Cathedral Peak from above Upper Cathedral Lake
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| | The plan for this trip is to leave the car at the Sunrise Lake / Clouds Rest trailhead parking lot on the south end of Tenaya Lake. Catch the Tuolumne Meadows shuttle bus and get off at Cathedral Lakes trailhead. Hike to Lower Cathedral Lake and setup camp on it’s western shore. If it’s too crowded we will head up to Upper Cathedral Lake and setup camp there.
The second days plan is to hike to Lower Sunrise Lake & setup camp. Bob is bring his fishing pole and he will try his luck catching something. I’m not, I cannot catch anything anyway.
On the third day, we are going to pack everything up and hike over to the base of Clouds Rest, climb to the top, then hike out to the the car. This day will be a long day. We will be hiking about 12.5 miles to reach the car.
Well that was the plan. Read on for details & pictures of the trip and the trip changes.
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Bob and I at Cathedral Lakes Trailhead.
This trailhead was packed, as usual.
Find the current trailhead report HERE.
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The trailhead is located just off Hwy 120 in Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park.
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View of Fairview Peak Along the Way | 
Down to Lower Cathedral Lakes from the Main Trail |
Across the flats to Lower Cathedral Lake | 
Lake is just over this flat rock. Is a nice place to have lunch, if there’s not any mosquitoes around |
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| | We could not camp at Lower Cathedral Lake. The mosquitoes were really bad.
We instead camped above Upper Cathedral Lakes to get into some light wind to keep them away.
This change makes the below map mileage a little off. See the profile for the exact mileage. | |
From the West Shore of Lower Cathedral Lake | 
At Upper Cathedral Lake |
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| Trail Profile Day 2a |
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Looking Northeast with Cathedral Peak in the Background | 
Looking Southeast Towards Sunrise H.S.C. |
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| Camp Visitors |
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After we setup camp we had a few visitors. While walking around checking the place out and getting some water for dinner we ran into a ground squirrel. He was quite interested in what we were doing in his area. He was quite fast and very hard to get a good picture of. He had at least a dozen holes he was darting in and out of. He never got close to camp, but was always on the lookout whenever we walked through his territory to get more water.
Then during dinner we had visit from a herd of 6 - 8 deers. They were also quite curious. As long as we didn’t stand up or move around much, they would come quite close to our tents. The one pictured was the first to approach our camp area, then the others followed. They hung around a while then headed into the trees to the east near Echo Peak. They all did return in the morning.
After dinner Bob and I walked over to the ridge overlooking Upper Cathedral Lake. We ran into a very colorful marmot playing along the cliff. While watching the marmot and trying to get a good picture of him, there was a great sunset going on. The setting sun was casting a wonderful orange shade on the western face of Cathedral Peak. After walking around a bit more, we returned to camp and lit a small campfire.
That night we had a few visitors which we could not get pictures of. One liked the smell of our tents and was sniffing around a bit. Bob swore something took a pee on or near his tent. The other was a couple of coyotes that was having the time of their lives. Crying half the night, moving throughout the valley to our south. Further south we could hear a few more doing the same.
When we woke up, the first thing we saw was the return of the deers. This time they were wandering around just outside our campsite looking for anything to eat. As Bob took him morning stroll into the trees, they all followed him. As he was taking care of business, they surrounded him. They amazingly stayed just out of reach, but too close for Bob’s comfort. He quickly returned with the herd following. They stayed until we started breaking camp.
We hit the trail, heading for Lower Sunrise Lake, about 9am. The mosquitoes were still very bad but not unbearable. I have already ran out of Deet and was very grateful that Bob had a large bottle of another type of repellent. The repellent he had stated it was good for 10 hours, but actually only lasted about 1 hour. We were both glad his bottle held 2 oz of the stuff, we were going to need every bit of it. |
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Leaving Day 1 Camp which was in Trees on the Left
It was just over the Cathedral Pass Crest | 
Heading Down the Trail towards the Sunrise H.S.C. with Tresidder Peak in View |
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| Trail Profile Day 2b |
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| Along the way to Lower Sunrise Lake |
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| Hiking across Long Meadow, just past Columbia Finger |
It was a great morning to hike. There was a light wind, which kept the mosquitoes away. I am using a new backpack and had problems getting everything to fit where I wanted. Again I ended up with my tent across the top of my pack, again. Not at all where I like it.
