Tioga Pass to North Dome Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

There are no services at the Lukens Lake Trailhead or along this trail. The nearest restrooms are probably either at White Wolf, west of the trailhead or at Yosemite Creek Campground. Bear boxes are provided at the trailhead to store food instead of leaving it in your car.

The trail from Tioga Road to the Yosemite Creek Trail meanders through a recovering burned pine forest and a tributary to Yosemite Creek. The trail starts at the top end of the Lukens Lake Trailhead and descends gently into the forest. The healthy trees give way to trees that have been burned by fire in recent years. In the open areas created by the fire, wildflowers bloom in the summer as the forest recovers. Spring comes late in this area due to the elevation, so its not uncommon for the flowers to be blooming in July.

After roughly one quarter of a mile, you come to the Old Tioga Road. You cross the road and pick up the trail as it continues through the recovering forest. Wildflowers encroach on the trail as it meanders along a small stream. The forest is full of granite boulders, remnants from the ice age that have been deposited here thousands of years ago. The trail is mainly dirt, so it makes running easy and provides a nice break from running on rock, a common occurrence in Yosemite.

Due to the damage from the fire and the light use of this trail, there are downed trees that you either have to crawl over or move around. The trees begin to thin and the forest opens up as views of Yosemite Creek drainage come into view. The trail descends to a junction with another trail that comes down from Yosemite Creek Campground on the left hand side. From this junction, you can work your way up to the left to Yosemite Creek Campground and explore the upper portions of the Yosemite Creek drainage.

You can move straight ahead and follow the trail down to Upper Yosemite Falls and breathtaking views of Yosemite Valley. If you have arranged a shuttle, you can drop down to the valley and then ride back up to your car. Or you can turn around and enjoy what will probably be a solitary run back to your car. On the Fourth of July, we did this trail in the morning and didn't see a single person on the trail.

Due to a fire that destroyed the forest around this trail, there are large patches of wildflowers that bloom in late June and early July. Lupine, Indian paintbrush, azaleas, and daisies are just some of the flowers that you'll see along this trail. Various types of birds can be easily seen along the trail as the forest begins to recover. Black bears and deer can also be seen, although more in the early morning or evening time.