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Yosemite National Park Tuolumne Hiking
Soda Springs Parson's Lodge Difficulty: Easy 1 hour
Roundtrip: 1.5 mi / 2.4 km No
Start: Lembert Dome parking area on the Tioga Road.
Follow the gravel road northwest past a locked gate. The Soda Springs are protected within a log enclosure. Carbonated water bubbles up through the ground, but drinking the water is not recommended tue to possible surface contamination. Continue along the trail to historic Parson's Memorial Lodge, which offers exhibits. A path winds to the bridge below and continues to the visitor center.
Difficulty: Moderate 3 hours
Roundtrip: 2.8 mi / 4.5 km No
Start: Dog Lake/John Muir Trail parking area on the road to Tuolumne Meadows Lodge.
The trail goes up steeply and crosses the Tioga Road, then continues up for 0.75 mi (1.2 km) to a signed junction. Continue straight to Dog Lake. Enjoy fishing and picknicking from this high country lake.
Difficulty: Strenuous 3 hours
Roundtrip: 2.8 mi / 4.5 km No
Start: Dog Lake/John Muir Trail parking area on the road to Tuolumne Meadows Lodge.
The trail goes up steeply for 0.75 mi (1.2 km) to a signed junction. The trail to the left goes to the top of Lembert Dome. Expect a spectacular panoramic view of Tuolumne Meadows, Cathedral Peak, and Unicorn Peak.
Difficulty: Moderate 6 to 8 hours
Roundtrip: 11 mi / 17.7 km No
Start: Park along the road to the Tuolumne Meadows Stables and follow the gravel road as it loops behind Soda Springs.
The trail begins at Soda Springs and drop to Glen Aulin. The route is noted fro scenic cascades, particularly Tuolumne Falls, located 4 miles from the trailhead.
Difficulty: Moderate 4 to 5 hours
Roundtrip: 4.8 mi / 7.7 km No
Start: Above the Tuolumne Meadows Group Campground
From the campground, the trail climbs steadily to the glacier-carved lake at the base of Unicorn Peak.
Difficulty: Moderate 4 to 6 hours
Roundtrip: 7 mi / 11.3 km No
Start: Cathedral Lakes Trailhead, on the Tioga Road (it is recommended that you take the shuttle bus due to limited parking at the trailhead).
The trail climbs steadily (1,000 ft / 305 m) to Upper Cathedral Lake. Near the top, it passes a spur trail to Lower Cathedral Lake.
Difficulty: Easy 4 hours
Roundtrip: 8 mi / 12.9 km No
Start: Dog Lake/John Muir Trail parking area on the road to Tuolumne Meadows Lodge.
The relatively flat trail (only 200 ft / 61 m elevation gain over 8 mi / 12.9 km) wanders through Lyell Canyon, mostly alongside the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River. Begin across the road from Dog Lake parking area, where the trail heads upstream alongside the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River, crosses it, and subsequently arrives at the Lyell Fork.
Difficulty: Moderate 4 to 6 hours
Roundtrip: 8 mi / 12.9 km No
Start: Mono Pass Trailhead, 6 mi / 4.4 km east of Tuolumne Meadows on the Tioga Road.
The trail climbs gently at first (1,000 ft / 304 m elevation gain) to a junction with Spillway Lake. The left fork then steeply climbs to Mono Pass, at 10,500 ft / 3,200 m. From the pass, Upper Sardine Lake is another 0.75 / 1.2 km down the pass to the east.
Difficulty: Strenuous 2 hours
Roundtrip: 2 mi / 3.2 km No
Start: Gaylor Lakes Trailhead, at the Tioga Pass Entrance Station.
The trail climbs steeply in the first 0.5 mi / 0.8 km (1,000 ft / 304 m elevation gain) to a ridge with views to both sides. Ath the ridge, the trail drops 200 ft / 61 m to a lake and meadows, which can be explored with side trails (not included in the 2 mi / 3.2 km roundtrip length).
Difficulty: Strenuous 6 to 8 hours
Roundtrip: 15.8 mi / 25.5 km No
Start: Dog Lake/John Muir Trail parking area on the road to Tuolumne Meadows Lodge.
The first 2 mi / 3.2 km, along the John Muir Trail, are relatively level. The Rafferty Creek Trail then splits off and begins a 1,200 ft / 366 m ascent to Tuolumne Pass, followed by a 160 ft / 49 m climb to the High Sierra Camp. You can continue to Vogelsang Lake (0.5 mi / 0.8 km further) and spectacular Vogelsang Pass (1.5 mi / 2.4 km further).
Maine ocean islands provide the only nesting sites for Atlantic puffins in the United States. Eastern Egg Rock in the midcoast region, Seal Island and Matinicus Rock at the mouth of Penobscot Bay, and Machias Seal Island and Petit Manan Island off the downeast coast provide habitat for more than 4,000 puffins each summer.