Lower Horse Meadow

Lower Horse Meadow sits in open sagebrush country just south of Lee Vining, west of Highway 395, where a network of dirt roads climbs into high-elevation meadowland with the Sierra crest at your back. Paired with Upper Horse Meadow Road, it forms a 6.5-mile dirt-road loop shared by OHV riders, mountain bikers, and hikers — a mellow, non-technical route that feels a world apart from the granite walls of Yosemite rising just to the west.

The Route

The loop follows unpaved road the whole way, with gentle grades rather than steep climbs, which is part of why it draws such a mixed crowd of trail users. Riders looking to extend the day can push further into Bohler Canyon from the same road network.

The Views

What sets this spot apart is the outlook: from the open meadow you get panoramic views of the volcanic Mono Craters to the east and the Yosemite high country to the west, with none of the crowds you'd find on the park's more famous overlooks. Locals point to spring and fall as the best seasons, when foliage color fills in the meadow edges.

Getting There

Access is off Highway 395 just south of Lee Vining. There's no visitor infrastructure out here — this is a self-sufficient, bring-your-own-everything kind of trip, so check road conditions before heading out, especially after storms.