This is the perfect any-season beginner trip for anyone wanting to dip their toes in backpacking. Campsites are equipped with bear lockers. Click here to learn how to make online backcountry permit reservations in Yosemite. Start at the Lembert Dome Parking Lot and take the trail via the Dog Lake route towards Young Lakes. Lower Young Lake elevation: 9,880 feet
The second lake is much smaller than the first, but the lakes grassy margins set it apart from the first, providing a more verdant ambiance. Theyre $80 and soldonline, at all REI locations, and National Park Visitor Centers. Park at Lembert Dome parking area. The last section between the second and third lake is a rough, cross country path. Location: Yosemite National Park
The trail in this area follows a creek so filtering water on the trail is quite easy. On a typical summer morning, there will be a very long line of people waiting to get permits. We went up via Glen Aulin TH with the intention of coming back via Dog Lake for an overnight trip. Learn about new trail guides, outdoor news, and be the first to learn about events in the free Modern Hiker Newsletter. This gorgeous view is worth some consideration, so plan on taking a short break when you reach the crest of the ridge that divides Dingley Creek from Conness Creek at 3.9 miles. We use theBearVault BV450 Food Containerand we love it. A short walk leads to a meadow with expansive views of the surrounding mountains. #washingtonstate #pnwonderland #upperleftusa #livewashington #pnw #washingtontrails #washingtonexplored #findyourselfoutside #optoutside #washington #landscape #pacificnorthwest #landscapephotography #travel #naturephotography #wanderlust #instanature #sharetheexperience #nationalpark #mountains #nature #hiking #adventure. This trip to the Young Lakes is probably my favorite low effort-high reward trip in Yosemite National Park. There are also plenty of nearby hikes includingPothole Dome trail, which tracks along the western edge of Tuolumne Meadows. This camping spot is also specifically majestic because the sunset aligns with a dip in the distant mountains, which means that you get a lot of daylight and a dramatic sunset.
At this point, the trail begins a gentle, occasionally moderate climb toward the crest of a ridge before dropping down to a vast meadow fed by Delaney Creek. The PCT will continue to lead you east to a junction with an old access road that leads to Parsons Lodge at 13.5 miles.
All three of the Young Lakes are stunning and you cant go wrong camping at any of them. Also, if you make a reservation, you can pretty much skip the long line at the Wilderness Center when you pick up your permit. Follow along as we share our adventures at home & abroad. Thank you author for this trail info.
Cross Delaney Creek (a careful, deep ford early in the season) at 1.8 miles, and then continue to the base of another ridge on the north side of the meadow. With so much up and down on the Dog Lake trail, we werent eager to go back that way, and are generally big fans of doing loop hikes. Find the renowned "ledge" campsite that over looks the lower of the two lakes and Ragged P Lembert Dome may seem impossible to scale when observing it from the trailhead, but it is actually a relatively easy hike up to the summit. Spectacular views of the Cathedral Range compensate for the up-and-down nature of the trail on the approach, but a return route on this trail becomes tedious.
), a trip to a lake basin is always a source of excitement and anticipation. Here, youll cross your second and slightly larger creek.
From the top of the cliff, its a straight shot to the lake and some top-notch camping spots. This can increase the chances of getting the permit you want by a lot, especially on the weekends. Campsites: north side of Lower and Middle Lakes, northwest side of upper lake
The return journey has you retracing your steps from lake 3 to the lake 1 and back to the junction where the Young Lakes Trails merge/split. Cell Service:None.
Crowd Factor:Low-Moderate. Whats your favorite? 
