(32.25 miles--2-day trip)
~Tenaya Lake~ is one of the gems of the High Sierra. The very scenic
two-day round trip from Yosemite is too long and strenuous to be
attempted in one day. Excellent accommodations will be found at Tenaya
Lake Lodge, but reservations should be made in advance by telephone.
If the trip is to be taken in the following direction one should start
early to avoid the intense heat of the zigzags above Mirror Lake.
Water should be carried.
The trail starts at ~Mirror Lake~, three miles from Yosemite. One
should plan to see sunrise there (about 8 a.m. in summer). Skirting
the west shore the trail follows up the canyon about one mile, thru a
dense forest of oak, laurel, yellow pine, Douglas fir and incense
cedar. Then begins a long, hard climb of 2500 feet up 108 switchbacks
(one and a half miles--two hours).
Above the rim of the canyon the trail follows the west bank of ~Snow
Creek~. Fishing is fair but the trout small. Further down stream are
picturesque cascades. After passing thru a forest of Jeffrey pine,
lodgepole pine and fir for about one mile the trail to North Dome and
Tioga Road (Trail Trip 4) branches to the left. Our trail turns right
and crosses ~Snow Creek~ (foot-log) about 300 yards beyond. We then
climb 1500 feet by zigzags up an east branch of Snow Creek thru
scattered timber. At the headwaters of this creek is a small meadow at
the right of the trail, a good campsite with forage fairly abundant.
Rising over a spur ridge, the trail drops abruptly about 650 feet to
~Tenmile Meadow~ (Alt. 8400) on a small tributary of ~Tenaya Creek~.
This is a good place to noon. It is a fine camp and horse-feed is
abundant, but there is no fishing. Climbing to the northeast thru
timber the trail passes ~Hidden Lake~ (Alt. 8400--picturesque, but no
fishing), which is a short distance to the right of the trail but not
visible from it. About two and a half miles beyond Tenmile Meadow the
trail forks. The left branch leads to the ~Tioga Road~, about one mile
distant, which may then be followed to Lake Tenaya. The trail to the
right is far more scenic. It follows an open granite ridge revealing
the wonderfully glaciated canyon below and ~Clouds Rest~ opposite.
Down the canyon are Half Dome and the head of Yosemite Valley.
Descending about 300 feet the trail passes a beautiful little unnamed
lake, where are good camp sites and abundant pasturage, but no
fishing. From here the trail traverses almost level meadows and a
scattered forest of lodgepole pine one mile to ~Lake Tenaya~ (Alt.
8141). This large, deep glacial lake is beautifully surrounded by
granite crags and domes and is a splendid place for a permanent camp.
Its Indian name was Py-we-ack, or "lake of the glistening rocks,"
because of the glacier-polished granite pavements near the north end.
On June 5, 1851, when the last remnant of old Chief Tenaya's Yosemite
Tribe was captured here by the Mariposa Battalion, the lake and the
dominant pyramidal peak at the east were renamed "Tenaya." Forage is
abundant in the vicinity but it is not liked by horses, so stock
should be hobbled. The lake was stocked with Loch Leven trout in 1911
and with rainbow, eastern brook, black spotted and steelhead in 1917,
1918 and 1919, but fishing is only fair. The ~Tioga Road~ follows
around the western margin of the lake to ~Tenaya Lake Lodge~, about
one and a half miles distant, where good accommodations will be found.
The road continues up the canyon to ~Tuolumne Meadows~, seven and a
half miles distant, and to ~Mono Lake~.
Our return trail starts just below the lake. Crossing the meadow it
mounts the east slope steadily climbing 1000 feet up the rough granite
to ~Forsyth Pass~, two and a half miles distant. Fine views are
obtained all along the trail. Near the summit a small shallow lake can
be seen east of the trail. By leaving the trail and following up the
small stream about one mile, ~Mildred Lake~ (Alt. 9600) can be
reached. This little lake contains some very large trout. From Forsyth
Pass the trail follows southwest along the rim of Tenaya Canyon about
two miles and then forks. The trail to the left descends thru timber
about three miles and joins the ~Sunrise Trail~, making the shortest
route to Yosemite. The trail to the right leads to Clouds Rest and is
far more scenic than the cut-off. It follows just east of the canyon
rim for about two miles and joins the ~Clouds Rest Trail~. A short,
steep ascent by foot over rough granite takes us to ~Clouds Rest~
(Alt. 9925), the highest point near Yosemite. From here is a vast
panorama to all sides. Returning to the trail we descend thru stunted
forest and rough granite. To the right are ~The Pinnacles~ (Alt.
9451). The trail descends about 1000 feet by switchbacks to a spring.
~Quarter Domes~ (Alt. 8160 and 8276) are half a mile west on the
canyon rim. The trail descends thru denser and denser forest. A short
distance below, the ~Sunrise Trail~ joins from the east. After
trending westward along a bench the trail is joined from the northwest
by the ~Half Dome Trail~. Descending thru the pine forest, we now and
then are treated to glimpses of ~Mt. Starr King~ across Little
Yosemite. About one-third of a mile takes us to another junction where
a branch trail turns left descending 400 feet into Little Yosemite.
The main trail passes to the right of a granite knob and reaches the
floor of ~Little Yosemite Valley~ near the lower end, where it is
joined by a trail from up the canyon. Turning right we pass ~Liberty
Cap~ and after a 200-foot descent join the main Glacier Point Trail at
the top of ~Nevada Falls~. There is here a government telephone
(Central 1 ring). We turn right. Yosemite is six miles distant via
Trail Trip 2.