Every Trail Tells a Story
Tenaya Lake
A quick, scenic loop around the Sierra’s most beautiful roadside lake.
Beach, forest, granite – Yosemite high country in miniature.
Perfect picnic-and-stroll destination.
They call it the “Jewel of the High Country,” and Tenaya Lake earns the name. Surrounded by granite domes and lodgepole forest, its clear waters reflect the sky in a way that feels almost alpine. On still mornings, Cathedral Peak glows on the horizon; on windy afternoons, waves lap the sand and kayakers carve small wakes.
This is not a trail so much as a chance to stretch your legs, circle a mountain lake, and soak up the kind of scene that makes you wish you had an extra day in Tuolumne. Families spread picnics on the beach, anglers cast for trout, and photographers line up for sunset when the granite turns gold.
For the hiker, the lake loop offers changing moods: sun-drenched granite slabs, shady forest, marshy inlets with birdsong. The air is thin but invigorating at 8,150 feet. Even a short stroll along the north shore delivers postcard moments.
On Tioga Road, Tenaya Lake is located between Tuolumne Meadows and Olmsted Point. Trailheads and picnic areas are signed along both shores.
Start from the picnic area at the east end of the lake. Walk along the sandy beach, then join the path along the lakes southeast shore, contouring through pine forest. The path continues to Olmsted Point. Or continue on the trail past this junction with the trail leading to Sunrise Lakes and back up to the parking area by Tioga Road.
Follow the path along the north shore, winding through forest and over granite slabs. Cross the inlet and return along the south shore via road or trail.