Tuolumne MeadowsUp here there are less trees and the air is thinner. It is a little windy and home to dozens of varieties of wildflowers. In the winter months, the snow gets so deep that the road that leads here (Tioga Pass) is closed. The views of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Range is incredible. You can see the tops of granite domes and jagged peaks for miles. This is a place for those who like to hike, fish, camp, take pictures and drive their RV's. This is not a place that is heavily populated with tourists. This is a place for those who are serious about being outdoors! Tuolumne Meadows sits at 8,600 feet. If you are one who loves to go fishing then fishing Yosemite's high country is just for you!
Tioga Pass Tioga Pass is the road that goes to and through Tuolumne Meadows. This road is the highest automobile pass in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Range. It is 9,945 feet. This road is only open during the summer months. It is closed from November until May or June of each year. This pass provides some of the most spectular views in all of California. Tioga Pass is what bridges Yosemite Valley to Mono Lake and the small city of Lee Vining. As you are driving across Tioga Pass, right next to the road you will see Tenya Lake, Tioga Lake and Ellery Lake. There is a parking lot to park and you can get out of your vehicle and enjoy each of the lakes. No hiking required! Yosemite Backpacking And Hiking This is a place to go backpacking and hike until you just don't want to hike no more! Tuolumne Meadows has the trail heads to Dog Lake, Yosemite Creek, Lambert Dome, Soda Springs, Hodgdon Meadows, Lukens Lake, White Wolf, Porcupine Creek, May Lake, Sunrise, Cathederal Lakes and Snow Creek Trail. Take Me Away To Tuolumne Meadows! If you are in Yosemite Valley and you want to head to the high country, then let me take a moment and share with you what you will see along the way. Just before you turn onto Tioga Road you will come to Big Oak Flat. This is a lookout vista. Another great view of Yosemite Valley. You'll drive about one mile on Tioga Road and then on the left you will come to the giant sequoia grove of trees of Tuolumne. This is a different set of giant sequoias than what is at Mariposa Grove. You see there are three groves of these giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park. One is the Merced Grove, another is Mariposa Grove (the largest of the three groves) and the third one is the Tuolumne Grove. There are 75 naturally occurring groves of the giant sequoia trees on the Western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Three groves are in Yosemite National Park. Once you get to this point, you can park your vehicle in the parking lot. It is a one mile downhill hike to the trees. But allow yourself 2-3 hours (round trip) for this hike. Coming back, it is an uphill hike! Take water with you, you will need it. It is an easy dirt trail to walk. Once there, you will see the dead giant tunnel tree that they used to allow motorists to drive through. This was a tree that was tunneled out in 1878! You were allowed to drive through the tree until 1993, then it was shut down to motorists and now you can just walk through it. You will also see a cluster of about 45 beautiful giant sequoias. This is also the trailhead if you want to hike 4.2 miles to Hodgdon Meadow. This is also a great trail if you are one to cross country ski or go snow shoeing in the winter! Lukens Lake Next you will come to the trailhead of Lukens Lake. This hike is 1.6 miles. This is one of those California hiking trails that has a lot of beautiful wildflowers that come waste high along the hiking trail. You will see dozens of different kinds of wildflower in an array of colors while hiking outdoors. At 0.7 miles on the trail, you will come to a creek. The creek takes you the rest of the way to Lukens Lake. Be warned that this is mosquito haven...so bring bug repellent! This is a great lake to have a picnic by or throw in your fishing pole. Yosemite Creek Continue on your drive on Tioga Pass and about five miles up the road, you see a trailhead sign to Yosemite Creek. This trailhead will take you to Yosemite Creek Campground, to the top of Yosemite Falls and if you want...all the way down to Yosemite Valley! This is a great trail to the top of Yosemite Falls if you do not want to hike it from the valley up!
May Lake And Mount Hoffman From the trailhead to May Lake is 2.4 miles. This trail has alot of wildflowers and ferns along the trail. Give yourself about 2 hours (round trip) for May Lake. It is a beautiful hike. Along the trail you will have views of Clouds Rest, Tenaya Canyon, Half Dome, Mount Clark and Tenaya Lake. About half way to May Lake you will pass the High Sierra Camp which is a very popular campground. You are not allowed to swim in May Lake. This lake's water is used for the local area. Behind May Lake is a huge mountain. This is Mount Hoffman. The mountain is 10,850 feet high. Here is an interesting fact: Mount Hoffman is the geographic center of Yosemite National Park! Look for the trailhead here at May Lake to continue your hike to the top of Mount Hoffman. It is another 2 miles to the top! Give yourself 3-4 more hours (round trip) if you are going to the top of Mount Hoffman. This is an tough hike but if you can do it, the views that you gain going another 1,500 feet are very rewarding.
Omstead Point Omstead Point is one of the best lookout points here in Tuolumne Meadows. You get a panoramic view of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Range and Yosemite Valley. If you have your binocular's handy, you can see people climbing up the cables on the backside of Half Dome! You will also see Clouds Rest. Clouds Rest is a jagged peak that is 9,926 feet tall. There are several large boulders that have fallen sparatically onto the landscape. This is a place to see lots of chipmunks, squirrels and marmots. Omstead Point is also the trailhead for Snow Creek Trail. This trail will lead you over to Tenaya Lake. This is a 1.6 mile hike. If you don't want to hike all the way to Tenaya Lake from here you can hike just 0.2 miles to a lower lookout point that overlooks Tenaya Canyon. Or if you want a longer hike, you can hike 10.3 miles all the way to Tuolumne Meadows! Oh, the choices of California hiking trails up here in Tuolumne! Tenya Lake Back on the Tioga Pass you will next come to Tenya Lake. There is a nice parking lot to park and get out here. A large beautiful dark blue lake that is great for those who like to fish or skip rocks! There is a nice sandy beach here if you want to set up some chairs, have a picnic, swim and take in the scenery. This long narrow lake is right next to Tioga Pass road. Just on the other side of the road are sheer granite cliffs. It is very easy to see groups of people rock climbing. A lot of rock climbing lessons happen right here! This is a place where you will use your binoculars! There is a trail that will allow you to walk completely around this lake. There are lots of beautiful wildflowers along the trail that goes around this beautiful lake. Be sure to bring your camera! There is also the Sunrise trailhead here at Tenaya Lakes. Cathederal Lakes Cathederal Lakes will be the next trailhead sign along Tioga Pass. This is a tough hike. Even though it is just less than 4 miles, you have a 1,000 feet elevation gain on this hike. This is two lakes and they are both great if you like to fish! Give yourself 5-6 hours (round trip) for this hike. There is alot more to see and do along Tioga Pass than just what is described above. There is just to much information to put on one page! For those of you who love to hike outdoors, want to experience camping in Yosemite, fishing Yosemite and Yosemite backpacking...you really must make your way up here to Tuolumne Meadows! Yosemite did well by becoming part of the United States National Parks system. It is an absolutely beautiful place for each of us to come and enjoy. Your almost to Tuolumne Meadows itself! Click on the link below to continue the journey of this area called Tuolumne Meadows. I will tell you about some different campgrounds, Lembert Dome, Dog Lake, Soda Springs, Tuolumne Falls, Waterwheel Falls, Glen Aulin Falls,the horse riding stable, the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, Tioga Lake, Ellery Lake, Tioga Pass Resort and a few other good stops that are all up here on top of Yosemite Valley! Return From The Tuolumne Meadows Page To Points Of Interest Page
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