Obelisk Lake

Obelisk Lake sits beneath the Clark Range deep in Yosemite's backcountry, ringed by granite with no maintained trail leading to it. Almost nobody stumbles onto it — reaching it means leaving the trail network behind entirely and route-finding cross-country through remote high-Sierra terrain.

Getting There

Most parties start in Yosemite Valley on the Mist Trail or John Muir Trail, climb to Little Yosemite Valley, then follow the Merced River corridor up to Merced Lake High Sierra Camp. From there it's off-trail: faint stock-trail traces, the occasional cairn, and route-finding through forest and boulder fields toward the lake. Plan on a multi-day trip — this isn't a there-and-back day hike from the Valley floor.

What to Know Before You Go

This is true off-trail backcountry travel: no signed junctions, no maintained tread, and no easy way to cut a trip short once you're in. There's no cell service out here. Come with a topo map, a compass or GPS, and real cross-country navigation experience — this route is for parties who've done off-trail Sierra travel before, not a first backcountry trip.