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Lukens Lake Trail
An easy wildflower walk to a quiet lake off Tioga Road
About
Lukens Lake is one of the easiest payoffs along Tioga Road: a short, mostly flat walk to a small lake ringed by a subalpine meadow that fills with wildflowers through midsummer. It sits out in Yosemite's high country, and unlike most named lakes in the park, you can reach it without a long climb or an early start.
Two Trailheads, Two Distances
The shorter approach starts right off Tioga Road: a 1.6-mile round trip with about 200 feet of elevation gain, usually done in about an hour. The longer option starts at White Wolf and runs 4.6 miles round trip, crossing the Middle Fork of the Tuolumne River along the way. Both routes end at the same lake, so pick based on how much walking you want.
Wildflowers and Mud
The meadow ringing the lake is the real draw — shooting stars and a wide range of other wildflowers bloom here, often lingering into July. That same snowmelt keeps the trail wet and muddy until early August in most years, so expect some squelchy sections if you go early in the season. By late summer the trail firms up considerably.
Good to Know
- Both trailheads sit along Tioga Road, so the hike is only accessible for the months the road is open each year.
- It's an easy stop to add if you're already driving Tioga Road toward Tuolumne Meadows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Lukens Lake?
It depends on your starting point. From the Tioga Road trailhead it's 1.6 miles round trip with about 200 feet of elevation gain, roughly an hour. From White Wolf it's 4.6 miles round trip and crosses the Middle Fork of the Tuolumne River.
When is the best time to see the wildflowers?
The meadow around the lake fills with shooting stars and other wildflowers into July. The trade-off is mud — the same snowmelt keeps the trail wet until around early August most years.
Is this a good first hike or family hike in Yosemite?
Yes. The Tioga Road approach is short and gains only about 200 feet, making it one of the easier named-lake hikes in the park's high country.
Where exactly does the trail start?
There are two trailheads: one directly off Tioga Road, and another near White Wolf further along the same road.
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