Parking
Use the Gaylor Lakes Trailhead beside Tioga Pass, immediately inside Yosemite’s eastern entrance on Tioga Road. Parking is limited; vault toilets are available at the trailhead.
Overview
About Gaylor Lakes Trail
Why go
- A high ridge opens broad views over Dana Meadows and the Sierra.
- The route reaches two lakes, with a shorter Middle Lake turn-around.
Heads up
- The steep climb begins near 10,000 feet.
- Parking at the trailhead is limited.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Yosemite map
Full mapElevation9,970–10,558 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
4 active Yosemite alerts
- 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
- CautionMist Trail access limited during October repairsThe Mist Trail between its John Muir Trail junction above the Vernal Fall footbridge and the top of Vernal Fall has limited access through October for repair work.Official details
“You're approaching Tioga Pass, Yosemite's eastern gateway at nearly ten thousand feet. This is the Sierra crest, and snow closes the road for much of the year, usually from around November until May or June.”
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
Tioga Pass and Gaylor Lakes0:00 / 0:33
“You're approaching Tioga Pass, Yosemite's eastern gateway at nearly ten thousand feet. This is the Sierra crest, and snow closes the road for much of the year, usually from around November until May or June.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Yosemite Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Mono Pass
- A Nest Beside the Waterfall
- Lower Gaylor Lake Trailhead
- Why the Sierra Has a Dry Side
- 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 Gaylor Lakes Trail
The full walkThe Gaylor Lakes Trail is an out-and-back from just inside Tioga Pass to Upper Gaylor Lake.
The Gaylor Lakes Trail is an out-and-back from just inside Tioga Pass to Upper Gaylor Lake. The turn-around at Middle Gaylor Lake is listed at 2.6 miles round trip; continuing to Upper Gaylor adds about another mile, for roughly 3.6 miles total. Distance estimates vary: another route description puts a broad wander through the basin at about 3 miles, and exploring away from the trail adds distance. Allow about three hours for the full outing.
The climb and passThe trail starts near 10,000 feet and climbs steadily and steeply to a ridge.
The trail starts near 10,000 feet and climbs steadily and steeply to a ridge. The effort comes early, but the ridge opens views across Dana Meadows and the high Sierra, including Mount Dana. From the crest, the path drops about 200 feet to Middle Gaylor Lake before continuing toward Upper Gaylor.
The lakesMiddle and Upper Gaylor sit in an open, mostly treeless basin with broad mountain views.
Middle and Upper Gaylor sit in an open, mostly treeless basin with broad mountain views. Summer wildflowers add color around the route. The trail continues into the basin; side wandering among the lakes can lengthen the day, so note the return path before leaving the tread.
Dogs and altitudeDogs are not allowed on Yosemite trails; service animals are permitted where visitors can go.
Dogs are not allowed on Yosemite trails; service animals are permitted where visitors can go. The high starting elevation can make the climb feel harder than its short mileage suggests. Take breaks and turn back if altitude symptoms develop.
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.
