Cathedral Lakes

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Dogs No Dogs

One of the most popular day hikes in the Tuolumne Meadows area, Cathedral Lakes explores some of the grandest glacially-carved terrain in the Yosemite high country. An 8-mile round-trip hike visits the shores of both Lower and Upper Cathedral Lakes and passes through splendid alpine scenery including the shapely granite pinnacles that form Cathedral Peak. Tack on another mile round trip from Upper Cathedral Lake to reach Cathedral Pass for an even better view.

From Highway 120 in Tuolumne Meadows, the trail for Cathedral Lakes follows the John Muir Trail (JMT) southwest through a lodgepole pine forest as it gains elevation en route to the Cathedral Range. After climbing 600 feet in just over a mile, a view opens to what appears to be a massive granite dome; this is in fact Cathedral Peak's north-facing shoulder. Don't worry, this isn't Cathedral Peak proper. The views get exceptionally better from here on out.