Dog Lake and Lembert Dome
Yosemite Valley, CA
| Address: | Yosemite National Park, California, USA |
| GPS: |
37°53'28.7"N 119°20'22.3"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 4.00 miles |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easiest |
| Elevation Gain: | 800 feet |
| Trails/Routes: | 0.8-4.1 mi |
Lakes Streams Trails Wildflowers National Park
Hike and Swim
The hike to Dog Lake is often paired with the hike to Lembert Dome, because the two are so close in proximity. Each hike by itself is 2.8 miles round trip, but Lembert Dome has an elevation gain of about 800 feet as opposed to Dog Lake's 600 feet. To do both of them together, it's about 4 miles round trip.
Dog Lake and Lembert Dome are in the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite's backcountry, meaning there are tons of surrounding wildflowers and beautiful scenery along the way. Because they are both such short lakes, even when done together, it usually only takes about 1.5-3 hours to complete. It's a great last minute option if you find yourself having some extra time during your trip. The lake is surrounded by evergreen trees, granite mountains, and wildflower meadows.
It's a fairly steep trail, and climbs pretty consistently until it reaches a junction. Turn left at the junction to reach Lembert Dome, where you'll receive an awesome view of Tuolumne Meadows. To reach Dog Lake, continue straight at the junction.
The trail is open as long as Tioga Road is open, which is typically June to November. Remember to stay off the domes during thunderstorms.
More Information
Be courteous, informed, and prepared. Read trailhead guidelines, stay on the trail, and don't feed the wildlife.
Read More
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Yosemite Valley, CA
- Head southwest on Northside Dr toward Cook's Meadow LoopToll road(2.9 mi)
- Keep right to stay on Northside DrToll road(2.1 mi)
- Continue onto El Portal RdToll road(0.9 mi)
- Turn right onto Big Oak Flat Road (signs for CA-120/Tioga Rd/Manteca)Toll road(9.5 mi)
- Continue onto Old Yosemite Coulterville RdToll road(344 ft)
- Turn right onto CA-120 EToll roadMay be closed at certain times or days(40.5 mi)
Parking is available at the trailhead.
Trails
Distance ?
4.1 milesElevation Gain ?
-1,135 feetReal Ascent ?
484 feetReal Descent ?
1,619 feetAvg Grade (-3°)
-5%Grade (-12° to 10°)
-22% to 18%Distance ?
0.8 milesElevation Gain ?
-255 feetReal Ascent ?
91 feetReal Descent ?
346 feetAvg Grade (-4°)
-6%Grade (-20° to 4°)
-37% to 7%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.