Yosemite Creek and Ten Lakes Trailhead

Quick Facts

Amenities

6 listed

Animal-Safe Food Storage, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Recycling, Restroom, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles

Whether hiking or backpacking, travel off the beaten path to a group of pristine lakes or to the incredible views found at the rim of Yosemite Valley.

Ten Lakes Trailhead
John Muir once described these lakes as "a glacier basin with ten glassy lakes set all near together like eggs in a nest." To see the lakes, follow this trail through conifers and across granite to cross a tributary of Yosemite Creek. Take care on this crossing early in the season when the creek is high. Continue on the trail to Ten Lakes Pass, overlooking the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne and the Sierra Crest. Then descend 693 feet (211 m) into the Ten Lakes Basin, which contains a series of beautiful High Sierra lakes.

Yosemite Creek Trailhead
This is a beautiful path that mostly follows Yosemite Creek to the rim of the Valley and Yosemite Falls. This trail drops about 2.6 miles through lodgepole pine stands before joining the trail from the Yosemite Creek Campground. The trail continues to parallel Yosemite Creek for another 3.3 miles before intersecting with the Yosemite Falls Trail which originates in Yosemite Valley, 3.5 miles below. Follow the signs to the overlook at Yosemite Point, a short distance to the east, for a glimpse of the breathtaking drop into Yosemite Valley and across the High Sierra. Use caution, wet rocks can be slippery.

For hiking and trail information, please visit a visitor center or information station.

Ten Lakes (strenuous)
12.6 mi (20.3 km) round-trip; 6-8 hours
2,200 ft (671 m) elevation gain

Yosemite Creek (strenuous)
16 miles (25.7 km) round-trip; 8-10 hours

Hours 
Accessible only while Tioga Road is open to vehicles, from late May or early June to sometime in October or November.

Getting Here 
Dependent on which hike, begin at either the Ten Lakes Trailhead or Yosemite Creek Trailhead, which are across the street from each other, along Tioga Road, east of White Wolf Road

Rules & Regulations 
Stay on established trails
Pets are not allowed on hiking trails
Pack out what you pack in
Overnight backpackers need a wilderness permit, which can be obtained at the Big Oak Flat Information Station.
Bear canisters are required for wilderness food storage for overnight hikers.
Bears and other wildlife can be present on trails at any time of the day or night. Feeding and approaching wildlife is dangerous and illegal! Be sure to properly store your food.
Tioga Road closes after the first significant snowfall. Overnight parking on this road ends October 15. For current road and weather information, please call [phone].

Hazards & Warnings 
Carry (and drink) plenty of water: a leading cause of injuries on the trail is dehydration. Be sure to treat river, stream, lake, or spring water.
Always carry a map and compass, and know how to use them, and wear sturdy footwear with good traction.
Be prepared for sudden changes in weather and conditions.

Accessibility
This trail is not accessible.