Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake sits deep in the Yosemite Wilderness above Wawona — a serious backcountry goal reached only after climbing past Chilnualna Falls and pushing on into high granite country. This isn't a lake you stumble onto on a casual walk: the round trip covers close to twenty miles with well over 4,000 feet of climbing, which makes it a realistic target only for strong hikers willing to camp overnight.

Getting There

The route starts at the Chilnualna Falls Trailhead in Wawona, a short drive from Fish Camp near Yosemite's south entrance. It climbs past Chilnualna Falls' multi-tiered cascades, then continues up through forest and open granite toward the Buena Vista Trail junction before dropping to the lake. AllTrails lists the out-and-back at roughly 19.3 miles with about 4,570 feet of elevation gain, rated hard — most parties spread it over two days rather than push it in one.

Permits and Planning

• A Yosemite Wilderness Permit is required for any overnight stay beyond Chilnualna Falls, including a night at Crescent Lake.
• 60% of permits can be reserved online up to 24 weeks ahead through Recreation.gov; the remaining 40% open up seven days before your trip start date.
• There's a $10 processing fee per application plus a non-refundable $5-per-person fee on any permit awarded.
• Day hikes as far as Chilnualna Falls itself don't require a permit — only overnight travel beyond it does.

Water sources thin out on the upper trail later in summer and the open granite holds heat with little shade, so start early and carry a way to treat any water collected along the route.