Reaching elevations upwards of 10,000 feet, Tioga Pass is a once-in-a-lifetime drive. Scattered with mountain views, alpine lakes and wildflower-dotted meadows, you’ll be happy you left the driving to us.

Gaze out the window and look for bears as you make our way to the Pothole Dome trailhead. Enjoy a short hike overlooking Tuolumne Meadows before heading to Tenaya Lake. Here, you’ll enjoy an included box lunch and have the chance to swim in the crystal clear alpine waters of the lake. On the way back to the hotel, we will make another stop at Olmstead Point for a vantage point of Half Dome most people miss.

Itinerary

• 8:00am. Depart Cedar Lodge
• 8:15am. Depart Yosemite View Lodge
• 10:00am. After gaining almost 4,000 feet of elevation and traversing Tioga Road, we will reach the Pothole Dome trailhead. Here you’ll have about 2 hours to hike the relatively easy 2.5 mile roundtrip hike. From the top of the dome, enjoy views of Yosemite’s high elevation peaks, Tuolumne Meadow and the Tuolumne River.
• 12:15pm. Around noon we will stop at sparkling Tenaya Lake to enjoy lunch on the beach. Don’t forget your bathing suit! Taking a dip in the refreshing snow-melt is the perfect solution to a hot summer’s day.
• 2:30pm. After about two hours of free time at the lake, we will start to make our way back to your hotel. Along the way we will stop at Olmstead Point to take in the views and to see Half Dome from a new perspective.
• 4:00pm. Arrive Yosemite View Lodge
• 4:15pm. Arrive Cedar Lodge

Hiking Details: 

The Pothole Dome trail is a mild 2.5 mile roundtrip hike with 250 feet of elevation gain. The summit of the dome itself rewards hikers with sweeping views of Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite’s higher elevation mountains towards the east.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothing, and bring good hiking shoes in case you want to climb up the sloping granite top of pothole dome.