Sunrise Lakes Trail

Sunrise Lakes starts at the west end of Tenaya Lake, right off Tioga Road, and climbs to three small alpine lakes tucked into a granite basin below Sunrise Mountain. It's one of the more popular day hikes on the Tioga Road side of the park, and it also doubles as the standard approach to Clouds Rest and to Sunrise High Sierra Camp for backpackers headed that way.

Distance and difficulty

From the trailhead (elevation 8,150 feet), the route to all three lakes and back runs about 10 miles round trip with roughly 1,300 feet of elevation gain — a 6-8 hour day for most hikers, per the National Park Service. The trail starts nearly flat along Tenaya Lake's outlet, then climbs a steep stretch of switchbacks before leveling out near the lakes, which sit spaced about a half mile apart. Many hikers turn around after reaching just the first lake for a shorter day.

Trailhead and season

The trailhead sits along Tioga Road, which is open seasonally — typically late May or early June through October or November, depending on snowpack — and closes for the winter after the first significant snow. Overnight parking at the trailhead ends October 15. Early in the season, the trail crosses Tenaya Lake's outlet stream, which can require wading before the water drops later in summer.

Permits and connections

No permit is needed for a day hike. If you're continuing past the lakes overnight — toward Clouds Rest, Sunrise High Sierra Camp, or deeper into the backcountry — Yosemite requires a wilderness permit for the trip. The trail forks about 2.7 miles in: bear left for Sunrise Lakes, or continue straight to add the climb to Clouds Rest.