We meet a three hiking groups along the way. They all were on their way to Mt Whitney, via the John Muir Trail, which we were on during this section of our hike. One person that we talked to had lost contact with the group he was hiking with. They were on their second day, headed for Mt Whitney. This guy was having a heck of a time. The group he was with was doing about 15 miles a day, he was having a hard time keeping up. His group was taking a break, waiting for him, at the Sunrise High Serria Camp. He didn’t see them and passed them up. As his group crossed our path, we informed them that he was going to wait for them just before Upper Cathedral Lake. They all were naturally relieved to hear he was OK and not far ahead.
Bob and I walked up the stairs to take a look at the Sunrise High Sierra Camp. The weather has been so cool, the camp had not been setup yet. I made the mistake in returning back to the main trail and following it to the Sunrise Lakes junction. Then attempt to follow that trail to Sunrise Lakes. It would have been better to follow a lateral trail that goes from the camp office, across a small bridge, towards the stables, then watch for a trail going uphill to the west. The trails are a little hard to follow in this area. We ended up at one of the stables and had to backtrack to another junction. From there, guess which other trail to follow. The people staying at this High Serria Camp have really made a maze of trails. We finally located the correct trail by following the steepest one up hill.
Just before a set of granite block switchbacks, we had to make way for a mule train bring supplies to setup this High Serria Camp. It was amazing to watch the mules navigate down the rocky steps. Before reaching Upper Sunrise Lake, we ran into 3 more mule trains.
While having lunch on the pass, there was a sporadic set of workers passing us hiking with picks and shovels. One guy even had his shovel handle broken in half. We could not figure out what they were doing so far out with these tools. Well we found our once we got started. On our way down the pass, the trail had to cross through a deep snow drift. These guys was digging through the snow to the trail so the horses and mules could make it through the snow drift without having to go off trail. The drift was about waist deep and and about 10 yards wide.
Just before reaching Upper Sunrise Lake we again ran into another group of hikers. They were musicians heading to the High Serria Camp to preform for the workers setting it up. I don't know how they made it up with the shoes they were wearing. They all had sandals on. One guy was wearing the rubber type, w/o socks. the type you see in the operating room. Next we came across a group of kids having a great time swimming in Middle Sunrise Lake. As you can see, this part of the trail was very busy.
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Sunrise High Sierra Camp Office |
Pack Train Going to the Sunrise High Serria Camp
from Tenaya Lake Trailhead |
Above Sunrise HSC Looking Back at Long Meadow
The Trail is at the Base of the Rock Cliff on the Left |
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Water Cascading Between Upper & Middle Sunrise Lakes | 
Above Middle Sunrise Lake |
 Panorama of Lower Sunrise Lake |
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Bob with the First Part of Dinner |
After taking a short rest when reaching Lower Sunrise Lake, I took off around the lake in search of a good campsite. While I was gone Bob decided to try his luck with fishing. Within 30 minutes he caught 2 large German Brown Trout. Each trout measured at least 14” long. We now had one problem to solve, how to cook them. We didn’t have a pan nor oil to cook them in.
The group of kids that we passed earlier swimming, was now ready to fish. One of them had a fishing pole and was excited to also catch a fresh dinner. Within a few minutes he also had a fish on his line. However as he was bring it ashore, it swam under the log he was standing on. It broke his line and swam away. The lake was so clear you could see everything that was happening. He kept trying but his line would not hold the fish. We found out later his line was very old, and after changing it he did make a successful catch. Their group also had fish for dinner instead of their dehydrated food.
We did figure out how to cook our fish. Bob did have a little aluminum camp cooking set that we ended up using. We had to cut the fish in half, and kind of boil them over the open camp fire in lake water. The first one was not cooked completely... so we had trout sushi for the first setting. The second set I cooked much longer and they turned out great. They were so fresh we didn’t need any seasoning. I think they were the best trout I’ve ever had. We also had instant baked potatoes and dried fruit to complete the meal.
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Bob with the Second Part of Dinner | 
Getting the Fish Ready for Dinner |
Our Lower Sunrise Camp |
I was able to locate a nice camp site on the south side of the smaller lake which Lower Sunrise Lake feeds into. The mules really messed up this lakes inlet. I found that walking around the western edge of this small lake made for an easier way to get across the lake inlet. The mules made such a mess at this crossing, we had to get our water from the main lake, which was no big deal.
