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Pack Your Tent — Trip Itinerary

Tuolumne Meadows + High Sierra in 7 Days

7 days · hiking · hard · Jul–Sep · Yosemite National Park

Skip the Valley scrum — base out of Tuolumne, peak-bag the easy 12,000-footers, swim in glacial lakes. Mia's favourite Yosemite trip.

Day by day

  1. Day 1: Arrive Tuolumne via Tioga Pass

    Drive in late afternoon. Acclimate at 8,600 ft.

  2. Day 2: Cathedral Lakes + Cathedral Peak base

    Easy day, alpine lake swim, scout the route up Cathedral.

  3. Day 3: Cathedral Peak (Class 3 scramble)

    Long day with hands-on rock at the top. Bring a helmet, bail at South Couloir if exposure feels off.

  4. Day 4: Recover at Tenaya Lake

    Swim, lay around. Drive Tioga Pass for sunset.

  5. Day 5: Mt Dana (13,061 ft)

    Long but non-technical 13er from Tioga Pass.

  6. Day 6: Vogelsang High Sierra Camp loop

    Tarn-hopping at 10,000 ft.

  7. Day 7: Drive out via Saddlebag Lake

    One last alpine lake circuit before dropping back into the foothills.

FAQ

When is Tioga Road actually open enough to do this trip?
Tioga Pass is typically a late-May-to-early-November road, but the opening date swings wildly with snowpack — 2023 didn't open until late July. We aim for mid-July through September; check the NPS Tioga Road status page before you commit to dates.
Where do we sleep for seven nights if we're basing out of Tuolumne?
Tuolumne Meadows Campground is the obvious base, but reservations on Recreation.gov go fast and the campground has been closed in recent seasons for rehab — verify it's open the year you're going. Backup options are Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (canvas tent cabins), the High Sierra Camps loop if you win the lottery, or dispersed camping in Inyo NF just east of Tioga Pass.
Which 12,000-foot peaks are realistic without technical gear?
Mt. Dana (east of Tioga Pass) and Mt. Hoffmann (central Yosemite) are both walk-ups with route-finding rather than climbing. Mia also rates Cathedral Peak as a fun day if you're comfortable with a short class 4 summit block, otherwise stop at the saddle and call it good.
Do we need a wilderness permit for day hikes from Tuolumne?
Day hikes don't require a wilderness permit — only overnight backcountry trips do, and those go through Recreation.gov on a rolling reservation window. If you want to tag a night at Sunrise Lakes or do a Cathedral-to-Sunrise traverse, plan that permit well in advance.
How cold are the lakes for swimming in July and August?
Cold. Lower-elevation lakes like Tenaya warm into the low 60s°F by late July; anything above 9,500 feet (Cathedral, Elizabeth, May) stays in the 50s and feels colder than the number suggests. Plan swims for early afternoon and bring a sun layer for after.
Should we worry about altitude coming from sea level?
Tuolumne sits around 8,600 feet and the peaks push past 12,000, which is enough to wreck a hike if you fly in and immediately go big. We'd spend the first day mellow — short walks around Lembert Dome or Pothole Dome, lots of water — and save Dana or Hoffmann for day 3 or later.
Where do we resupply food and gas during the week?
The Tuolumne Meadows Store covers basic groceries and beer in season but it's small and pricey; for a real resupply, drive 12 miles east over Tioga Pass to Lee Vining (Mobil Mart, Latte Da, full gas station). Closest big grocery is Mammoth Lakes, about an hour south.