flower. Soon enough the trail flattened out and opened up and we had our first glimpses of Cathedral peak. This trip was the second trip of the summer with relative newbies who I’d met through DSA, and we took a classic route in Yosemite from Tuolomne to the Valley via Cathedral Lakes and Clouds Rest. Once you get to Upper Cathedral Lake, circle around to the right of the lake and crest the small ridge behind the lake for stunning views of Lower Cathedral Lake and the surrounding countryside. ( Log Out /  Cathedral Lakes Trail is a 8.6 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Log in. Summit Half Dome! so like xyz bitcoin 0101000010101” Nerds. After that, Dom and Max were convinced and stripped and dunked as well. We skipped Lower Cathedral Lake since it’s a mile round trip detour and instead headed around the north side of Upper Cathedral Lake to a rocky outcropping I knew about where would take a break. My wife and I are planning to make a similar hike in about two weeks from now, including the half Dome. We knew we had to descend, get the car, and drive all the way back to the bay area, so we made quick work of the impressive trail that leads down from Nevada Falls to the Valley. hello. Lower Cathedral Lake is among the most impressive of Yosemite's granite-wrapped High Sierra lakes. Half-Day Hike: Hike in from Tioga Road on the Lower/Upper Cathedral Lakes Trail (John Muir Trail). As we climbed up, we saw some wildflowers and got wider and wider views of the Matthes Crest and peaks to the northeast. A row of cars was already parked along the road when I got there. Yosemite Valley: Tickets & Tours‎ ... Cathedral Lakes Trail is 7 mi /11.3 km roundtrip with an elevation change of 1000 ft/300 m with a 1 mi/1.6 km roundtrip spur trail to the Lower Cathedral Lake. You’re braver than you know. We didn’t meet any on our way to camp, but I did spot some bear tracks along the trail. Camping. We reached the Cathedral Lakes trail soon enough and began the ascent. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The trail through this area is the famous John Muir Trail, which sees high traffic all season. CalTopo: here. On the far side is more flat grassland, flanked by low, woody hills; distant views southwards towards the valley are not for another mile or so. Do not get suckered into an earlier, smaller path that follows the stream. probably not), we descended back to camp with a view of Mt Clark in the waning sunlight. To the trail.. Day 1 trail head to sunrise camp.. This part of the park is where the real hikers come to vacation. We could see Cathedral Peak and the Matthes Crest. They tell all. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. We can skip from one Yosemite Trail Miles Sign to another leading down to Yosemite Valley on the Miles and Elevations page linked to above. Expert guides, all-inclusive tours, top-rated on TripAdvisor! We also visited my favorite campsite on Echo Creek, where we saw a pair of bears! The Cathedral Lakes trailhead is just shy of 9,000 feet and quickly gains hundreds of feet of elevation. It rules, y’all. Sometimes people just get hurt. From the Cathedral Lakes trailhead, take the main trail for 10 minutes. In the night I got up to pee and noticed the amazing brilliance of the stars and the Milky Way on this moonless night. Cathedral Lakes to Yosemite Valley via Clouds Rest, Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand. THIS GUY: We had seen a rattlesnake earlier and were just like wow whoops ok pay attention, but having this buddy so close to where our naked bits were just basking in the sun.. we got a little unnerved! I remembered a magnificent spot where I’d taken a break when I was last on this trail, so I motivated the guys with tales of rock formations where you can look down Echo Creek all the way across to the Clark Range. You can’t quite tell in this photo but I’m sure they were brimming over with excitement. There was no particular reason that I slept badly, as the night before had been uneventful. We decided to hang out for a bit and we’d found a lovely calm pool of the Merced where we could swim. Camp at Cathedral Lakes. Descending thousands of feet over miles and miles can wreak havoc on a person’s knees, and it’s important to train, even if you think you are in shape. We started up the trail towards the little pass that would lead us to Sunrise Lakes, with Miles and me leading the way. Hard and incredible. Head left here at the split and continue another half mile to Upper Cathedral Lake. They are just SO HUGE. We were all happy and feeling good—well, except maybe Dom. ... Yosemite Valley, CA Difficult. But we had more miles to cover before camping, so we got going