Wegner Lake

Wegner Lake sits at 7,605 feet on the northwest side of Mount Hoffmann, deep in the Yosemite high country. It's named for John Wegner, who served on Yosemite's permanent ranger force back in 1924, and it doesn't get a mention in most park guides for a simple reason: there's no maintained trail to it. This is off-trail, cross-country terrain reserved for experienced backpackers, not a casual afternoon walk.

Getting There

Backpackers typically reach Wegner Lake by leaving the maintained trail near May Lake, on the Tioga Road side of the park, and navigating cross-country past a string of unnamed high-country lakes before dropping down to Wegner itself. There's no signage and no worn path for most of the route — you're routefinding with a map, compass, or GPS across open granite and talus, not following a trail tread.

What to Know Before You Go

• No maintained trail: this is a cross-country wilderness destination, not a marked hike — go only if you're comfortable navigating off-trail.
• Wilderness permit required: any overnight stay in Yosemite's backcountry needs a wilderness permit, and a bear canister is mandatory.
• Solitude: because it's off-trail, Wegner Lake sees a fraction of the traffic of nearby maintained routes like May Lake or the Mount Hoffmann summit trail.
• Season: like the rest of Yosemite's high country, the area is normally snow-free and accessible from mid-summer into early fall.