Elizabeth Lake Trail

Elizabeth Lake sits in a glacier-carved basin at the foot of Unicorn Peak, reached by a steady climb straight out of Tuolumne Meadows Campground. It's one of the more direct routes to a genuine alpine lake in this part of the park — no long backcountry approach needed, just a well-defined trail through lodgepole forest that opens into granite and meadow near the top.

The Hike

The trail begins at the back of the B loop in Tuolumne Meadows Campground and climbs about 1,000 feet over 4.8 miles round trip, a trip the National Park Service estimates at 4 to 6 hours. The grade is fairly steady until the final approach, where it eases and the lake opens up framed by the granite spires of the Cathedral Range. A roughly one-mile loop circles the lake itself, giving good views of Unicorn Peak without adding much distance.

Good to Know

• Pets and bicycles are not allowed on this trail.
• Animal-safe food storage lockers are provided at the trailhead.
• Overnight parking at the trailhead ends October 15.
• Access depends on Tioga Road being open, typically late May through October or November, and can close early after heavy snow.