Sight · Yosemite National Park
A short granite climb opens a wide view across Tuolumne Meadows.
Overview
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Plan your stop
“You're nearing Pothole Dome's trailhead, for a short climb above the west end of Tuolumne Meadows.”
Yosemite Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Yosemite National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Yosemite audio tourRecorded for this place
Pothole Dome“You're nearing Pothole Dome's trailhead, for a short climb above the west end of Tuolumne Meadows.”
Plays as you drive up to Pothole Dome in the Parkwolf Yosemite Tour Guide.
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“We just drove through Yosemite and it made our trip listening to this app as we drove through. Like having a tour guide in the car with you.”
Guide
Pothole Dome is a low granite dome at the west end of Tuolumne Meadows, beside Tioga Road. It makes a good hour-long stop if you want a quick climb to a real viewpoint: the short route is one mile round trip with about 200 feet of gain, and it often gives visitors their first broad view across the meadow.
The route skirts the meadow’s west side before coming around to the dome’s east face, where you leave the path for a short climb on bare granite. Stay on the designated approach to protect the meadow soil and plants; pets and bicycles aren’t allowed on hiking trails, and the route isn’t wheelchair accessible. There’s a small parking lot at the meadow’s west end. A longer 2.5-mile option adds a walk by Tuolumne River cascades, so stick with the one-mile dome route if you’re stopping just for the summit. You can drive here only while Tioga Road is open; it closes seasonally after significant snow.
The summit opens east across Tuolumne Meadows toward the surrounding high Sierra peaks and domes. For the dome’s rounded profile, look back from the meadow side; on top, frame the meadow below the granite skyline. The final stretch is exposed rock, so take care if it’s wet.
Wildlife
732 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
1,747 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
332 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
11 sightingsPeregrine FalconMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
276 sightingsPikaMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
677 sightingsYellow-bellied MarmotMost seen around 8 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Yosemite. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModeratePothole Dome Trail1 mi · 45 min · 0.2 mi awayA quick granite scramble with broad views of Tuolumne Meadows
ModerateCathedral Lakes Trail9 mi · 7.5 hr · 1.1 mi awayTwo alpine lakes beneath Cathedral Peak reward a steady Sierra climb.
ChallengingMcCabe Lakes Trail29.6 mi · 18 hr · 1.4 mi awayA long Tuolumne Meadows out-and-back to McCabe’s alpine lake basin.
ChallengingGlen Aulin Trail11 mi · 8 hr · 1.9 mi awayAn 11-mile river walk to waterfalls at Glen Aulin.
ModerateElizabeth Lake Trail4.8 mi · 5 hr · 2.1 mi awayA steady climb to a high lake below Unicorn Peak.
ChallengingYoung Lakes Trail13.6 mi · 9 hr · 2.2 mi awayA full-day walk through meadows and forest to high-country lakes.
ChallengingWaterwheel Falls Trail19 mi · 11 hr · 2.2 mi awayLong Tuolumne River hike to Waterwheel Falls' signature spray.
ModerateDog Lake Trail2.8 mi · 2.3 hr · 2.2 mi awayA steep climb gives way to a quiet high-country lake.
Visitor center · 1.2 mi awayTuolumne Meadows Visitor CenterA ranger desk, geology exhibits and a CCC story beside the meadow.
Sight · 1.4 mi awayParsons Memorial Lodge and Soda SpringsA short walk joins a 1915 lodge with bubbling meadow springs.
Sight · 1.8 mi awayTuolumne MeadowsA high-country meadow with river bends and granite domes.
Food · 2 mi awayTuolumne Meadows Store and GrillLunch and trail basics before the high-country miles.
Campground · 2.2 mi awayTuolumne Meadows CampgroundA high-country base for Tuolumne's hikes, lakes, and river.
Lodging · 2.5 mi awayGlen Aulin High Sierra CampA waterfall-side cabin camp, reached only on foot.
Sight · 2.5 mi awayLembert DomeA steep granite climb earns a wide-open Tuolumne panorama.
Ranger station · 2.6 mi awayTuolumne Meadows Wilderness CenterTalk over your route and get a backcountry permit.Parkwolf’s Yosemite ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