The mosquitoes were not a problem here. Our camp site was near the ridge overlooking Tenaya Creek Canyon which gave us a nice breeze coming over the ridge. Walking over to the ledge we were able to see Tioga Pass Road and a waterfall along Tenaya Creek.
Before dinner Bob and I took a swim. It was a real delightful lake to swim in. The water was as clear as could be and very refreshing after a days hike. The only chill you got while in the water was from the intermittent breeze.
There was 5 groups camping around this lake. The area is arraigned such that you really do not notice the other campsites. You can easily locate a nice site that is away from everyone else. If it wasn’t for the smell of the other camp fires, you think you were the only one’s there.
After swimming we took a hike around the lake. We could not make it all the way around because of the bog on the eastern side. One thing I wish we had done was to hike down the trail to see how far it was to the Clouds Rest trail junction. This was the second mistake I made on this trip. If we had made this short hike, we would had done the last leg of the hike to Clouds Rest a little differently.
It was a rather uneventful night. Lots of stars, the moon came up very late so all the stars were larger than life. It was very quite with absolutely no visitors. Did get a little reading in. I was pleasantly surprised that in an area with so many camp sites, we didn’t hear of or get a visit from a local bear. |
Cooking Fish the Hard Way |
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| Trail Profile Day 3a |
Profile from our Camp to Clouds Rest Junction |
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| Trail Profile Day 3b |
Profile from Clouds Rest Junction to Clouds Rest |
| Here’s a couple of pictures taken before the hike looking at Clouds Rest |
Clouds Rest is the Highest Point to the Left and behind Half Dome
Picture taken at Glacier Point | 
Clouds Rest is the Highest Peak in this Picture
It was taken along Tioga Pass Road |
| Along the Trail to Clouds Rest |
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This is to be the longest mileage day of the trip, about 12.5 miles total. If I had been thinking, I could have made the day a lot easier. Instead of breaking camp, we should have done a day hike to Clouds Rest, hiked back, then hiked out to Tenaya Lake. Anyway we got off on a really nice start. Had a nice breakfast and breaking camp went without a hitch. It didn’t freeze, like the first night, so there wasn’t the chill in the morning air. Finally I figured out how to keep everything inside my pack. The bear box really takes up a lot of room and is hard to work around. Making everyone use one must be working because we have not heard or seen a bear yet. I have also been amazed at the total lack of animals we have not seen during the entire trip, so far.
When we got to the Clouds Rest junction, Bob had the GREAT idea of leaving our backs there. Well the round trip mileage from there to Clouds Rest was about 9 miles. Leaving our packs there would mean they would be in the open for about 3 hours. I felt that was a little risky, even though we have seen very few animals. It would take only one to ruin the day. So we kept the packs on and headed for Clouds Rest. We both had a change of heart by the time we reached the Forsyth and Clouds Rest junction.
At the Forsyth and Clouds Rest junction, we dropped our packs and had a well deserved snack break. It was a very nice place to take a break. Nice logs in the shade that you could get yourself up on and remove your boots without touching the ground. No muddy feet allowed. This is where it really hit me that we should NOT have broke camp. So we revisited the option of leaving our packs behind. There was quite a bit of foot traffic and a good location to separate the food from the packs. It was also in a fairly safe location and the packs would be easily see by other hikers. So it didn’t take much to convince each other to leave the packs here. We were also only 2 miles from the top of Clouds Rest, so we grabbed some water and headed to the top, leaving the packs behind. IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
Not far up the trail we got our first good look at Clouds Rest. Only 2 miles away and still looked a long way away. Now the trail was a steady up hill stroll. There was one section that did give us a little breather by heading down hill. That only lasted about a 1/4 mile, but it was a welcome change. We were not above tree line, but the trail from here to the top was completely exposed.
As you got closer to the base of Clouds Rest, the trail keep getting narrower and narrower. Then at the base, well I knew it was to be a narrow steep climb to the top, but Oh Shit, I didn't expect this narrow. I’ve been across some narrow passes, but this beats them all. And It’s along way straight down, on both sides. Makes for some great views, but if you are afraid of heights, like me, it’s a lot unnerving.
It was a shame that there was so much smoke over the valley from the local fires. Still it was an unbelievable view looking down on Half Dome and across to Glacier Point. There was one other guy and 2 women hikers on the top when we got there. Which was good so we could take pictures for each other.
