Gentle, dome-studded, sub-alpine meadow area along the Tuolumne River in the eastern section of park

How to Get There

From Yosemite Valley El Portal Entrance (57 mi): Take El Portal Rd and Big Oak Flat Rd to Ireland Lake. Follow Tioga Rd/Tioga Pass Rd to Tuolumne County. Drive to Tuolumne Meadow.

Overview

Tuolumne Meadows is a gentle, dome-studded, sub-alpine meadow area along the Tuolumne River in the eastern section of Yosemite National Park. The term Tuolumne Meadows is also often used to describe a large portion of the Yosemite high country around the meadows.

The Meadows are a large, open subalpine meadow graced by the winding Tuolumne River and surrounded by majestic peaks and domes. The Tioga Road offers a 47-mile scenic drive between Crane Flat and Tioga Pass through forests and past meadows, lakes, and granite domes. Many turnouts offer broad and beautiful vistas. The Tioga Road is open approximately late May or June through October or November.

While the mountains of the Sierra near the meadows have had some permanent snowfields, in the summer they are mostly free of snow. Although brief, the late spring and summer wildflower bloom in Tuolumne Meadows is host to a wide variety of California wildflowers, including the relatively rare Purple Webber, a type of lupin.

Recreation

Tuolumne Meadows has a good view of the Cathedral Range and Unicorn Peak (to the south), Lembert Dome, and Mount Dana (to the east). Camping is available at the Tuolumne Meadows campground (reservations recommended). Excellent hiking and rock climbing are accessible from Tuolumne Meadows, which tends to be less crowded than Yosemite Valley. Downstream the Tuolumne River cascades over Waterwheel Falls near Glen Aulin, eventually pooling at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

Hiking

Many backcountry hiking and backpacking trails start in Tuolumne Meadows including the primary route to summit Mount Lyell, the highest peak in Yosemite National Park. The John Muir and the Pacific Crest Trails are long-distance backpacking trails and follow a route through Lyell Canyon into Tuolumne Meadows. A large number of backpackers hike these trails each year. Along with these longer trails, Tuolumne Meadows feature a wide range of day trails to locations including Gaylor Lakes, Cathedral Lakes, Mono Pass, and Lembert Dome. The day hike trails are popular, and become busy during the summer high seasons. These trails are serviced by the Tuolumne Meadows shuttle bus, typically from June to September, though the dates are subject to change due to weather.

Visitor Center and Museums

Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center (open approximately late May-late September): Ranger-staffed information desk, bookstore, and exhibits detailing the area's geology, plant and animal life, and history.

Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center (open approximately late May-mid October): Offers wilderness permits, bear canisters, maps, and guidebooks; provides information on pre-trip planning, minimum-impact camping, and the Yosemite Wilderness.

Parsons Memorial Lodge (open late June-early September): Discover the human and natural history of Tuolumne Meadows by hiking to the place where John Muir and Robert Underwood Johnson conceived the idea of establishing Yosemite National Park. The lodge is an easy one-mile (30 minute) walk from Lembert Dome parking area or from the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "California State Route 120", "Tioga Pass", and "Tioga Pass Entrance Station", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

This article uses material from nps.gov "Yosemite National Park"