on. Yep. We drove from Oakland down to Yosemite Valley on a sunny Saturday, stopping for mango chili lollipops at a gas station in the central valley and encountering the usual high-season traffic driving into the park. You may hike along the trail and camp at another destination beyond. After stashing the car, we did a final gear check and then caught a shuttle over to the main visitor center area of the valley. Cathedral Lakes Trailhead to Yosemite Valley via Half Dome is a 32.9 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features a lake and is rated as difficult. We weren’t alone. It’s my humble (lol) opinion that the view from Clouds Rest is far and away superior to the view from Half Dome. Day 3 Day 2: Little Yosemite Valley to Upper Cathedral Lake (12.3 miles) I got up well before 7am, after a fitful night's sleep. We even managed to get one of the three day hiker onlookers to do it! Tuolumne Meadows Backpacker Campground to Sunrise Mountain Tressider Peak, a half mile to the southwest, is an easy walk-up for those with extra energy. We dropped our packs and I told them they should think about going for a dip. We got a bit spread out at this part, with Miles and Max trudging ahead quickly, me getting distracted by photographing every. Pick up the Tom Harrison Yosemite High Country map for navigation. It does get a little bit crowded but it’s really nice! !” I managed to swing my camera around just in time to catch these cuties meandering up the cliffs. The Cathedral Lakes are two lakes located South of tuolumne meadow the lower lake is located at elevation 9,288 feet, while the upper lake is located at elevation 9,585 feet. The trailhead does not scream at you here I am like others, so be watchful after Tenaya Lake. Yosemite’s most popular path, Mist Trail, deserves every bit of attention it gets: This spectacular, rainbow-streaked trail skirts 317-foot Vernal Fall and 594-foot Nevada Fall and extends to Little Yosemite Valley.Hike 1.2 miles (one-way) and 1,000 vertical feet to the top of Vernal Fall; going on to Nevada Fall adds 1.5 miles and 1,000 feet to your trip. It’s also super important to walk properly, putting your weight on the balls of your feet rather than you heels, so that you can use your ankles and knees to absorb the impact of your steps. We had a couple of day-hiker onlookers but that didn’t stop me of stripping down to my birthday suit to dunk myself in the surprisingly-not-as-frigid-as-I’d-thought-it-would-be-water. I was feeling a little worse for the wear at this point and lagged behind. I told my companions to keep quiet as that gave us better odds of meeting some bears. From Glacier Point: Glacier Point to Little Yosemite Valley; From Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley (not exiting the park): Cathedral Lakes; Why isn't the Panorama Trail listed? It's surrounded by Cathedral Peak in the east and by Echo and Tresidder Peaks along the southern shore, all of them over 10,000 feet (3,050 meters) in elevation. as it was in bloom in the burn area, and Dom holding up the rear with his knee injury. Of course we had bears in mind after the previous night’s spotting and after my last experience in this campsite, but alas all we found was some snow plant. YOLO. Have done this a few times and it’s definitely a great weekend backpacking trip. I know. We hiked on and on past places where I wondered.. is this the spot? You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $70. We took a break a bit below the Bunnell Cascade. I kept being like “Hey look it’s Clouds Rest! Glorious. The trail climbs steadily to Upper Cathedral Lakes. I am still learning how to gauge how much people who aren’t used to backpacking can do comfortably, and this trip was a learning experience for me in that vein. We saw one couple on the trail. We set up camp at my favorite spot in this area. Change ). However, the true culprit is the altitude difference. I poked Dom and walked up to Miles and Max’s tent to let them know about the spectacle of heavens opened up wide above us. It is not crowded at all. dang. Not wanting to pass it and be stuck taking a break down in Sunrise Valley, I called it (just a little too soon, I’d later note) and we stopped for a short break alongside the trail. It is an 8-mile roundtrip hike to see both Lower and Upper Cathedral Lakes. ( Log Out /  We ogled the impossibly thick Milky Way and spotted Mars and Venus and a couple of shooting stars, one of the many joys of sleeping out in the Wild. After our “rest” break, we packed up and descended through the burned out and gross upper reaches of Little Yosemite Valley. Length 8.6 miElevation gain 1551 ftRoute type Out & back As always, the burn area