Cathedral Lakes Trail: A special trail to enjoy the quietness of Yosemite [I can't die without walking! A trip to America's National Parks (40)]
Written by Sayaka Kato
Autumn in Yosemite. Summer vacation is over, and autumn brings a return of quiet to the bustling Yosemite Park. Yosemite in October is a place where time flows calmly and peacefully before the pure white, silent world of winter begins
The weather is just right, and hiking to the quiet, sparkling Cathedral Lakes is perfect for those who want to spend some time relaxing along the lakeside. It's a place where you can see a different world of Yosemite from the always crowded Yosemite Valley
There are countless hiking routes within Yosemite Park, but the trail we are taking this time on starts along Route 120, Tioga Road, and is a less crowded spot recommended for those who want to enjoy a quiet space in the beautiful autumn season
This hike takes you to two beautiful lakes, Upper Cathedral Lake and Lower Cathedral Lake
table of contents
Mount Rose Trail Information
Access (by car to the trailhead)
Trailhead address: Cathedral Lakes Trailhead (Search for this on Google Maps)
*Due to poor signal quality, we recommend downloading the map in advance
What to bring
As for useful items to bring on a hike, as always, prepare the same equipment as you would for a typical hike in the United States
- Drinks (larger in summer, about 2 liters)
- Warm clothing that can regulate your temperature (a windproof shell is helpful)
- hat
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
- Snacks to eat during the hike
- If you have any regular medications, bring first aid such as medicines and bandages
- Other than that, your favorite hiking gear
Trail Data
- Intermediate
- Season: Best season is from June to October
- Round trip distance: Approximately 15.2 km (9.5 miles)
- Elevation difference from trailhead: Approximately 506 m (1,663 ft)
- Course duration: Average 5 to 6 hours
Start hiking from the trailhead
Parking: Departure at 10:00 AM (Map 1)
It may be busier during the busy summer months, but there was still plenty of space in the parking lot here at 10am in mid-October. (Restrooms available.) This area is also popular with backpackers
There is a sign in the parking area directing you to Cathedral Lakes, so follow it and walk towards the trailhead
The trailhead is a little far from the parking lot, so walk along the flat road with Route 120 on your right. The trail is easy to follow, so follow it
About 0.8 km from the parking lot, the trail veers off to the left, so follow it, this time with Route 120 behind you. You will then see the trailhead sign
This is the trailhead. (Map Trailhead)
We walked along an easy trail surrounded by trees. When we reached the first fork, we turned right following the Cathedral Lakes arrow. After that, the trail gradually started to get hilly. The hills helped to increase our metabolism and warm us up. The trail went from flat to downhill
And if you go further, Cathedral Peak will appear!
A beautiful triangular rocky mountain appears before your eyes. This rocky mountain is one of the larger mountains in the distance, but when viewed from the trail, it stands at an angle that makes it look like a triangular mountain, making it look very imposing
Let's go further
The trail is easy to walk along and is surrounded by trees
Occasionally you will come across hikers walking. In the summer, this is an area that is especially popular with backpackers, so there are sure to be even more hikers walking
After walking about 5km from the start, you will reach a flat, slightly open area
If you continue along this path, you will come to a fork in the road that leads to Upper Cathedral Lake and Lower Cathedral Lake (Map 2)
At this fork, the distance from the start is 5.46km and takes about 1.5 hours
Depending on your level, you can choose to go either way, or just one of them instead of both, but both are so beautiful that I highly recommend visiting both. Personally, I like Upper Cathedral Lake
Here, first turn right at the fork and head towards Lower Cathedral Lakes. You will come across the lake within 10 minutes of the fork (Map 3)
First, you'll come across a small pond-like puddle in the foreground
There are some beautiful areas where the leaves are turning red. Let's continue on ahead
This is the beautiful Lower Cathedral Lake. The autumn colors and blue sky are truly beautiful
On the other side, there is a river in the marshland, and the view with Cathedral Peak in the distance is truly beautiful. There are almost no people around, so it is quiet and you can fully enjoy the atmosphere of nature
The quiet space and autumn scenery. You can relax for a while in front of the crystal clear lake
This is also a great place to take a break or have lunch
Here we are at an elevation of 2,909m. Although the elevation is high, the weather is warm and beautiful, perfect for hiking
We took a 40-minute break here and then set off for the other Upper Lake around 12:10
Return to the fork and take the trail that continues in the opposite direction
Fall hiking is great: not too cold, not too hot, and very few people around
You have nature all to yourself
Within 30 minutes, we arrived at Upper Cathedral Lake (Map 4)
The crystal clear lake is a jewel of nature! I would definitely swim there in the summer
These colors! Art created by nature
You can walk around the lake in one direction, so I walked around the lake in a counterclockwise direction
No matter what angle you look at it from, no matter which lakeside spot you visit, it's truly breathtakingly beautiful. The Lower Lake, which I visited first, was also beautiful, but the Upper Lake also welcomes visitors with a different kind of beauty
There were people having lunch or taking a nap in their favorite spot. Each person was taking a short break surrounded by nature
The reward for the walk is this view. It's worth the effort to enjoy this space and the scenery. After spending plenty of time at the lake, return to the trailhead by retracing your steps
We returned to the trailhead at 3pm, so the total time was 5 hours
Depending on the length of the breaks, the hike could have been shorter or longer, but it was the perfect course for a relaxing autumn day hike, neither too cold nor too hot
In the summer, it would be great to swim there
There are so many wonderful trails along Route 120 in Yosemite, so if you want to enjoy mountain climbing in Yosemite, we recommend staying overnight and enjoying all the hiking trails that start from Route 120
Please come visit us in the near future
Sayaka Kato
Leave your hiking and travel plans for California, including Yosemite National Park, to us. Influenced by my father, I've always loved outdoor activities, and while living in Japan, I started hiking and touring national parks, becoming fascinated by the natural beauty of America and Canada, which ultimately led me to my dream of visiting the United States. Currently, I run ANAMI TOURS, which offers local optional tours created together with clients, such as completely private hiking tours with Japanese guides. I'll introduce you to special options that I know only because I live in the area. If you're interested, please visit the website below
Related reading
Castle Crags Trail: A tour of the majestic spires towering over the Mt. Shasta area [A trip to America's national parks (43)]
A hidden gem! Another side of Yosemite. The Rancheria Falls Trail, a second Yosemite Valley with breathtaking views. [Can you die without walking? A trip to America's National Parks (42)]
The Upper Yosemite Falls Trail: A spectacular trail packed with all the charms of Yosemite. [A trip to the American National Parks (41)]
Mount Rose, located near a popular ski area, offers an easy 3,000m hike and 360-degree views. [A trip to the US National Parks (39)]