Re: Tuolumne Meadows Hikes: Cathedral Lakes

Cathedral Lakes (moderate)

7 miles (11.3 km round-trip), 1,000-foot elevation gain; 4 to 6 hours.

Begin at Cathedral Lakes trailhead, 1/2 mile west of the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, Shuttle Stop #7

The trail climbs steadily to Upper Cathedral Lake. Near the top of the climb, it passes a spur trail to Lower Cathedral Lake (0.5 mile to lake). The return hike follows the same route. This is one of the busiest trails in the Tuolumne Meadows area. Since parking at the trailhead is limited, consider taking the free shuttle bus.

If one goes to Lower Cathedral Lake, a short cross-country to Medlicott Dome is recommended (by me). From LCL's northwest shore near it's outlet, walk northward across gently sloping granite slabs approximately one mile to the summit of Medlicott Dome for an interesting perspective on Tenaya Canyon and Tuolumne Meadows. A lot of reward for a little additional effort. Little hazard involved, and a scenic photogenic lakelet near the summit make for an very nice walk.

Did you go up Dome 9970? If so... do you have a picture?
I went up Medlicott and the dome due east of Mendicott.
Could not get up to the top of the dome the due north of Medlicott
which is next to another pond.
Anyway, the view of Tenaya Lake is cool. Toulumne Meadows... from
the dome due East of Medlicott ... can't see the meadows... only
Lembert... wondering if you can see any meadow from 9970?

Anywho... yes... this is really cool area. Def. recommend too.

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bill-e-g
Did you go up Dome 9970? If so... do you have a picture?
I went up Medlicott and the dome due east of Mendicott.
Could not get up to the top of the dome the due north of Medlicott
which is next to another pond.
Anyway, the view of Tenaya Lake is cool. Toulumne Meadows... from
the dome due East of Medlicott ... can't see the meadows... only
Lembert... wondering if you can see any meadow from 9970?

Anywho... yes... this is really cool area. Def. recommend too.

Well, it's been quite a awhile since we went up thataway (18 years?), so I cannot remember if I went up 9970 (I doubt it), but I do seem to recall that something of the meadows were at least partly visible with Lembert obvious. I have pix in an old album somewhere. On our next trip, we plan to go up there, so maybe better results then...

Does the big spring on this trail have a name? I passed it one September on a dry year and it was still producing a remarkable amount of water. It is about 3 miles from the Toulumne Meadows trailhead as I recall.

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The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan

No name for the spring. (from my map it's about 1 3/4 miles from the TH)

Here's the view from the dome due east of Medlicott.
Fairview is on the left. Cathedral on right.
Lembert... Not high enough to see much meadow...

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bill-e-g
No name for the spring. (from my map it's about 1 3/4 miles from the TH)

Here's the view from the dome due east of Medlicott.
Fairview is on the left. Cathedral on right.
Lembert... Not high enough to see much meadow...

Yeah, guess you're right - I guess I recall the trees looking more like hazy meadow in the early AM. Thanks for the reminder!

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bill-e-g
Not high enough to see much meadow...

But you can see Mt. Dana (Gibbs too!).