Explore Tenaya Lake, Yosemite NP

Mariposa County, California

4.6/5

based on 5 reviews

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Distance

2.5 miles

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Sarah Giek

Tenaya Lake is one of the most picturesque and easily-accessible lakes in Yosemite National Park, making it a popular destination for swimming, kayaking, and exploring.

Tenaya Lake is located alongside Tioga Road in the park's Tuolumne Meadows region. There is a family-friendly trail that surrounds the lake. Though some spots along the trail on the western shore may require fording the waters, the 2.5-mile trip is an easy hike for all to enjoy. Many others prefer to find a sunny spot along the shore to relax and enjoy the views and the clear waters.

Parking is available at small lots at both ends of the lake, but feel free to park on the shoulder of Tioga Road to begin your adventure anywhere along the shore. The most scenic views, in my opinion, can be find near the west end of the lake, where the reflections of the granite domes provide the perfect photo opportunity.

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Features

Chillin

Photography

Kayaking

Swimming

Hiking

Bathrooms

Beach

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Lake

Picnic Area

Scenic

Reviews

Sami Smith

Explore Tenaya Lake, Yosemite NP

10/08/20

This lake is absolutely beautiful! My friend and I hung out for a while after our sunrise hike to clouds rest. It is a busy lake but worth checking out.

5.0

Aaron Eddy

Explore Tenaya Lake, Yosemite NP

08/02/17

Lake Tenaya is one of the most beautiful lakes I've ever seen! One of the beaches is pretty narrow and crowded but if you're willing to do just a tiny bit of walking to get some personal space, it's well worth it.

5.0

Explorer

Jonathon Reed

Explorer

Explore Tenaya Lake, Yosemite NP

11/01/16

Tenaya Lake is a great spot in Yosemite, but it seems a shame to only stop on the side of the highway. Take some time and hike into the backcountry. Cathedral Lakes and Sunrise Lakes are two destinations near to the trailhead at Tenaya Lake and they are definitely worth visiting.

4.0

Emily Noyd

Explore Tenaya Lake, Yosemite NP

09/15/16

Weekends at Tenaya Lake can be very crowded, but it's my personal favorite spot to swim after climbing in Tuolumne. Weekdays provide a little more solitude on the beaches. Awesome way to spend the day with kiddos!

4.0

Joy Schmidt

Explore Tenaya Lake, Yosemite NP

02/23/16

Tenaya Lake is so quiet and beautiful. I felt like I was on top of the world in the high sierra.

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Sunrise Lakes to Clouds Rest

Start out at the Tenaya Lake Trailhead, where you can head directly onto the trail for Clouds Rest or you can branch off after 2.7 miles to Sunrise Lakes. This allows you to break up the hike, spend a night relaxing and help you have an early start back on the trail. Once re-connected to the Clouds Rest trail you begin a brief descent before you come across the only lake on the CR Trail. You d...

Half Dome & Clouds Rest Loop

Start and end this loop from the Sunrise Lakes TH along the Tioga Road, and in between you'll travel over 26 miles through Yosemite's backcountry gaining and losing over 7,000 feet in elevation. Unlike typical mountain summit hikes where it's climb climb climb to the top and then descend, this will be a day of constant up and down switching from ascent to descent. The trail starts at 8,150' a...

Clouds Rest to Half Dome

Because this is not a loop, you will need to figure out a shuttle situation. There are two options for this: 1. Drive your car to the Tenaya Lake Trail Head, and leave it parked there. Once you reach the Valley you will be car-less, but then the next day you can take one of the free shuttles up to Tuolumne to retrieve your car. 2. Leave your car in the Valley, and take the first shuttle up ...

Clouds Rest via Tenaya Lake

The "younger" brother of the world famous Half Dome, Clouds Rest is in fact a solid 1,000 feet taller despite receiving significantly less attention. If you know about this hidden gem however, you're in luck. Starting out from the Tenaya Lake trailhead will save you crowds on the trail and the trouble of driving into the congested Yosemite Valley and fighting for parking spaces. At the start...

Climb Hermaphrodite Flake to Boltway in Yosemite National Park

This is a great 5.7/5.8 linkup for anyone looking for an intermediate climb in Tuolumne. Always read through beta on Mountain Project and Super Topo and having the book on hand is always a good idea. To find the route, this photo is super helpful. The flake is pretty obvious, it's the one feature that looks like it's floating, completely disconnected from the rest of Stately Pleasure Dome. Ther...

Hike to Tuolumne Peak Plateau

The most direct route begins at Murphy Creek trailhead, on the north side of Tioga Road near Tenaya Lake. Walk north on Murphy Creek trail for 2.5 miles with minimal elevation gain. Polly Dome Lakes are a great side trip via the social trail on the right side of the trail before the first junction. (Camping there is allowed, with a wilderness permit.) The trail continues to Glen Aulin, but turn...

Explore Tenaya Lake, Yosemite NP

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Nearby

Sunrise Lakes to Clouds Rest

Half Dome & Clouds Rest Loop

Clouds Rest to Half Dome

Clouds Rest via Tenaya Lake

Climb Hermaphrodite Flake to Boltway in Yosemite National Park

Hike to Tuolumne Peak Plateau

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