The hike to Dog Lake is often paired with the hike to Lembert Dome, because the two are so close in proximity. Each hike by itself is 2.8 miles round trip, but Lembert Dome has an elevation gain of about 800 feet as opposed to Dog Lake's 600 feet. To do both of them together, it's about 4 miles round trip.

Dog Lake and Lembert Dome are in the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite's backcountry, meaning there are tons of surrounding wildflowers and beautiful scenery along the way. Because they are both such short lakes, even when done together, it usually only takes about 1.5-3 hours to complete. It's a great last minute option if you find yourself having some extra time during your trip. The lake is surrounded by evergreen trees, granite mountains, and wildflower meadows.

It's a fairly steep trail, and climbs pretty consistently until it reaches a junction. Turn left at the junction to reach Lembert Dome, where you'll receive an awesome view of Tuolumne Meadows. To reach Dog Lake, continue straight at the junction.

The trail is open as long as Tioga Road is open, which is typically June to November. Remember to stay off the domes during thunderstorms.

At an elevation of 10,600 feet, the hike through Mono Pass is an 8 mile journey that takes you across the High Sierras, through several meadows, and stops at a few different lakes along the way.

The first part of the trail guides hikers through the streams and meadows of the High Sierras. Once it hits the Spillway Lake Junction, the trail starts to get a little bit more strenuous. The scenery begins to change as well. The closer the trail climbs towards Bloody Canyon, the more rocky and barren the landscape becomes. The latter half of the hike offers views of the majority of Mono Valley, including Mono Lake and, if you're up for a little more traveling, Upper Sardine Lake as well.

While the pass is already at a significantly high elevation, there is still a 1000 foot elevation gain on the hike, so be prepared to notice a loss of oxygen and bring any headache remedies you may need, especially if you're coming into Yosemite at sea level.

Mono Pass is open as long as Tioga Road is open, which is typically June to November, but because of the elevation, it's not uncommon for snow to obstruct several of the viewpoints if you are there too early in the season.

One of the busiest trails in the Tuloumne Meadows area, the hike to Cathedral Lakes is a gorgeous 7 mile walk to the perfect place to rest and recuperate.

While there are several High Sierra lakes, the Cathedral lakes are arguably the most popular because this hike was part of the John Muir trail. At an elevation of roughly 10,000 feet, Cathedral Peak sits on the east and both Echo and Tressider Peaks sit in the south, while Lower Cathedral Lake rests in the middle.

There is a wide, easily accessible rock shelf that hangs over Lower Cathedral Lake. Many hikers enjoy soaking in the view, which, from the rock shelf, includes Tenaya Lake, while recovering from the 1000 foot climb up to the lake.

There is a fork in the trail, and you will have to choose between Upper and Lower Cathedral Lake. Upper Cathedral Lake is part of the John Muir Trail and will take you to the Sunrise High Sierra Camp, and Lower Cathedral Lake is a little bit more popular and a little bit bigger as well.

The trail to Cathedral Lakes is open as long as Tioga Road is open, which is June through November. Expect marshy conditions in the early season.

Gaylor Lakes is one of Yosemite's most underrated hikes. It's a 2 mile trail with views the entire way. At various points along the trail, you can see Dana Meadows and the mountains beyond it, like Gibbs and Mammoth. When you reach the top of the pass, you can see the mountains on the east of Yosemite as well as the Gaylor Lakes valley, which contains five separate lakes. The valley also offers views of the Tuolumne Meadows and the surrounding mountains. This hike has an amazing pay off for the amount of effort required.

The total elevation gain is about 500 feet, so if you're less experienced, you'll definitely start to feel it a few miles in to get to the valley, but once you reach the valley itself, it's mostly flat with a few subtle inclines. Because there is so much to see, this is a hike that lends itself to a little bit of improvisation. Many visitors like to wander around through the valley and the meadows and soak it in along the way. The trail will take you to the Middle Gaylor Lake, but the others are all nearby and most are easily accessible from the valley.

