Cathedral Lakes Yosemite via the Shorter Medlicott Dome Approach
Cathedral Lakes is one of the most beautiful hikes along Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park. Lower Cathedral Lake sits beneath the dramatic granite spires of Cathedral Peak, creating one of my favorite views from our time in Yosemite.
Instead of hiking the standard Cathedral Lakes Trail, we took the shorter Medlicott Dome approach to Lower Cathedral Lake. This route has a steeper climb and requires some light route-finding, but we saw very few people along the way. We also continued to Upper Cathedral Lake, although if I did this hike again, I’d spend all of my time at Lower Cathedral Lake.
Here’s what to expect when hiking to Cathedral Lakes via Medlicott Dome, including parking, trail conditions, difficulty, and whether Upper Cathedral Lake is worth the extra miles.
➡️ Planning more hikes in Yosemite? Check out my guide to the best hikes in Yosemite National Park for more trails, including easier lake hikes, waterfall trails, and some of my favorite views in the park.
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Cathedral Lakes Hike in Yosemite Overview
- Distance: 2.8 miles to Lower Cathedral Lake
- Elevation Gain: 840 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Area: Tioga Road, Yosemite National Park
- Route: Medlicott Dome approach to Lower Cathedral Lake
- My Total Hike: 7.1 miles and 1,480 feet of elevation gain after continuing to Upper Cathedral Lake and walking around Lower Cathedral Lake
Medlicott Dome Approach vs. the Standard Cathedral Lakes Trail
The standard Cathedral Lakes Trail is 9.6 miles with 1,650 feet of elevation gain according to AllTrails. My husband and I didn’t have time to add another 2.5 miles to our day, so we hiked to Cathedral Lakes via the shorter Medlicott Dome approach instead. At first, we weren’t even sure we would have enough time to continue to Upper Cathedral Lake.
There are a few trade-offs to taking the Medlicott Dome route. The parking area is tiny compared with the main Cathedral Lakes trailhead. I’d estimate there’s room for about five cars. The pull-off isn’t marked, and there’s no pit toilet at the trailhead.
The beginning of the hike is also steeper than the standard Cathedral Lakes Trail. Navigation required more attention than I expected, and I checked my map several times. Downed trees along the route made the trail difficult to follow in a few places.
For us, those drawbacks were worth it. We saw very few people on this section of the hike, and the shorter approach gave us enough time to visit both Lower and Upper Cathedral Lakes.
If you’re comfortable with a steeper climb, basic route-finding, and limited trailhead amenities, the Medlicott Dome approach is a great alternative to the standard Cathedral Lakes Trail, especially if you want a shorter and quieter route to the lakes.
➡️ If you’re looking for another quieter hike along Tioga Road, I also loved the North Dome hike. It’s a longer hike, but you’ll get an incredible view of Half Dome without the crowds found on many of Yosemite’s more popular trails.
Overlook with Tenaya Lake
Getting to the Medlicott Dome Trailhead
Here is the Google Maps pin for the Medlicott Dome trailhead. I recommend saving the pin before your hike, since the pull-off itself isn’t marked.
If you’re driving into Yosemite from the Tioga Pass entrance, you’ll first pass the signed Cathedral Lakes Trail area. This is the trailhead for the standard route near Tuolumne Meadows.
Continue along Tioga Road and use the Google Maps pin to locate the small pull-off for the Medlicott Dome approach. We arrived at around 11 a.m. on a Sunday and found only two other cars parked there. The trail starts directly from the pull-off.
Hiking Cathedral Lakes in Yosemite via Medlicott Dome
The start of the hike to Cathedral Lakes via Medlicott Dome was heavily shaded but steep. We walked in the shadow of Medlicott Dome, with a high granite wall rising beside us. We picked our way over boulders and roots and climbed stone steps until we reached an overlook.
Walking out onto the flat granite, we could see Tenaya Lake far below. We stopped to admire the view for a few minutes and give ourselves a break from the climb.
After the overlook, navigation got a little messy. We followed a path that looked like the trail, only to check the map and realize we had gotten way off route. The actual trail went up a granite face, but we didn’t realize that at the time and followed the more obvious path into the woods instead. Once the route crosses open granite, there aren’t always footsteps or a defined trail to follow, so this is a good place to keep an eye on your map.
As we got closer to Lower Cathedral Lake, we saw our first group of other hikers. We smiled as they passed us on their way down, then continued toward the lake.
A few minutes later, we popped out of the trees to our first view of Lower Cathedral Lake with Cathedral Peak rising behind it. My jaw dropped, and I rushed to get out my camera.