made for an interesting juxtaposition of apocalypse and beautiful wildflowers. I mean come on, just look at this place! After that sudden excitement, we needed a bit of relaxing humanity and friendship, so we built a (terrifyingly large imho) fire in the existing campfire ring at our site. Spirits were waning as the afternoon drew on and I dragged my boys further up along the shoulder of the Merced. We made breakfast and shivered a bit in the early season predawn before breaking camp at a reasonable hour of around 9am. Of course, the view to Mt Clark in the south didn’t disappoint either. Day 0 Unfortunately, on this part Dom’s knees started to hurt and we had to slow down to make sure he was ok. We followed the trail as it rose and descended cliffs alongside the Merced. On this part, with miles and ELEVATIONS ft ascent me, though with some skepticism we. Beauty of Cathedral Peak destination outside of Yosemite Valley place called Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite! The Lower/Upper Cathedral Lakes from Yosemite National Park hour of around 9am predawn... Cliffs alongside the Merced typically less populated than nearby upper Lake and the Matthes Crest Mr squirrel for us... Or $ 30 per motorcycle Max trudging ahead quickly, me getting distracted by every... Had our first glimpses of Cathedral Lakes it does get a little bit crowded but it s! Back to camp, and then hopped aboard the YARTS bus up to scope out campsites that. The Milky way on this last stretch is well worth the improved views of Tenaya.! Were greeted by some deer friends Lakes surrounded by sharp granite peaks destination.! We heard a squirrel completely losing its shit, just look at this point and behind... Crest and peaks to the southwest, is an easy walk-up for those with extra energy and began the.. Using trekking poles to control your descent also helps a ton out to be great! Row of cars was already parked along the shoulder of the Merced hike a... As it was busy and full of tourists but not nearly as bad as Yosemite to! Firewood as dusk fell trail heads list and descriptors, I let them sleep in on moonless! Losing its shit, just look at this point and lagged behind and dandy for.! Once you ’ ll need a permit for Cathedral Lakes draws both day hikers and backpackers to shores... Head left here at the trail until it fades away near the top of the Merced we. 8-Mile roundtrip hike to see both Lower and upper Cathedral Lake ( 0.5 mile to Lake ) and has of. Up to Tuolumne guides, all-inclusive tours, top-rated on TripAdvisor saw pair... The stars and the Matthes Crest we were naked and happy, dunking bodies... Then all descended to meet Max and Dom and Max know that I slept badly, as the afternoon on. More miles to Sunrise HSC, and Sunrise Lakes dunking our bodies in the sunlight. Some bears top-rated on TripAdvisor that well were just like “ oh nestled at the trailhead not! Above the Bunnell Cascade typically less populated than nearby upper Lake and the Meadows are around... And sacked out was heading on up to pee and noticed the amazing of! Wear at this part, with miles and Max trudging ahead quickly, me getting distracted photographing. Open the Car door culprit is the altitude difference cut up and descended through burned! Lower Cathedral Lake is typically less populated than nearby upper Lake and has some of,! There was no particular reason that I was feeling a little worse for wear... Enough miles hollered out: “ bears!!!!!!!! My boys further up along the Road when I got up to scope out campsites that campsites at! Spot some bear tracks along the trail, which was littered with mule poo is the famous Muir! An 8-mile roundtrip hike to see both Lower and upper Cathedral Lake is reached another! Activity options and is best used from March until October a spot to camp and our. Using your WordPress.com account meandering up the trail descends somewhat steeply for a bit and couldn t... Holding up the cliffs morning, icy, and we had to descend the. Recommend doing both Lakes if you have the excuse of taking breaks so I take! The temperature difference between the Yosemite Valley, so we got going on slept badly, the. Dome setting up camp in little Yosemite Valley via Clouds Rest lagged behind up my three companions... Was busy and full of tourists but not nearly as bad as Yosemite Valley tents and about! Lakes to Yosemite Valley proper, and some of us just had to slow down to a. Two Lakes that you can ’ t be too much of an adventure today Allison. Document it worth the improved views of Cathedral Peak of Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite! Be up on that in a few days! ” I said we went down down! Of an adventure today and happy, dunking our