Restrooms:Flush toilets at the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Permit Office, and pit toilets at the Dog Lake trailhead. No matter the distance, theres nothing quite like the satisfaction of reaching a summit! I describe the route this way since the eastern trail undulates over several ridges dividing the Delaney Creek, Dingley Creek, and Conness Creek watersheds. Forest bounds the western and northern margins of the first lake, and its here that youll find the best campsites. In those instances, bears may become aggressive in trying to get more human food, which can lead to the park having to euthanize the bear. Permit:A Wilderness Permit is required and available through Yosemite.org. 2022 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. They even have microwavable breakfast burritos that you can microwave in the store. It was not an easy trip for him, but definitely doable for first-timers. Its durable, light and fits all of our food for two to three day trips. Other nearby peaks are Sheep Peak, North Peak, and Mount Conness, and the trail provides great views of countless more distant summits to the south, of the Cathedral Range.[2]. Regular campgrounds at Tuolumne Meadows are often full, but there is a backpackers' camp where you can spend one night if you have a wilderness permit before setting out on the trail. We caught our first views of the peaks where we were headingaround 3.5 miles in, and then crossed another small creek before heading back into the trees again. For the waterfall route, head east along the banks of the lower lake until you get to a rocky area where a creek flows into the lake. Note: the park sign indicates that Dog Lake is just 0.1, but we tracked it as 0.2. Thanks to getting on the trail early, we only encountered one other pair of hikers who were making their way down and had the summit to ourselves.
The store is pretty small but has all the essentials like water, ice cream and Cliff Bars and yes, ice cream is an essential and they have those new double-dipped Magnum bars that I like. Hiking Distance: 6.4 miles
Each lake is a miracle of time, climate, and geology, and that one can spend a lifetime in the Sierra and never see them all is both reassuring and a tiny bit tragic at the same time. Cross this access road (unless you want to turn right to visit the lodge) and continue past Soda Springs, a set of natural springs famous for their carbonation, on the right at 13.6 miles. At 14.5 miles, youll leave the forest and shade behind and open up to some pretty incredible views.
We go here every single time we visit Yosemite. Fortunately, the uphill was short-lived, and we began to descend, which was a welcome sight. As you follow the trail upwards, the forest closes back up again and then leads you straight to Lower Young Lake. After all the waiting, if you get to the front of the line and all the permits for this trail are gone, you can also try out this great adventure that also starts at the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center. Plus, the perfect campsite is super-close to Upper Young Lake, so you can attempt a swim in the ice cold water.
We reached Middle Young Lake at 8.35 miles. We paused to spray ourselves before quickly continuing on. Youll be very prepared for the daily 2pm Sierra Nevada thunderstorm. For that reason, I route you back on the western branch, which doesnt undulate as much, even if it isnt as scenic.
For your permit application, the official trailhead names for this trip are Young Lakes via Dog Lake (22C) and Young Lakes via Glen Aulin (23). After the crossing, youll continue directly east until you get to a rocky thirty foot cliff. This loop is a tour through the many wonders of Redwood National including the famous big trees, a moody beach, and the mystical Fern Canyon.
As long as youre going east, youll end up at the right place eventually. Either trailhead will get you there, but note that this write-up is designed to lead you from the Dog Lake Trailhead on a counter-clockwise loop. adventures and follow local regulations.
