Mono Pass
Yosemite Valley, CA
| Address: | Yosemite National Park, California, USA |
| GPS: |
37°53'27.5"N 119°15'45.3"W Maps | Directions |
| State: | California |
| Trail Length: | 8.00 miles |
| Trail Type: | Out & Back |
| Hike Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Elevation Gain: | 1000 feet |
| Trails/Routes: | 4.0 mi |
Lakes Streams Trails Rocks Wildflowers National Park
Hike and Swim
At an elevation of 10,600 feet, the hike through Mono Pass is an 8 mile journey that takes you across the High Sierras, through several meadows, and stops at a few different lakes along the way.
The first part of the trail guides hikers through the streams and meadows of the High Sierras. Once it hits the Spillway Lake Junction, the trail starts to get a little bit more strenuous. The scenery begins to change as well. The closer the trail climbs towards Bloody Canyon, the more rocky and barren the landscape becomes. The latter half of the hike offers views of the majority of Mono Valley, including Mono Lake and, if you're up for a little more traveling, Upper Sardine Lake as well.
While the pass is already at a significantly high elevation, there is still a 1000 foot elevation gain on the hike, so be prepared to notice a loss of oxygen and bring any headache remedies you may need, especially if you're coming into Yosemite at sea level.
Mono Pass is open as long as Tioga Road is open, which is typically June to November, but because of the elevation, it's not uncommon for snow to obstruct several of the viewpoints if you are there too early in the season.
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(45.1 mi)
- Turn rightToll roadDestination will be on the right(115 ft)
Parking is available at the trailhead.
Trails
Distance ?
4.0 milesElevation Gain ?
900 feetReal Ascent ?
1,070 feetReal Descent ?
170 feetAvg Grade (2°)
4%Grade (-6° to 12°)
-10% to 21%Elevation differences are scaled for emphasis. While the numbers are accurate, the cut-away shown here is not to scale.