Elizabeth Lake is a gorgeous lake tucked underneath the High Sierras in Yosemite. It's about a 4.8 mile hike to reach it, with an elevation gain of 1000 feet. Even though it's not super long, the trail climbs steadily up, especially for the first mile, so the view does make you work for it a little.

The trailhead is right outside the Tuloumne Meadows Campground and takes the B loop of the campground to the lake.

Resting between Cockscomb, Unicorn Peak, and Johnson's Peak, Elizabeth Lake is within the Tuloumne Meadows and backcountry portion of Yosemite Valley. This means it's not a super trafficked or crowded hike, and it gives views of Yosemite that are less common, but still just as beautiful. Many people decide to start working through the backcountry once they've done all of the main Yosemite activities. If you are planning on taking a couple strolls through Tuloumne Meadows, be sure to get a permit to allow you and your party access to the hikes you're wishing to take.

If you reach the lake and are still hoping for more of a challenge, you might choose to hike up to Unicorn Peak for an amazing vantage point of Cockscomb and the rest of the backcountry. 

Ostrander Lake is a long, 11.4 mile hike just behind Sentinel Dome. Unlike most of Yosemite's summer hikes, the trail to Ostrander Lake is open during the winter for people to ski through. Ostrander Lodge offers cross country skiers a place to sleep during their travels.

In the summer, the Ostrander Lake trail is littered with wildflowers, streams, and meadows. The lake itself is surrounded by large granite mountains, making it the perfect place for a semi-secluded swim.

The total elevation gain is about 1600 feet. This hike is no joke, but it's a beautiful one. The first part of it is a subtle ascent through the forests and wildflower meadows. It gets more difficult during the latter portion, where travelers can see the damage done by an 1987 lodgepole pine fire in the area. Reaching the lake also includes views of Mount Starr Dome, the Clark Range, and the Illiouette Creek Basin. The hike reaches its peak at an elevation of 8,720 feet and then drops down 200 feet to the lake.

Ostrander Lake is about six miles from Yosemite Valley, making it a great option for people looking to get away from the main traffic and head more towards Yosemite's backcountry. As long as Glacier Point Road is open, the trail to Ostrander Lake is open. 

May lake is a relatively small lake that rests at the base of Mt. Hoffman in Yosemite National Park. One of the park's most scenic lakes, May lake not only gets up close and personal with beautiful granite cliffs, but it sits at an elevation of 9,270 feet and offers views of both Clouds Rest and Teyana Lake.

The hike to May Lake is only 2.5 miles round trip, but it has an elevation gain of 500 feet, so it climbs pretty steadily upward. Many visitors choose to hike both May Lake and Mt. Hoffmann, which adds 3.5 miles and about an extra 1500 feet of elevation to the hike. 

Mt. Hoffmann sits at an elevation of 10, 845 feet and offers views of Clouds Rest, Half Dome, the northern Yosemite wilderness, and views of May Lake from above as well.

Charles Hoffmann allegedly named the mountain after himself and the lake after Lucy Mayotta Brown back in 1867. Three years later, the two were married.

Because the trailhead starts on Tioga Road, this hike is usually closed in the winter, so be sure to check road conditions before you embark. Also remember to pace yourself as you gain elevation and the oxygen gets thinner.

Lukens Lake is a small lake in the White Wolf area of Yosemite National Park. The hike is a short, 1.6 mile walk through a forest to the secluded lake surrounded by trees and a small wildflower meadow. This lake is famous for the luminescent shooting stars that are easily spotted while swimming here, so although it's not the most popular lake in the valley, it's not uncommon to have company while you're there.

There are two separate trails that will take you to Lukens Lake, one is 1.6 miles and starts from Tioga Road, and the other is 4.6 miles and starts from the White Wolf Lodge. Both trails have a low elevation gain, about 200-300 feet, and lead you through some pretty thick woods until you reach the lake. The longer trail crosses the Middle Fork of the Tuolumne River has a few more wildflowers and streams, but mostly it's just a longer walk in the forest.

The best time to visit is in July, when the wildflower meadows are at their peak. Tread carefully, though, because the trail is typically wet and muddy until August. It's also important to stay on the marked path so as not to damage the meadows.