Gaylor Lakes

Dogs No Dogs

Features Historical Significance · Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers

The Gaylor Lakes basin offers expansive views from alpine meadows, coniferous forests, and offers access to various, less-traveled lakes. Its view shed exposes the newcomer to the greater Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite National Park, replete with exposed granite domes and its thick coat of conifers. Fishing is popular at both lakes during the summer. Even in the middle of July, one of the busiest times in Yosemite, you'll spot a few hikers, but the alpine basin provides everyone plenty of room to spread out and find solitude.

Highway 120 between Crane Flat and Lee Vining closes to cars in the winter until snow clearing in the spring. You can check road conditions at nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/… However, if you want to snowshoe/ski in, it's open year round!

The trailhead is located at Tioga Pass immediately past the entrance station on Highway 120. Parking can be limited, so you may need to find parking on the side of Tioga Road. Several bear boxes are provided at the trailhead to store food while you are gone.

The trail immediately begins climbing through a subalpine forest toward Gaylor Peak. Climbing over 750 feet in a 1/2 mile via switchbacks, the trail offers views of Dana Meadows and the surrounding peaks as you climb toward the saddle. Leveling out at the top, you enter a metamorphic rock field with Middle Gaylor Lake in the alpine basin below. If you look back toward Mount Dana, you'll see Tioga Peak, Mount Gibbs, Kuna Peak, Mammoth Peak, Lyell Canyon, and the peaks of the Cathedral Range.

From here, the trail drops steeply to the lake, where mosquitos will greet you in the summer months, so make sure you have bug spray. The cold snow-fed lake is great to hike around in the summer, with the Cathedral Range appearing to emerge from the lake itself. At this point, you can enjoy exploring this lake, or follow the trail on the north edge of the lake, and follow the trail to Upper Gaylor Lake.

Following the stream drainage from Upper Gaylor Lake, you arrive at the other lake with more fantastic views of the Middle Gaylor Lake and the Cathedral Range. Follow the trail on the west side of the lake to climb another ridge to the park boundary where you'll find the old Great Sierra Mine. Take time to explore the old mines, demolished stone cabins, and spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes. You can return to your car via the same path, taking in the views as you return.

Marmots can be seen at the old mine, corn lilies around the lakes. Wildflowers can be seen throughout the summer like the single-stemmed senecio, Sierra penstemon, Gray's lovage, daisy, pussytoes, baby elephant heads, lupine, monkey flower, Sierra wallflower, phlox, red mountain heather, buckwheat, and coyote mint.