Soda Springs

Soda Springs sits at the north end of Tuolumne Meadows, where a natural mineral spring bubbles up cold and slightly carbonated inside an old log enclosure. It's one of the easiest, most rewarding short walks in Yosemite's high country — flat, wide open, and framed by the Tuolumne River and the granite domes ringing the meadow.

The Walk

The out-and-back route runs about 1.3 to 1.4 miles round trip with almost no elevation gain, taking most people 30 to 60 minutes. You can start from the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, the Lembert Dome parking area, or the small pullout near Parsons Lodge along Tioga Road (Highway 120). The trail crosses open meadow with little shade, so plan around the midday sun in summer.

Parsons Memorial Lodge

A few steps past the springs stands Parsons Memorial Lodge, a stone-and-timber building the Sierra Club put up in 1915 as a memorial to club leader Edward Taylor Parsons. The lodge holds historic exhibits and occasional interpretive talks, but it keeps limited hours and is only staffed part of the summer season.

Good to Know

• Tuolumne Meadows is reachable only when Tioga Road is open — typically late spring or early summer through the first heavy snow of fall, and the exact dates shift year to year with conditions.
• The meadow is prime wildlife habitat, so keep a respectful distance from any animals you see along the way.