Nelson Lake Use Trail

Nelson Lake sits in the high country above Tuolumne Meadows, and the National Park Service is upfront about what it is: a cross-country destination with no maintained trail to the water. The route starts on the signed Elizabeth Lake Trail off Tioga Road, then continues past Elizabeth Lake on a use trail — an unofficial path worn in by hikers over the years rather than built and marked by the park. It's a real, findable route, just not a groomed one.

Getting There

The trailhead is the Elizabeth Lake Trailhead, reached from the Tuolumne Meadows area off Tioga Road. The maintained section to Elizabeth Lake covers 4.8 miles round trip with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain, typically a 4-6 hour outing on its own. Elizabeth Lake itself sits at roughly 9,500 feet at the base of Unicorn Peak.

Beyond Elizabeth Lake

Past Elizabeth Lake, the official trail ends and the use trail to Nelson Lake takes over. Expect no signs and no trail markers, with stretches of route-finding across open granite and meadow. This section suits hikers who are comfortable navigating with a map, compass, or GPS track — it's not the place to practice off-trail travel for the first time.

Good to Know

• Starts from the same trailhead as the Elizabeth Lake Trail, off Tioga Road near Tuolumne Meadows
• Classified by the park as cross-country, not an official maintained trail
• Overnight stays require a wilderness permit, as with any Yosemite backcountry camping