Tenaya Lake Trail

Dogs No Dogs

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

Starting from the Cathedral Lakes trailhead, head west paralleling Tioga Road past all the famous domes: Pothole, Fariview, Medlicott, Polly and Pywiack. Join up with Tenaya Creek and follow it to the east end of Tenaya Lake. The trail skirts the southern shoreline and continues over level ground until about the 9 mile mark. Climb up to Olmstead Point and take in the huge panoramic views. After an bit more ascending over more granite slabs, leave Tioga Road behind. Descend a more wooded canyon, then climb back up to a saddle formed by the shoulder of Mount Watkins. From here it is downhill to a forested flat spot where the trail ends at an intersection with the Snow Creek Canyon Trail.

Your surroundings on this trail will vary between dense riparian vegetation, exposed rocky side slopes and open forest.