Cathedral Lakes

Cathedral Lakes is the highest-pay-off-per-mile hike in Yosemite's high country — 7 miles round-trip from Tioga Road that climbs 1,000 feet through subalpine forest to twin glacial lakes pinned beneath the 10,911-foot granite spire of Cathedral Peak. The trail leaves the John Muir Trail at the Cathedral Lakes spur and ends at Upper Cathedral Lake's shoreline (Lower Cathedral Lake is a side spur off the spur). The trailhead off Tioga Road has 80 spaces and accepts RVs up to 30 ft along the shoulder pullouts. Tuolumne Meadows Campground (35-ft cap, dry-only, mid-June through September) is 3 miles east and the obvious rig basecamp. Tioga Road's seasonal opening — late May to early June most years, sometimes as late as July 1 in heavy-snow years — is the actual planning constraint. Once the road closes for winter (typically mid-November), the trail is inaccessible until next summer's plow-out.