White Wolf Trailhead

White Wolf sits along Tioga Road in Yosemite's high country, about an hour's drive from Yosemite Valley. It's the starting point for two family-friendly day hikes and three wilderness routes into the park's northern backcountry, and it's only reachable while Tioga Road is open.

Day Hikes

• Lukens Lake — 4.6 miles round trip, about 400 feet of elevation gain, 2-3 hours. The trail crosses the Middle Fork of the Tuolumne River to a small lake ringed by meadow, muddy in early summer and good for wildflowers.
• Harden Lake — 5.8 miles round trip, about 390 feet of gain on the return, 2-4 hours, following the Middle Tuolumne River. An optional loop extension adds roughly 1,000 feet of additional climbing on the way toward the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.

Backcountry Trailheads

White Wolf also anchors three wilderness routes — to Pate Valley, Aspen Valley, and Smith Meadow — each capped by its own daily quota. Most reservable permits go through a rolling lottery on Recreation.gov up to 24 weeks ahead, with any unclaimed spots released to first-come, first-served booking seven days before a given start date. Check Recreation.gov and the park's current wilderness permit page before you go, since quotas and windows can shift year to year.

Before You Go

Services here are minimal — no store, no gas, no reliable cell service. White Wolf Campground sits right at the trailhead when it's open, with basic restrooms; otherwise carry all the water and food you need. Tioga Road typically opens in late May or June and closes for the winter sometime in November depending on snowpack, so check current road status if you're planning a trip near either end of the season.