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Mirror Lake Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
 3.9 (99)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …High Sierra
  4. …Yosemite National Park
  5. Yosemite Valley
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“A beautiful loop through Tenaya Canyon. ”

Brian Smith
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Map Key

4.7

Miles

7.6

KM

Loop

4,160' 1,268 m

High

3,997' 1,218 m

Low

290' 88 m

Up

289' 88 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

8%

Max Grade (4°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Family Friendly The perfect loop for an afternoon on the trails with the kids. The trail itself is fairly flat and easy, and the views won't disappoint!

This trail is open year-round. In winter, it can be icy and snowy, especially along the south side of Tenaya Creek.

Overview

With a fresh perspective looking straight up at Half Dome, you'll be rewarded with views of Tenaya Canyon, Mount Watkins, Washington Column, and more. Mirror Lake is at is fullest in spring and early summer, when Tenaya Creek flows freely with fresh snowmelt. When water is calm, the lake offers beautiful reflections of surrounding cliffs.

Need to Know

The Valley Visitor Shuttle (7 am to 10 pm year-round) serves the trailhead at shuttle stop #17. Drinking water is not available at the trailhead or along the trail--come prepared. Once on the trail, sticking to the path is very important! Sometimes hikers attempt to rock-hop across Tenaya Creek, and while it's shallow at first, it quickly becomes deep and swift, and a slip leads immediately into the current with dangerous whitewater just downstream.

Description

This trail begins at shuttle stop #17. The first mile of this trail is a paved service road that leads directly to Mirror Lake. The paved portion allows leashed pets, bicycles, and strollers. On the loop trail beyond that, they are prohibited.

Start on the loop trail from the end of the paved path. The loop follows Tenaya Creek beyond the lake, and crosses two bridges after the Snow Creek Trail junction before returning past Mirror Lake on the south side of Tenaya Canyon. (There is no safe access to the north side of Mirror Lake directly from the south side of the loop, except via bridges at the west and east ends of the trail).

Exhibits along the trail tell the story of Mirror Lake's lake-to-meadow succession, and also highlight some of the cultural history of the area. Mirror Lake is often referred to as Mirror Meadow in late summer due to the lack of water and the influx of grasses and sandy areas.

Contacts

Land Manager: NPS - Yosemite

Shared By:

Brian Smith with improvements by Jesse Weber
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 99 votes

#7

in Yosemite Valley

#136

Overall
  3.9 from 99 votes
5 Star
28%
4 Star
43%
3 Star
24%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
1%
Recommended Route Rankings

#7

in Yosemite Valley

#15

in California

#136

Overall
35 Views Last Month
5,967 Since May 7, 2015
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
26%
18%
55%
0%
1%
0%
Add a Photo

Photos

Half Dome towering above Mirror Lake/Meadow
May 7, 2015 near Yosemit…, CA
Yosemite National Park, Mirror Lake Trail
May 7, 2015 near Yosemit…, CA
Yosemite National Park, Mirror Lake Trail
May 7, 2015 near Yosemit…, CA
Valley walls reflection in Mirror Lake
Dec 24, 2018 near Yosemit…, CA
Mirror Lake Loop in the summer
Jun 25, 2018 near Yosemit…, CA
Upper Mirror Lake
Oct 16, 2022 near Yosemit…, CA

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Nov 8, 2024
Joe Straathof
Jun 7, 2024
豪 於
Didn't do the loop but got most of it!
Jun 2, 2024
Madison Baker
May 22, 2024
Martin A Klára Nováci
May 3, 2024
Alexis Utley
Mar 19, 2024
Crystal Smith
4.7mi — 2h 45m
Dec 6, 2023
Jack Doolittle
Oct 10, 2023
DALE B

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