Ottoway Peak

Ottoway Peak rises to 11,486 feet in the Clark Range, one of the remote summits visible from Red Peak Pass — the highest point reached by any maintained trail in Yosemite. There's no trail to the top. Reaching it means leaving the trail behind at the pass or the basin below and picking a way up talus and open ridge, which makes this a destination for experienced off-trail hikers and scramblers rather than a casual day hike.

How to Get There

The approach follows the Ottoway Lakes Trail, a demanding out-and-back that AllTrails logs at 30.1 miles round trip with about 5,055 feet of elevation gain. Many backpackers link it into the full Red Peak Pass Loop from Happy Isles through Little Yosemite Valley and Merced Lake — a multi-day circuit AllTrails puts at roughly 50.6 miles with 7,200 feet of gain. Either way, this is a multi-day trip into Yosemite's high country, not a trailhead stroll.

Camp and Conditions

Lower Ottoway Lake sits at the base of the Clark Range and makes a natural high camp before pushing toward the peak and pass above. Snow can linger on the approach well into summer, and afternoon thunderstorms are common at this elevation, so an early start matters once you're on open ridgeline. An overnight wilderness permit is required for the trip in; Yosemite allots 60% of permit reservations through a weekly lottery 24 weeks out, with the remaining 40% opening closer to your date.