Tuolumne Meadows - Long Day Hike

[acali19]

Hello everyone-

This July will be my first trip up the Tuolumne Meadows portion of the park and I am looking forward to a long day hike. The two that I have seen and am most interested in are Clouds Rest and Waterwheel Falls. I know that Waterwheel Falls would be an ALL day type hike, but wanted to get some opinions on the two.... or if anyone can reccomend some other options/ favorites?

Thanks!
-Adam

[cjoz]

Never done Waterwheel. Clouds Rest is very nice but you want to start from the Sunrise Trailhead...which is at west end of Tenaya Lake. A good 20-30 min drive from Tuolumne Meadows proper.

Generally, there are some good descriptions of hikes up along there at this site: http://www.yosemitehikes.com/tioga-road

Cathedral Lakes is also very nice. Not as long (8 miles RT) but you might be able to combine it w/ a trip up Cathedral Peak if you're so inclined or explore the other side of Tioga by going up Lembert Dome.

You'd need to search around places like summitpost for instructions on the Cathedral Peak approach. I've never done it, but there is a mountaineers route you can take and go w/o equipment (but you won't be able to scale the pinnacles). That said, there are a lot of exposed sections so not for the faint of heart.

One hike I really enjoyed was North Dome w/ side trip to Indian Rock. You're right across the valley from Half Dome. Again, not a long hike (maybe 9 mi RT). If you add on a side trip to Yosemite Falls, that would bump it up.

[AlmostThere]

Both Clouds and Waterwheel are a 14 mile round trip. Waterwheel is down going and uphill coming back. Both are great trips. Water will be high and there is likely to be water crossings/mud on both routes.

If you want a peak with great views, go to Clouds. If you want waterfalls and water and granite, go to Glen Aulin and Waterwheel Falls.

[acali19]

Thanks 'cjoz' and 'AlmostThere' for the advice and recommendations.

I think Cathedral Lakes are in our plans already for the trip and, really, anything should be amazing. I like the views offered by Clouds from what I've seen, but having some options for waterfalls makes Waterwheel intriguing as well. Perhaps we may need to extend out trip and do both.

[AlmostThere]

Frankly, if you want a jaw-dropping experience, drive to the Tioga gate, and hike up to Mt Dana. When you recover from the view, come down and hike over the ridge on the other side of the road to Gaylor Lakes. At the end of the day, you will have hiked maybe 10 miles, but got to over 13,000 feet and seen most of the high country of Yosemite from the second highest peak in the park.

Of course, as with any high open place, if dark clouds are gathering, get to hikin' back downhill and get out of the high exposed places.

[acali19]

Thanks... I will check out Mt Dana as well.

Judging by some of the news reports, it seems the results of the winter weather may be our biggest obstacle during our reservation time (Mid-July). Snow, Snow everywhere
SAll the Best