California · Hiking · Near Yosemite Valley

Cathedral Lakes Trailhead

Cathedral Lakes Trailhead
0.5 mi
round trip
10 ft
climb
8,587 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Get a permit

Yosemite Wilderness (overnight trips) · overnight

Reserve on Recreation.gov

Is Cathedral Lakes Trailhead open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Yosemite National Park. It doesn't name Cathedral Lakes Trailhead, so check the source for the area it covers.

  • Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are temporarily closed due to snow

    Park closure covering Yosemite National Park · NPS · Yosemite National Park

As of · Source: NPS · Yosemite National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Cathedral Lakes are nestled at the foot of Cathedral Peak. In addition to the lakes themselves, hikers will enjoy views of Cathedral Peak and Echo Peak. The trail through this area is part of the John Muir Trail, which sees high traffic all season. The area is also popular with rock climbers. Beginning from the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center parking, the trail climbs steadily to Upper Cathedral Lake. Near the top of the climb, a spur trail leads to Lower Cathedral Lake (0.7 mile one-way to the lake). Distance: 7.6 miles (12 km) round-trip Elevation gain: 1,000 ft (300 m) Time estimate: 6-7 hours Tips & Seasonal Information Pets and bicycles are not allowed on hiking trails. This trailhead is only reachable by vehicle when Tioga Road is open, typically late May or early June to sometime in October or November. Tioga Road closes after the first significant snowfall. Overnight parking on this road, including this trailhead, ends October 15. For current road and weather information, please call 209/372-0200 (press 1, then 1).

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Tuolumne Meadows Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.8 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Tuolumne Meadows Grill

    Fast food

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rainsEeekster, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Sierra Point

    Viewpoint

    In town

    Point in Yosemite National Park at the eastern end of the valley

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Eeekster, CC BY 3.0 (commons)

More in Yosemite Valley

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Cathedral Lakes Trailhead

    Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      41° / 13°

    2. Feb

      38° / 12°

    3. Mar

      42° / 15°

    4. Apr

      45° / 22°

    5. May

      54° / 27°

    6. Jun

      65° / 33°

    7. Jul

      71° / 38°

    8. Aug

      70° / 36°

    9. Sep

      65° / 32°

    10. Oct

      57° / 26°

    11. Nov

      47° / 20°

    12. Dec

      40° / 12°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tuolumne Meadows Rs, CA, 1.7 mi away at 8,694 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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