My friend Julie is with me on this quick overnight adventure to Yosemite Valley and the Tuolumne Meadow area of Eastern Yosemite. Guided Bus & Tram Tours. Additionally, hiking Half Dome now requires a permit 7 days per week. Meander through pristine alpine meadows and past massive granite domes. Tuolumne Meadows is on the east side of Yosemite and is easily accessed from Highway 395 via Tioga Pass. Tuolumne Meadows sees a hefty amount of visitor traffic during the summer months. 2020 Top 5 Winter Hikes in Yosemite. It is unlike the main valley and is at a much higher altitude. Dog Lake and Lembert Dome can be combined into one trip. Be aware there are two lines: 1) same-day permits which are handed out at 8 a.m.; and 2) next-day permits which are handed out at 11 a.m. No need to get in line if you have reservations, of course. Many hiking trails begin or pass through Tuolumne Meadows, including those to Mount Lyell, The John Muir, and the Pacific Crest Trails. Tuolumne Meadows Day Hiking. You will never run out of trails to explore! Day hike trails are popular, [1] [2] [3] and get busy in the summer high season. The trailhead begins at Lembert Dome parking area (shuttle stop #4). Trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows. At over 8,700 feet above sea level and 60 miles from Yosemite Valley, the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge is open from mid-June to mid-September, conditions permitting. Elevation Gain: 600 feet … Camping. White Wolf Lodge. In wetter times, the trees die and meadow expand. And this is one of the great meadows, nearly two miles (3.2 km) long, with a river (the Tuolumne) winding through it and a variety of picturesque granite peaks and domes surrounding it. May Lake. Once all permits are secured, it’s a good idea to reserve bus tickets from Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows. You’ll find the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge on Tioga Road, near the Park's eastern entrance on Highway 120 East. These small, carbonated mineral springs area is a mystery. It takes about 3 hours to complete the hike. From Tuolumne Lodge via the JMT, one must travel 0.7 miles before crossing the Twin Bridges in the meadows. There are several different ways to get from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley. For most people, it takes about three days and two nights to complete at a moderate speed. Tuolumne Meadows is a beautiful place two hours drive from the main valley floor. Feel free to check it out. Tuolumne Meadows to Half Dome (6 Days) Founder’s Fall Adventure; Trips without Half Dome. Lyell Canyon to Donohue Pass. You start the trip with a beautiful view of Tuolumne Meadows. Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne; Yosemite Yoga Retreat; Amazing Sunsets; May Lake to Snow Creek; Hidden Yosemite; Yosemite Icons; Yosemite Private Day Hikes. Not only is the hike easy to get to, it is also not difficult and very suitable for hikers of all skill levels. The Best Hiking Trails in Tuolumne County & Yosemite Park You will never run out of trails to explore! From Tuolumne Meadows you’ll climb nearly 1,500’ to Tuolumne Pass at 10,000 feet for stunning alpine vistas of the rugged Sierra Nevada backcountry. Head S on John Muir Trail section of Pacific Crest Trail; follow JMT signs throughout this hike. The easiest 1.5-mi (2.4-km) hike to Soda Springs and Parsons Lodge is just one-hour round-trip. The hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley is a popular wilderness hike, ... Buy a good pair of hiking shoes and wool hiking socks and break them in on your daily walks. The 20 Lakes Basin is incredibly beautiful set of lakes is situated just outside of the … Difficult. Popular hiking trails in and near Yosemite National Park. This historic, trans-Sierra trail climbs gently at first from the Mono Pass parking area, through wet meadows and rushing creeks. Hiking. What are the popular day hikes to explore in Tuolumne Meadows? Even geologists cannot explain why they are here. Dining. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until September. Add Your Trails. Its location next to the Tuolumne River and near the Meadows makes it the perfect place to settle in after hiking in Yosemite, or before embarking on an extended backpacking trip. Questions and answers listed below are documented for my own personal use. There is a separate page, all about granite domes of Yosemite. Historic is a memorial to Edward Taylor Parsons, a New Yorker who joined the Sierra Club about 1900, and who eventually became the club’s director from 1905 to 1914. Tuolumne Meadows (/ t u ˈ ɒ l əm i /) is a gentle, dome-studded, sub-alpine meadow area along the Tuolumne River in the eastern section of Yosemite National Park in the United States.Its approximate location is Its approximate elevation is 8,619 feet (2,627 m). It takes 6-8 hours to complete the hike. After this, you'll come to a fork in which the trail on the left will lead you to Elizabeth Lake. Add a Symbol . 2. Walk along the gravel road and pass the locked gate (signed Glen Aulin and Soda Springs). As they get drier, trees invade the edges and high areas. Tuolumne Meadows sees a hefty amount of visitor traffic during the summer months. Young Lakes north of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park make an ideal weekend trip. The Soda Springs / Parsons Memorial Lodge Trail is easily one of the most popular Tuolumne Meadows hikes. Biking. JMT028. Accessible with a strenuous uphill 1.2 miles hike from the May Lake parking lot, May … Tuolumne Meadows August 2006 . Within the next 0.15 miles you'll take a sharp right and follow the river until the trail leads slightly uphill and through the campground. Horses are also able to use this trail. No other place for me in the park is exciting as exploring Tuolumne Meadows. Location: 37.797173, -119.262825. Food & Wine Events. I drove my car to the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center parking lot and found a ride to my car when I ended up back in Yosemite Valley. These trails are serviced by the Tuolumne Meadows shuttle bus, typically from June to September, though dates vary due to weather. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Visiting Tuolumne Meadows or Yosemite Via Tioga Pass These 10 Great Day Hikes are Recommended Adventures. Golfing. 5 reviews of Tuolumne Meadows "The rangers/staff here are seriously organized and know their stuff. Tuolumne Meadows Day Hikes . Why did Native Americans travel to Tuolumne Meadows? We spent our time on the Tuolumne Meadows side of the park, where crowds were thinner than Yosemite Valley, permits are easier to score, and campsites are readily available. After a few miles, take the fork to the right and up the ridge to the High Sierra. ... in Tuolumne Meadows #542 Overall. There was a time in history when the snow did not melt during summer in Tuolumne. One of the most photographed regions of Yosemite, Tuolumne Meadows is a wide, grassy expanse bounded by high granite domes and peaks. Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley Trail is a 27.2 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Within the meadow itself is a network of trails allowing exploration and peaceful wanderings along the Tuolumne River and to notable landmarks such as Soda Springs. Tuolumne Meadows is a dream destination for hikers and rock climbers. Magnificent views of Tuolumne Meadows and nearby peaks open up after only a mile of hiking. It is well worth it! Cathedral Range, Lakes, and Pass, Tuolumne to Vogelsang to Merced Lake, Glen Aulin, Sunrise High Sierra Camp too. The hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley is a 27.2-mile section of the famous John Muir Trail. An abundance of trails lead to spectacular vistas and unique geological formation like Highway 108’s Column of the Giants. Yosemite Valley, CA Difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. The second bridge leading towards High-Sierra Camp has collapsed, and some parts of the trail are flooded. Tuolumne Meadows: Soda Springs and Parsons Lodge Discover the best Tuolumne Meadows, California hiking, backpacking, camping and more. Tuolumne Fall and White Cascade are four miles from the trailhead. For a lengthy period, they traded pine nuts and obsidian from the Mono Basin for acorns and shell beads from west of the Sierra. 3. Due to the one-way nature of the hike, you should make your transportation plan and check public transportation schedules before you apply for your permit. Feedback, Google Street View panorama of the central trailhead. There are many beautiful day hikes in the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite National Park. 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