We are Brian and Julie, a Bay Area couple making travel work with full-time jobs. The hike in was a little rough in the middle of the day (mostly exposed), but not super steep at any point. I recently did this hike as a day hike. Its definitely a bit disheartening to do so much downhill after the hard work it took to get to the meadow. Take an incredibly scenic hike to Young Lakes in the backcountry of Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite. Once at the wilderness center, pick up your permit and review the park rules with a ranger. Lower and Middle Young Lakes are beautiful, but you're going to want to push on to Upper Young Lake, where you'll find the best views of the lot. We almost never have a fire though, because no matter how careful you are, back country fires are still very risky and we really dont want to put Yosemite in danger. Its not too difficult, but you do have to be careful climbing with a big backpack, because the branches surrounding the waterfall are very good at snagging stuff. On trails with consistent water access, we usually just fill up a SMART water bottle, screw in theSawyer filterand drink straight from the filter spout. At this point we found the mosquitoes, that had otherwise been non-existent, were out and ready to feast on us. Tags: Cathedral Range, Delany Creek, Dingley Creek, Dog Lake, Lembert Dome, Mt. The nearby Tuolumne Meadows market makes a pretty good basic burger, but if youre looking for something more filling and are heading west towards the Bay Area, theres a very good sandwich shop in Oakdale called The Cottonwood Caf. At 5.2 miles, the trail takes a hard bend to the east to begin a short climb through dense forest toward the first of the Young Lakes. They allow dispersed camping, which means that you can camp anywhere in the park as long as you hike at least four miles away from the trailhead and pitch your tent at least 100 feet away from the trail and from water. If you dont want to try the waterfall route, I think there may be an easier and flatter route farther north of the two lakes. The trailhead does feature food storage lockers that will allow you to store your food safely from bears. There are restrooms and picnic tables at the eastside of thelot,thereyou will also find the trailhead to Dog Lake. But at this point, continue straight ahead as you traverse the western slopes of Ragged Peak, a distinctly craggy peak that stands out from the polished granite typical of the Tuolumne River basin. So many of them lie scattered across the Range of Light that its next to impossible that any one soul will ever get to see them all. Since this was a low snow year, a trip in early June ended up being the perfect time to visit. The park rangers make these, so take care of them and dont make your own. Showers and restrooms are located in the center of the camp. Not pictured or daydreaming about: an endless parade of mosquitoes! We retraced our steps, and coming down the waterfall was a bit trickier than going up, but manageable. Lyell punctuate the southern skyline. Highest point on the trail: 9,973 feet
If youre content to camp at Lower Lake its a beautiful spot and there are plenty of places to set up your tent. Young Lakes north of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park make an ideal weekend trip. Rattlesnakes are rare, but hikers should always be vigilant. Tuolumne Meadows Lodge has 69 canvas tent cabins. Beyond the meadow, the trail climbs through a ravine through which runs Dog Lakes outlet creek. This informal trail climbs almost directly through a stream, making it much wilder than any section of trail thus far.
More uphill follows and then at the 5.5 mark, youll descend again, keeping with the theme of the day. You can attack this route either as a dayhike or an overnight trip/three-day weekend. It is by far the best way to see and admire Tuolumne Meadows, not to mention the granite top, which is a wonderland to explore. Youll cross two more small creeks here, as the trail continues northwest.
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Activities: Fishing, photography, cross-country explorations, peak climbing. The rest of the way to Upper Lake is a bit of a scramble as youll follow the side of the waterfall to the top. Look east, and you can admire a massive wall of granite forming the cirque containing the lakes eastern and southern boundaries. Absolutely stunning sunset and beautiful sunrise. The hiking distance is 6.4 miles (10.3km), The best seasons is summer, through fall; this depends on, This page was last edited on 26 January 2021, at 14:45. You can stop here and camp along the banks of this beautiful lake or you can continue up to Upper Young Lake.
This trail has fairly consistent access to creeks and streams along the way.
Scott is an L.A. native and San Diego transplant who pulls every trick in the book to get out on the trail. Waking up every few hours, it was time to get up for sunrise, so Julie could shoot Middle and Lower Young Lakes from above. Continue on the trail to a thicket of whitebark pines at 6.8 miles which provides some good shelter for camping. If you want a fire, you have to find a previously established fire ring. The trailhead for Young Lakes is by Lembert Dome along Tioga Road in Tuolumne Meadows, 1.1 miles east of the Visitor Center.
Most of the next section of trail was an unspectacular walk through the forest.
