Parking
Use Lembert Dome Parking at the shared Lembert Dome and Dog Lake trailhead near the eastern end of Tuolumne Meadows. Vehicle access depends on Tioga Road’s seasonal opening.
Overview
About Dog Lake Trail
Why go
- A high-country lake reached on a half-day hike.
- The climb eases after a steep opening stretch.
Heads up
- The steep first half is demanding at high elevation.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Yosemite map
Full mapElevation8,599–9,199 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
4 active Yosemite alerts
- ClosureWilderness center–Lembert Dome trail closedMentions Lembert Dome, referenced in this guideThe trail between the wilderness center and Lembert Dome is closed for construction; an alternate trail is available. Check current trail conditions before setting out.Official details
- ClosureDome Fire closes Glacier Point Road and trailsGlacier Point Road is temporarily closed because Dome Fire smoke reduces visibility and to allow firefighting operations; some trails south of the road are also closed.Official details
“Lembert Dome's trail access is coming up, for a steep climb to a wide view over Tuolumne Meadows and the Cathedral Range. From Lembert Dome parking, allow about three hours for the three point four mile round trip.”
Yosemite Tour Guide
Yosemite, narrated.
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 trailhead
Lembert Dome0:00 / 0:23
“Lembert Dome's trail access is coming up, for a steep climb to a wide view over Tuolumne Meadows and the Cathedral Range. From Lembert Dome parking, allow about three hours for the three point four mile round trip.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Yosemite Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Soda Springs and Parsons Memorial Lodge
- Tuolumne Meadows Store and Grill
- Tuolumne Meadows Lodge and Lyell Canyon
- Tuolumne Meadows
- 125 audio storiesacross Yosemite’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Peregrine Falcon, Mule Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 141 trails, 99 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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.”
Trail guide
Hiking Dog Lake Trail
A short high-country climbDog Lake Trail is a 2.
Dog Lake Trail is a 2.8-mile round-trip out-and-back from the Lembert Dome and Dog Lake trailhead at the eastern end of Tuolumne Meadows. It climbs through conifer forest to a small mountain lake, gaining about 750 feet. Allow 1½ to 3 hours; the opening climb is steep, and the route begins around 8,500 feet.
The routeMost of the climbing comes in the first half.
Most of the climbing comes in the first half. After that, the grade eases as you continue through the forest to the lake. Dog Lake is the turnaround; return on the same path. This lake-only route passes the Lembert Dome area but does not climb to its summit. The trail continues north toward Young Lakes, a much longer walk.
At the lakeDog Lake is ringed with evergreens, with granite mountains to the east and a strip of meadow at…
Dog Lake is ringed with evergreens, with granite mountains to the east and a strip of meadow at the far end. From the established shore, frame the water with grasses or shoreline in front and the forested ridge beyond; it shows the scale and setting without stepping onto fragile ground. The lake is habitat for water birds, songbirds, deer and dragonflies, though sightings are never certain.
The nameOne account traces the name to 1898, when U.S.
One account traces the name to 1898, when U.S. Geological Survey visitor Robert Marshall reportedly found an abandoned sheepdog and her puppies here. It is a reported origin story, not a confirmed park record. Despite the name, dogs are not allowed on Yosemite hiking trails.
Getting thereUse Lembert Dome Parking at the shared Lembert Dome and Dog Lake trailhead near the eastern end…
Use Lembert Dome Parking at the shared Lembert Dome and Dog Lake trailhead near the eastern end of Tuolumne Meadows. Vehicle access depends on Tioga Road, which is typically open from late May or early June into October or November and closes after significant snowfall. Services are extremely limited in this area, so bring the food and water you need.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Yosemite
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.
