Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne County, California
| Address: | Tioga Rd, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389, USA |
| GPS: |
37°52'37.7"N 119°20'45.2"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 2.00 miles |
| Trail Type: | Loop |
| Hike Difficulty: | Beginner |
Restrooms Picnic Tables Streams Trails Wildflowers Pet Friendly National Park
Camp and Hike
A beautiful alpine meadow found in the upper Sierra Nevada Mountains. Open during the summer, this meadow offers excellent views of nearby granite domes and mountains. There is a roadway through Yosemite National Park that makes this meadow accessible, however during the winter this road is closed, making the meadow inaccessible.
Like Yosemite Valley, many of the features of Tuolumne Meadows were carved by glaciers. The Tuolumne river meanders through the meadow and is a great place to play when the current is not too swift and the water isn't too cold. In the spring when the snowmelt is rather fresh, the meadows will be flooded and almost appear as a lake.
Nearby is Lembert Dome and Cathedral Peak. These two points stick out into the skyline and are very popular for taking pictures, hiking, and climbing.
Tuolumne Meadows is a very popular place to visit once the roads are open. It is also the starting place for many of the backcountry trails in Yosemite National Park. If planning on going into the backcountry, permits are required and can be reserved in advance.
More Information
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Tuolumne County, California
- Head west toward Forest Rte 3N01 (0.9 mi)
- Slight right onto Forest Rte 3N01 (1.5 mi)
- Turn right to stay on Forest Rte 3N01 (0.7 mi)
- Slight left (1.4 mi)
- Continue onto Forest Rte 3N01 (1.5 mi)
- Turn right onto Cottonwood Rd/Forest Rte 1N04 (0.3 mi)
- Turn left onto Forest Rte 3N01 (5.3 mi)
- Turn left (1.1 mi)
- Turn left onto Forest Rte 3N01 (1.9 mi)
- Turn right toward Forest Rte 1N04 (0.2 mi)
- Continue onto Forest Rte 1N04 (0.6 mi)
- Sharp right onto Cherry Lake Rd/Forest Rte 1N07 (9.1 mi)
- Turn left onto Forest Rte 1N07 (0.9 mi)
- Turn left onto Cherry Lake Rd/Forest Rte 1N07Continue to follow Forest Rte 1N07(4.0 mi)
- Turn left onto Cherry Lake Rd/Forest Rte 1N07 (75 ft)
- Turn left onto CA-120 E (signs for Yosemite)Partial toll roadParts of this road may be closed at certain times or days(17.9 mi)
- Turn left to stay on CA-120 EToll roadMay be closed at certain times or days(40.0 mi)
- Turn right onto Tuolumne Meadows Lodge Rd (266 ft)
- Turn right (292 ft)
- Turn right (210 ft)
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Glen Aulin
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