Gaylor Lakes – Yosemite – Hiking California

Rising early and checking out at Twin Falls, Idaho, we are the first patrons into nearby Perkins Restaurant for a hearty 6:00 AM breakfast before continuing the drive south on Hwy 93.  Mel and I leave Idaho to enter Nevada at Jackpot and gain an hour at the border as we change from Mountain to Pacific Time.  In mid afternoon we arrive in Lee Vining, California after an amazing drive through mountains and desert.  Lee Vining will be our staging location for the East Entrance to Yosemite National Park.  Our first hike on the following morning is to Gaylor Lakes.

The short, easy 2 mile (3.2 KM) hike, with 500 ft (152 m) of elevation, begins from the Tioga Pass Entrance Station to Yosemite National Park in California.  We purchase our annual pass for all US National Parks and Monuments, then park at the trailhead for Gaylor Lakes about 50 yards beyond.

The trailhead passes quaint stone public washrooms and, after a gentle introduction, the trail begins a fairly steep climb through lodgepole pine forest on excellent path periodically interrupted by rock steps.  The Gaylor Lakes hike is the first inside the Tioga Pass Entrance to the Tuolumne (pronounced Two-All-Um-Nee) area of Yosemite National Park.

Given the hike begins at an elevation of 9,945 ft (3,031 m), the climb through the forest is short-lived and we soon break into open ground with expansive views of the valley and meadows.  This is the High Sierra and it is incredibly beautiful.

Mel and I continue to climb and shortly we are at the top of the ridge.  Directly across from us, on the other side of the valley, is 13,057 ft (3,979 m) Mount Dana with a string of beautiful ponds at its base.  The immaculate terrain is so pristine it seems too perfect to be natural.

Gaylor Peak is on our right as we continue over the top of the ridge and hike towards Middle Gaylor Lake.   Gaylor Peak at 11,004 ft ( 3,354 m) appears to be an easily achievable summit but we will not take the time to do that today.

There is a 200 ft (61 m) descent to Middle Gaylor Lake with a background of majestic peaks looming in the background.

The trail continues to the right along the shore of Middle Gaylor Lake and through the shadow of Gaylor Peak to Upper Gaylor Lake and beyond to a steep climb up to the Great Sierra Mine on Tioga Hill.  Original buildings and a stone cabin remain there.  The entire hike is a total of 4 miles (6.4 KM) return with a net elevation gain of 800 ft (244 m).  As enticing as that is, Mel and I will turn back from Middle Gaylor Lake and return the way we came.

On the hike back to the Gaylor Lakes trailhead we find some structural remains from the ill-fated town of Bennettville.  The town, born from silver mining speculation, fizzled from gross exaggeration.  Otherwise it is unlikely Tioga Pass would have remained the same.

Mel and I exercised considerable discipline by passing on the extension hike from Middle Gaylor Lake to the Great Sierra Mine but our motivation is an exciting afternoon adventure outside Yosemite National Park to the north of Lee Vining.

Subsequently, I will prepare a separate post about Lee Vining and also an independent post on the breathtaking 11 mile (17.6 KM) drive from Lee Vining, California to Tioga Pass.