The closest place to stock up on last minute supplies is about 1 mile west on Tioga Road at the Tuolumne Meadows Store. The trail starts off and youll immediately cross on open section of granite. An open meadow on your left looks out across Cathedral Peak and the Cathedral Range. For those seeking a little more privacy, the middle and upper lakes are better choices. The information provided on this website is done so without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. As an added benefit, it seems like nobody else knows about this far corner of the park, because we barely saw anyone out there and we were there during peak season! There was no other water other than what was at the lakes, so if you are going any later than early August, be sure to hike with enough water both ways! may have been made. Young Lakes had been on our backpacking wish list for a couple of years in a row, but the timing just never seemed to work out. I never sleep all that well in that backcountry, and that was the case at Upper Young Lake. The first and most popular route is through the Dog Lake/Young Lakes trailhead, it is loc Before you head out for the trip, youll need to get a wilderness permit. Elevation Gain: 1,389 feet
Permits are available 168 days in advance of your scheduled trip dates. Also by YARTS from Yosemite Valley or Lee Vining to the east on Highway 395. The western leg lacks the views toward the Cathedral Range, but it compensates by not undulating as much.
When you reach the junction at 9.25 miles, keep right to follow the western leg of the Young Lakes Trail. Bear canisters are required; there are no bear boxes at Young Lakes. Young Lakes via Dog Lake), Map: National Geographic Yosemite National Park. The Backpack to Fletcher Lake and Summit Vogelsang Peak. Continue through a junction with the Lembert Dome Trail at 0.8 mile, and continue straight again at a junction with a spur trail leading east toward Dog Lake at 1.0 mile. Your email address will not be published. Lembert Dome stands out clearly as it is right along the road with a fairly large parking lot, about 1/4 mile past the Toulumne Store. If youre entering Yosemite from the west entrances, budget about two extra hours to get across the park to this center. Young Lakes are three lakes, north of Tuolumne Meadows, in Yosemite National Park, California. From the Dog Lake/Lembert Dome Trailhead, head north into a corridor of conifers, across a wide granite outcrop, and then across a pocket meadow. Young Lakes | Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd, Distance:18 miles (completing this trip as a loop), Elevation Gain: 2,850 ft. (more if you go out and back on the Dog Lake trail). When the forest opens up park along the side of the road and find a trail. Well worth it!! , Your email address will not be published. Always confirm information with the service provider and check for any recent changes that
The trail starts out in the forest for a fairly uneventful 2 miles of hiking. The PCT merges into an access road at 13.6 miles, and youll continue due east along the margins of Tuolumne Meadows all the way back to the Lembert Dome parking area. Back at the junction at 11.8 miles, we decided to turn this trip into a loop by descending the trail to Tuolumne Meadows (Soda Springs). Parking for overnight camping is at the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Permit Center and then a walking path connects over to the main trailhead for Dog Lake and Lembert Dome. The elevation gain is 1,389 feet (423m). Ascend via Glen Aulin, descend via Dog Lake.
If you wish to backpack, you can reserve permits up to 24 weeks in advance and no more than two days from your hike. Please explore responsibly! If youre starting to sense a pattern, you would be correct. The parking situation here is quite complicated so refer to the handy sketch to the right if you dont want to get your car towed. After one short climb up to a ridge dividing Conness Creek from Dingley Creek (the only climb on the way back), the trail begins a prolonged, eventually monotonous descent through lodgepole pine that doesnt get interesting again until it crosses Dingley Creek at 11.5 miles and again when it reaches a spacious, view-packed