The pictures do not do the views justice. The views were incredible. Looking up the Merced River Canyon, the river looked amazing. You could actually see the river flow. Unfortunately someone must have gotten hurt there. It looked like the rescue helicopter was working overtime hauling something or someone out. It made 3-4 trips while we were watching from the top.
There was a marmot looking for a handout on top. He looked well fed. Everyone there gave him at least one nut from their trail mix. It was amazing watching him scamper over the edge without falling.
We wanted to stay on top longer, but we still had quite a long hike ahead of us. About 8 miles to the car. We took some more pictures of the top starting point of Clouds Rest Foot Trail looking down, before heading down it.
Arrived back at Forsyth Junction in fine time. Found the packs and bear boxes were just as we left them. We ate a quick lunch, loaded the bear boxes in our packs and headed for the car. We were not looking forward to the only switchbacks along the trail going UP near the Sunrise Lakes Junction. Before climbing through the switchbacks we took a break. Not a very long one... the mosquitoes were back. The 10 hour repellent was not working so great. I think the mosquitoes thought it was candy. |
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First View of Clouds Rest from the Trail |
Bottom of Clouds Rest Foot Trail |
Marmot Hanging onto the Edge |
YES, It’s as Steep and Narrow as it Looks Here.
Cliffs on either side! |
Over the Edge Near the Tree |
Near the Top
Not Much Room to Walk |
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A Great View from the Top with Half Dome in the Background |
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| Other Views from the Top |
South East at the Merced River Canyon | 
East Towards Tuolumne Meadows |
North East Down at Tenaya Lake |
Starting Back Down the Ledge | 
Over the First Hump |
Back at the Bottom of the Foot Trail
Only 7.5 Miles to Tenaya Lake |
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We followed the reverse of map 3b back to the junction near Lower Sunrise Lake. |
| Trail Profile Day 3c |
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The trail was getting busy again. We passed at least 4 groups heading to Clouds Rest. One group consisted of at least 20 kids. Another was a husband and wife with 6 teenage girls. There’s going to be a real traffic jam going across the ridge when they all get there. In places there’s only enough room for one person.
By the time we reached the Sunrise Lakes Junction we had already walked 9 miles, about 6 with the packs on. Now we have a long 2.5 mile hike down a very steep and rocky stretch to Tenaya Lake and the car. At least there were NO mosquitoes as we were hiking down the switchbacks, just a lot of loose rocks. Over the past couple of days, the mule trains to Sunrise High Sierra Camp have been using this trail a lot, making the trail very loose and dusty.
On our way down we met an elderly couple that were doing the, as they called it, “Classic High Sierra Loop”. They were on their 3rd leg of a 5 day hike. This hike consists of going to all 5 of the High Sierra Camps; Glen Aulin, May Lake, Sunrise Lake, Merced Lake and Vogelsang Lake. They started their hike at Tuolumne Meadows. They spent last night at May Lake and were on their way to the Sunrise High Sierra Camp.
These camps are spaced 8-9 miles apart. Most people do a day hike between each camp. Each camp is setup in such a way that you don’t have to carry all your supplies. They have cots, hot food and will supply you with a sack lunch, all for a fee naturally. Reservations are required for each site. All you’ll need is your water and any snacks you want to eat along the way.
At the bottom of the switchbacks our friendly mosquitoes were back. The closer to Tenaya Lake we got, the more intense they became. We didn’t think this half mile stretch would ever end. I had my GPS going and the display showed that we were within the half mile screen. The more we walked, the screen pointer just sat there. Guess it was like watching boiling water boil.
Finally reach the outlet of Tenaya Lake and crossed it with ease. The Sunrise Lake trailhead parking lot was packed and buzzing with people getting ready to head out on their hike. After a long day on the trail, we were glad to see the car.
On our way out we dropped off Bob’s bear box at the Ranger’s Station. That was actually a good deal. The rental cost was $5.00 for the entire trip. We then stopped in Groveland, at the Brass Rail, for a bite and beer. The funnest thing happened there. When we paid and received our change, they rounded up the total of each bill. Wanted to just hit the road for home, so we just took the difference out of the tips. Now to clean the gear and get it ready for the next trip.
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Looking Back at Half Dome Near Forsyth Junction |
Heading Down Just Past the Sunrise Lakes Junction |
East Across Tenaya Lake | 
Leaving Tenaya Lake Along Tioga Pass Road |
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