Murphy Creek Trailhead

Murphy Creek Trailhead sits on the north shore of Tenaya Lake, right off Tioga Road in Yosemite's high country — a different world from the Valley floor. It's the start of the Murphy Creek Trail, a lightly used path that climbs through lodgepole pine forest along a granite-floored, boulder-strewn creek toward Polly Dome Lakes, May Lake, and the backcountry beyond Glen Aulin.

Trail Options

The easiest option is the walk to Polly Dome Lakes: about 2.5 miles one-way with roughly 440 feet of elevation gain, rated easy, passing wildflower meadows with views of Mt. Hoffmann, Tuolumne Peak, and Polly Dome itself. From the trailhead, routes also continue toward May Lake and on to Glen Aulin, about 6.8 miles further — a common route for backpackers loading packs rather than day hikers stretching their legs. A popular loop connects Tenaya Lake, May Lake, and Murphy Creek in about 10.6 miles round trip with roughly 1,558 feet of climbing.

Permits & Parking

• Day hikes: no permit required.
• Overnight trips: require a wilderness permit. Murphy Creek's trailhead quota is 9 reservable spots (available by lottery starting 24 weeks out) plus 6 first-come, first-served spots released a week ahead.
• Parking: along the Tioga Road shoulders or in the picnic-area lots on Tenaya Lake's shore.
• Facilities: vault toilets and trash/recycling at the parking area; the adjacent Murphy Creek Picnic Area has lake-shore beach access and views of Tenaya Peak.

Access depends entirely on Tioga Road, which typically opens in late May or early June and closes for the season after the first significant snowfall, usually by October or November. May Lake itself is a drinking-water reservoir, so swimming isn't allowed there.