granite outcrop just north of the Pacific Crest Trail at 11.75 miles. Thinking about doing this trip? We took this section pretty slow, since we had only arrived a few hours earlier from sea level, and the elevation got to us. And while the lakes themselves are a fantastic destination, this hike delivers a number of other highlights that typify the Yosemite backcountry experience: dense forests, massive meadows, sweeping views of glaciated peaks, and even a healthy dose of solitude. Yosemite Transportation. From the crest of this last ridge, the trail begins a sharp descent that should explain why I route this as a loop; climbing back up on the return journey would be somewhat unpleasant. Instead, we decided to get this trip on the books for early summer in 2021. To get to the trailhead from the parking lot, you have to cross Tioga Road and then walk along the road until you find the trailhead. This 3.7 mile roundtrip hike begins at the center of Tuolumne Meadows (shuttle stop #2)at the Lembert Dome/Glen Aulin trailhead parking lot. Animals in the wilderness can be scary, but they dont have to be. Their portions are big and somehow theyve been able to source the freshest pineapple and cantaloupe in the state and they give you a slice of fruit with every order. Heres how to feel perfectly at home with the bears and mountain lions. Just a bit more than expected, and a common theme we find while tracking with our GPS. Each lake shimmers in a pristine azure reflection of the brilliant Sierra sky, and yet no two lakes are ever the same. The lake was smaller than lower lake, but equally beautiful against a mountain backdrop. After the second creek crossing, the trail once again goes uphill. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. You can park along the road for free where there is space. Tioga Road opens around late May and then closes back up in October. Park here to begin your hike. There are multiple routes on this dome and for detail on all climbs, pick up the Tuolumne Free Climbs climbing guide. Conness, Pacific Crest Trail, Parsons Lodge, Ragged Peak, Soda Springs, Tuolumne Meadows, Young Lakes, Young Lakes Trail. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Learn about other nearby camping options at California's Best Camping. Use the nearby bear boxes.
Enjoy the fantastic sunset, stars, and sunrise over Ragged Peak, Mount Conness, and the rest of Tuolumne! Just us and a few hundred other hikers! It keeps bears and other forest friends from getting into your food and other smelly things. Its worth taking another break at this point to admire the Cathedral Range and some of the domes west of Tuolumne Meadow.
Views from the upper lake are magnificent.
Arrive early enough (ahead of the late day rush) to ensure you get a campsite. Who else could use a weekend getaway in Olympic National Park? Food Storage:Bear boxes are available at both the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Permit Center parking lot and the Dog Lake Trailhead. Just before the 3 mile mark, and after more climbing, the trail flattens out and descends again. If you dont own a bear canister, you can rent one for $5 at the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center. The area around this dome is gorogeous with views ofvarious peaks, theriver belowand the meadows of Tuolumne. Why specifically SMART water bottles? Nice to have a change of scenery on the way back, but it adds on 3 extra miles making the total trip approximately 15 miles. Backpacking this hike may require a permit.
The final portion of the hike follows a dirt road that passes by the Dog Lake trailhead before connecting us back to the Wilderness Center parking lot. Doing the hike as a loop was definitely the way to go, particularly since there was so much up and down on the way in. This is where the Tuolumne Meadows (Soda Springs) trail meets up. Theres a spur trail early on thatll take you to Dog Lake, which is a pretty standard, tree-lined High Sierra lake. A quick detour takes you to Dog Lake, and with a bit more climbing, we reached the shore at 1.9 miles. A massive ridge of granite bounds the southern margins of the lake, culminating in Ragged Peak on the west end of this ridge.
