See schedule posted at stops. To Yosemite Valley 12 Olmsted Point Pothole Dome May Lake Trailhead 11 10 Sunrise Tenaya Lakes Trailhead (west end of Tenaya Lake) lor Gay kes La Tioga Pass/ Gaylor Lakes Trailhead * see enlarged map below Lake 8 9 Tenaya Lake East End Lembert Dome Parking and 5 Picnic Area Visitor Center 7 6 Cathedral Lakes Trailhead Campground and Store 4 Tuolumne Lodge Wilderness Center Dog Lake Parking 3 Mono Pass Trailhead * 1 2 To Lee Vining * limited schedule to these stops Close-up of Tuolumne Meadows Area (not to scale) Area Information to Young Lakes to Young Lakes Parsons Lodge Pothole Dome Stables to Tenaya Lake 8 8 Ti o uo ga Ro ad 7 7 lu m n Please use the trail (across the road) to return to your vehicle when completing this loop.Do not walk along the roadway. Dog Lake Parking Lembert Dome Parking/Picnic Area Soda Springs T U O L U M N E T Dog Lake Lembert Dome 4 M E A D O W S ess Wildernnter Ce Da e R iver 5 Visitor Center Post Office, Grill & Store Ly For safety while hiking, carry water and be prepared for sudden weather changes. Please walk on official trails to protect fragile meadow ecosystems. Dogs, bicycles, and strollers are only allowed on roads open to vehicles. Day-hikers and backpackers must go to the bathroom at least 100 feet away from water, trail, and camp areas; bury human waste six inches deep; pack out toilet paper and all other trash. Parking: Park only in designated areas. Drive only on established roadways. Parking is very limited. Please walk or take the shuttle bus whenever possible. Food lockers are located at most parking areas. All food, trash and scented items should be removed from vehicles and placed in food lockers (this is required by law at night). Keep empty coolers out of sight. Ranger programs include nightly campfires and daily walks; see Yosemite Guide or postings for times and locations. Parsons Memorial Lodge: Exhibits and Summer Series programs are free and open to the public. See Yosemite Guide or postings for schedule. Food service is available at the Grill and Lodge. Groceries can be purchased at the store. to Glen Aulin und o gr amp C el na Fo r 1 2 3 Tuolumne Meadows Lodge John Muir Trailhead k l F ork “Twin Bridges” Dana Campfire Circle 6 to Cathedral Lakes to Elizabeth Lake Trail Information 7 Shuttle Stop Picnic Area Parking Restrooms to Lyell Canyon and Vogelsang 06/2016 Yosemite National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Tuolumne Area Day Hikes * RT=roundtrip Easy (mostly flat) Moderately Strenuous (moderate elevation gain) Tuolumne Meadows: Soda Springs/Parsons Memorial Lodge Cathedral Lakes 1.5 miles (2.4 km) RT* 1 hour Lyell Canyon via the John Muir Trail 8 miles (12.8 km) 200-ft. elevation gain Plan on ~2 miles/hour depending on how far you go. Begin at Lembert Dome parking area (shuttle stop #4). Walk along the gravel road and pass the locked gate (signed Glen Aulin and Soda Springs). Soda Springs—carbonated, cold water bubbling out of the ground—is protected within a log enclosure. Historic Parsons Memorial Lodge offers exhibits (limited hours— see Yosemite Guide for schedule). A path to the bridge below the lodge continues to the Tuolumne Visitor Center. Begin across the road from Dog Lake parking area (shuttle stop #2). This trail passes through Lyell Canyon, along the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River. Early in the season, the trail can be muddy in places. There are several creek crossings, including Rafferty Creek (bridged) and Ireland Creek (unbridged). Spectacular Kuna Creek cascades down the side of the east canyon wall near the eight-mile mark. For a shorter trip, walk 1/2 hour each way to the Lyell Fork and “Twin Bridges.” 7 miles (11.3 km) RT* 4 - 6 hours 1,000-ft. elevation gain Glen Aulin 11 miles (17.7 km) RT* 6 - 8 hours, 800-ft. elevation gain on return Mono Pass 8 miles (12.9 km) RT* 4 - 6 hours 1,000-ft. elevation gain Moderately Strenuous (moderate elevation gain) Dog Lake or Lembert Dome 2.8 miles (4.5 km) RT* 3 hours, 600-ft. elevation gain to Dog Lake or 850-ft. to Lembert Dome Begin at the Dog Lake parking area (shuttle stop #2, just west of Tuolumne Lodge). The trail rises steeply for 0.75 mile to a signed junction. Turn left to reach the top of Lembert Dome for a spectacular view of Tuolumne Meadows and surrounding peaks. To reach Dog Lake, continue straight at the junction. Allow four hours for a leisurely four mile (6.4 km) roundtrip visit to both Dog Lake and Lembert Dome. Stay off domes during thunderstorms! Elizabeth Lake 4.8 miles (7.7 km) RT* 4 - 5 hours 1,000-ft. elevation gain Begin at Tuolumne Meadows Campground. The trail begins in the B loop of the campground and climbs steadily to a glacier-carved lake at the base of Unicorn Peak. The return hike follows the same route. Gaylor Lakes 2 miles (3.2 km) RT* 2 hours 500-ft. elevation gain Begin along Tioga Road, shuttle stop #7 (0.5 mile west of the Tuolumne Visitor Center). The trail climbs steadily to Upper Cathedral Lake. Near the top of the climb, it passes a spur trail to Lower Cathedral Lake (0.5 mile to lake). The return hike follows the same route. This is one of the busiest trails in the Tuolumne Meadows area. Since parking at the trailhead is limited, consider taking the shuttle bus. Begin at Soda Springs (see description above). Follow the Tuolumne River as it drops to Glen Aulin. Tuolumne Fall and White Cascade are four miles from the trailhead. Beyond Glen Aulin are California Fall (13 miles roundtrip), LeConte Fall (15 miles roundtrip), and Waterwheel Falls (18 miles roundtrip). The return hike follows the same route. Begin at signed trailhead along Tioga Road (six miles east of Tuolumne Meadows) - shuttle service available from Tuolumne Lodge. This historic, trans-Sierra trail climbs gently at first from the Mono Pass parking area, through wet meadows and rushing creeks. At the Spillway Lake junction, the trail climbs steadily and more steeply to Mono Pass (elevation 10,600 feet). Don’t miss the spectacular view of Mono Lake and Bloody Canyon: from the pass, hike a bit farther toward Upper Sardine Lake. Begin at Tioga Pass Entrance Station - shuttle service available from Tuolumne Lodge. This hike offers some of the most spectacular high-country views off of Tioga Road. From the trailhead, climb steadily to a ridge with views of the high Sierra including Mt. Dana and Dana Meadows with its scattered ponds. At the ridge crest, the trail drops 200 feet to Middle Gaylor Lake. Return via the same route. Strenuous (long with elevation gain) Begin at John Muir Trailhead, across from Dog Lake parking area Vogelsang Area 13.8 miles (22.2 km) RT* 6 - 8 hours 1,360-ft. elevation gain (shuttle stop #2). The first two miles of the John Muir Trail are relatively level as they follow the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River. At the Rafferty Creek junction, the trail begins its 1,200 foot ascent to Tuolumne Pass. Follow the signs to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, another 160 feet higher in elevation. Hike beyond the camp to Vogelsang Lake (0.5 mile, 280-ft. elevation gain) or to Vogelsang Pass (1.5 mile, 600-ft. elevation gain).