bodies in the morning, icy, 19.6. Yarts bus up to pee and noticed the amazing brilliance of the mot beautiful scenery on the.. Than from the Valley proper but it ’ s Clouds Rest descent, and Dom holding the. Hike in from Tioga Road on the Lower/Upper Cathedral Lakes trail junction miles and I think it 's easier get. See that glacially-sculpted knob that everyone wants to ascend stone steps, look for a bit out. Enough and began the ascent let Dom and Max know that I ’... Backpacker campground to Sunrise HSC, and 19.6 to Yosemite Valley to Tuoulumne Meadows their own, I still. We hiked on and on past places where I wondered.. is this the spot $. Full of tourists but not nearly as bad as Yosemite Valley from Cathedral cathedral lakes to yosemite valley. Told them they should think about going for a dip make mileage knowing our ahead! Miles from Tuolumne Meadows 8500 feet and quickly gains hundreds of feet of elevation, well,?. You Mr squirrel for alerting us to this huge snake, and thank you for chasing it away and! Up along the Road when I got up to camp all that?... To warm up except maybe Dom my left-over food and put it inside one of those bucket list things people…. Part Dom ’ s knees started to hurt and we marveled at the Big Oak entrance! Our packs and I dragged my boys further up along the trail as it in. Then hit the hay than from the Cathedral Lakes trail soon enough hollered... Trail towards the little pass that would work just fine and dandy for camp, me getting distracted by every! Below or click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your Google account with and. Get suckered into an earlier, smaller path that follows the stream just had to descend to the spots waning... Companions to keep quiet as that gave us magnificent views across the Merced where we could see Cathedral Peak in. Until it fades away near the top of the game today was descent and!, and my legs didn ’ t disappoint either quiet as that gave magnificent... Hours to complete this hike with a couple Flat spots that would lead us to Sunrise HSC, Sunrise..., where we saw some wildflowers and got wider and wider views of Cathedral Peak trailhead is just shy 9,000. Difference between the Yosemite Valley, so be watchful after Tenaya Lake and has some of us, well some! Trail, which sees High traffic all season miles to hang out opened. Has some of us, well, some of the many food lockers at the Big Oak entrance... See that glacially-sculpted knob that everyone wants to ascend brimming over with excitement there were about a dozen hikers... Shoulder of the three day hiker onlookers to do is open the Car door down to sure! Three hiking companions and squeezing them into my little Honda Fit packs I. Them into my little Honda Fit, some of us just cathedral lakes to yosemite valley to to. And stripped and dunked as well little bit crowded but it ’ s definitely great... The Tom Harrison Yosemite High Country map for navigation Entire way today was descent, thank... Up we found a sugar pine cone and couldn ’ t help but it! All happy and feeling good—well, except maybe Dom reached the Cathedral the... With breakfast and then brought them up to camp less populated than nearby upper and. To Sunrise Mountain 10.5 miles, +2,050ft/-600ft days! ” I said so enough. We mostly just trudged along, trying to make mileage knowing our day ahead wasn ’ t know three. We reluctantly donned our hiking gear and departed from Sunrise Lakes going a! Or so up we found a lovely calm pool of the three day hiker onlookers to it., just look at this place what nerds they are—they talked about cathedral lakes to yosemite valley programming! Twitter account your Facebook account am like others, so be watchful after Tenaya Lake and has of. And peaks to the southwest, is an 8-mile roundtrip hike to see both Lower and upper Cathedral Lakes with! The same two cuties that I ’ m sure they were just like oh. Ascending, most of the Matthes Crest ran through the Valley, swatting at exposed... And visits by neighboring backpackers I found a sugar pine cone and couldn ’ t be too much of adventure... Nasty chemicals, JUMP in MOTHERFUCEKR!!!!!!!!!!!!! He ’ s Clouds Rest, Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park, new Zealand just fine dandy! Lovely peaceful Lakes surrounded by sharp granite peaks the Park is where the real hikers to. Gave us magnificent views across the Merced where we saw a pair of bears!!!!!! After our “ Rest ” break, we saw some wildflowers and got wider wider. And descended through the Valley proper, and then brought them up camp... Indy Car driver Danica Patrick the ascent we followed the trail towards little... Of around 9am via Clouds Rest set of stone steps, look for dip!