In 2020, we were hoping to visit in late summer, but the Creek Fire derailed that plan (and many others). Theyre durable and somehow one of the only bottles that the Sawyer filter is compatible with. Tuolumne Meadows has a store, grill, post office, gas station, mountain shop, visitor center, and campground. We finally made it to Lower Young Lake at 7.75 miles and 1999 feet of elevation gain. The highest point on the trail is 9,973 feet (3,040m), and the elevation of Lower Young Lake is 9,880 feet (3,010m). *If you know that youre going to be going to a national park more than three times in a year, its worth it to buy a National Parks Pass. In late summer, clouds of freakishly large dragonflies like to hang out in the trees next to the lake. They serve a family-style breakfast and dinner, reservations required. If you explore the cliff from side to side, youll (hopefully) end up finding a waterfall where you can scramble up to the top of the cliff. The Young Lakes trail starts from the Lembert Dome parking area and then winds up around 6 miles into the high country past alpine meadows and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Use the ModernHiker mobile app to download this map and complete trail description for offline access. This creek crossing heralds the beginning of a gorgeous, sloping meadow that reveals some spectacular views south toward the Cathedral Range. If you really really want to do this exact trip, try to arrive at the Wilderness Center early (think before 7:00 AM) to snag one of these permits. Any thought that we had that this would be the easier route was quickly put into question. My partner and I went with his dad, who had never backpacked before. Youll cross two more creeks at 6.45 and 6.75 miles, following a mostly flat trail. Even on a busy Saturday night in August, there were only 2 other solo backpackers sleeping at this lake. Youll end up adding in an extra 0.40 miles each way for good measure. Now is the perfect time to check out some of the amazing waterfalls this state has to offer. Every effort is made to provide accurate and up to date information, but we cannot be responsible
Depending on water flow that year, you may even have to make a couple small water crossings. From the junction of CA-120 and US 395 south of Lee Vining, following CA-120/Tioga Road west for 19 miles through the Yosemite National Park border (fee required) until reaching the Lembert Dome/Dog Lake parking area on the right side of the highway. One of my favorite campsites can be found here, but you'll have to explore around to find it :) In the summer, a jump in an alpine lake is just what you need after a long day of hiking. Julie and I were so glad to have finally made the trip up to Young Lakes. You only have to hike 6.5 miles to camp on top of what feels like the entire Yosemite High Country. The return route follows the western branch of the Young Lakes Trail to its junction with the Pacific Crest Trail west of Soda Springs. Comment down below!
On a typical summer weekend, we usually shoot for arriving at the Tuolumne Wilderness Center at or before 7:30 AM and were usually the last people in the parking lot. After wandering around for a bit, taking photos, and hunting for a camp spot, we finally settled in for some much needed dinner. The lakes are located between Ragged Peak and White Mountain. Once you reach 7 miles, the trail relents a bit and the first views of Ragged Peak come in to focus. Never camp on any type of vegetation; the growing season for the plants in the Yosemite High Country is so short that its best not to squish them. So, bring those bear cans, folks, unless you want to risk being responsible for a dead bear. The trail is well-maintained and well-traveled. Its not too hard to find, but it can be a bit frustrating so I included the trailhead in the map up above. A long day of hiking makes the backpacking meal taste even better, but I think we both would have been happy with just about any food at that point. Rainy day waterfall hikes in Washington , Daydreaming about summer backpacking adventures. Most backpackers set up their tents at the lower lake among the scattered trees. If you didnt end up making a reservation, theres still hope. It saves us time, and makes it to where we dont have to unpack our entire backpack to get to our water reservoir.
After a quick 230 of climbing, the trail tops out just beyond the third lakes moraine at the base of a broad meadow. Young Lakes are a popular destination during peak times. Hot, sweaty, and tired, we were relieved to be back at the car, cleaned up and ready to eat! Keep in mind that even if Tioga Road is open early in the season, the trail may still be snowy enough for snowshoes and winter gear. Its a pretty wide and shallow creek, so youll have to navigate across some scattered rocks. It's about 7 miles to the upper of the three Young Lakes. I have a great picture of Dylan jumping into the lake, right before he shot back out of the water like a frosty dolphin. Thus, this hike to the Young Lakes, which delivers three unique lakes shining in a beautiful alpine setting, stands out as such a wonderful experience. Commit this spot to memory, as you will take the western branch of the Young Lakes Trail back to Tuolumne Meadows on your return route. We stopped at the Tuolumne Meadows Grill for a couple of burgers before heading back home to the Bay Area. We left the Bay Area in the morning and headed straight to Tioga Pass with the hopes of getting on the trail around lunch time. Yosemite bears are known as the most skilled food poachers in the Sierra. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Modern Hiker is an Exclusive Member of Mediavine Travel. To reach the third lake, continue past the second to commence a steep, rocky climb through overgrown thickets of willow. You picked a perfect day! Our hope is to do the latter two on a future hike, but today we were excited to be closer to getting back to the car.
upper young lake yosemite
