Mildred Lake

Mildred Lake sits at roughly 9,541 feet in Yosemite's high country, tucked beneath the granite flank of Tenaya Peak. There's no maintained trail to it — reaching the lake means leaving established tread and following the outlet creek upstream, a cross-country route that draws experienced Sierra hikers and peak-baggers rather than casual day-trippers.

Getting There

Start at the Sunrise Lakes trailhead, on Tioga Road at the west end of Tenaya Lake. Follow the maintained trail for under a mile, then leave it to follow the creek that drains Mildred Lake upstream to the water. This is off-trail travel — carry a topo map and be comfortable navigating without signage. Tioga Road closes with the first heavy snow most winters, so the route is realistically open May through November.

What's There

The lake sits ringed by a granite dome and scree slopes, with Tenaya Peak rising directly above it. Mildred Lake also serves as the approach for Tenaya Peak's south side, a class 1 scramble to the 10,305-foot summit that experienced hikers use as an alternative to the peak's more exposed climbing routes. No permit is needed for a day trip; overnight camping in the surrounding wilderness requires a wilderness permit, available from any Yosemite ranger station.