Upper Merced Pass Lake

Upper Merced Pass Lake sits in a granite basin deep in the Yosemite Wilderness, well south of Glacier Point and far off the park's day-use trails. At just under 9,000 feet, it's a backcountry destination for hikers willing to earn the view — the payoff is a quiet, rock-walled lake that most Yosemite visitors never see.

Getting There

Most hikers reach the lake via the Mono Meadow Trailhead off Glacier Point Road, following the Merced Pass Trail roughly 11 miles one-way and passing Lower Merced Pass Lake along the way. The final stretch is steep and largely uphill, so this is realistically a multi-day backpacking trip rather than a day hike.

What to Expect

Granite walls rise around the lake's south end, and there are established campsites nearby for overnight stays. Don't come for the fishing — anglers report it's poor here — but the lake and surrounding waters do support Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs, a species of conservation concern in the park, so camp and filter water well back from the shoreline.

Permits and Planning

Yosemite requires a wilderness permit for every overnight backcountry stay, and this area falls under dispersed-camping rules — camp at least 100 feet from trails and water. Permit reservations open on Recreation.gov for the May-through-October season; outside that window, permits are available first-come, first-served at park ranger stations. Because this is remote, unpatrolled terrain, come prepared with a map, water treatment, and a realistic sense of your own pace.