Exploring Lower Cathedral Lake
Don’t just see Lower Cathedral Lake from one perspective and then turn around. A narrow, defined path runs around the lake, and to me, the views from the south side were the most gorgeous. From there, Cathedral Peak rose to a perfect point above the water.
The standard Cathedral Lakes Trail ends on the east side of the lake, where we saw a few people sunning themselves on the rock along the shore. It seemed like many hikers stopped there without venturing around the lake to see other views.
AllTrails showed a shortcut through a meadow on the east side of Lower Cathedral Lake that connects to Upper Cathedral Lake. When we hiked, the meadow was flooded, and we could only see remnants of what looked like the trail.
Later, while hiking to Upper Cathedral Lake via the John Muir Trail (JMT), we found the other end of the shortcut. A sign said the trail was closed for meadow restoration because of severe erosion. The trail ruts dry out the meadow and fragment the landscape. Stick to the established trail rather than taking the shortcut through the meadow.
Upper Cathedral Lake
Is Upper Cathedral Lake Worth It?
If you’re short on time, I don’t think you need to hike to Upper Cathedral Lake. I found it far less impressive than Lower Cathedral Lake, and the additional 3.5 miles round trip between the lakes wasn’t the prettiest part of the hike. We also encountered a lot more backpackers once we joined the John Muir Trail.
Upper Cathedral Lake is smaller, and you don’t get the same stunning view of Cathedral Peak rising above the water. To me, it felt more like an average alpine lake. That said, sitting by the lake with a snack and watching JMT backpackers pass by was still a pleasant break.
If I hiked Cathedral Lakes again, I’d skip Upper Cathedral Lake. I’d spend that extra time exploring Lower Cathedral Lake, sunbathing on the rocks, and possibly going for a swim.
How Difficult is the Medlicott Dome Approach?
The Medlicott Dome approach to Lower Cathedral Lake is a moderate hike. If you only hike to Lower Cathedral Lake and around it, it’s about 3 miles. Adding Upper Cathedral Lake makes it a much bigger commitment.
The beginning of the hike is steep, with boulders, roots, and stone steps along the way. The overlook of Tenaya Lake gives you a good excuse to stop for a break, and the view encouraged me to keep going.
I’d also recommend downloading the trail map before you go. We had to do some light route-finding, particularly where the trail crossed open granite and wasn’t always obvious.
If you’re looking for an easier hike to an alpine lake, try the nearby May Lake Trail. I thought the views there were spectacular, too.
What to Know Before Hiking Cathedral Lakes in Yosemite
Tioga Road is seasonal. Check the National Park Service website for current conditions in Yosemite National Park before your hike. Road openings, trail conditions, and other restrictions can change throughout the season.
Download your trail map ahead of time. The Medlicott Dome approach required some route-finding, and we briefly went off trail after following what looked like the more obvious path. Having the map downloaded made it easy to realize our mistake and get back on route.
Bring sun protection. Although the beginning of the Medlicott Dome approach was heavily shaded, you’ll also spend time on exposed granite and around the lakes.
Bring plenty of water or a way to treat it. Don’t assume that water from the lakes or other natural sources is safe to drink without proper treatment.
Bring a swimsuit. You can swim in both lakes, and I wish we had left ourselves more time to enjoy the water. If I hiked here again, I’d skip Upper Cathedral Lake and spend more time swimming and relaxing along the shore of Lower Cathedral Lake.
Prepare for mosquitoes. Mosquito activity in the Sierra can vary considerably by time of year and recent conditions, so insect repellent is worth packing. In late August, we didn’t run into a single mosquito.
Leave extra time for Lower Cathedral Lake. Don’t plan your turnaround time based only on how long it takes to reach the lake. Walking around Lower Cathedral Lake was one of my favorite parts of the hike, and there are plenty of places along the shore where you’ll want to stop and enjoy the view.
Pack out everything you bring in. Cathedral Lakes is a beautiful alpine environment, so follow Leave No Trace practices and don’t leave food, trash, or other items behind.
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Cathedral Lakes Yosemite FAQs
How long is the hike to Lower Cathedral Lake via Medlicott Dome?
The Medlicott Dome approach is about 2.8 miles to Lower Cathedral Lake with 840 feet of elevation gain. Our hike totaled 7.1 miles and 1,480 feet of elevation gain after we walked around Lower Cathedral Lake and continued to Upper Cathedral Lake.
Is the Medlicott Dome approach to Cathedral Lakes difficult?
I’d rate the Medlicott Dome approach as moderate. The beginning is steep, and there are boulders, roots, and stone steps along the trail. You’ll also need to do some light route-finding, especially where the trail crosses open granite.
Is Lower or Upper Cathedral Lake better?
I thought Lower Cathedral Lake was much more impressive than Upper Cathedral Lake. Lower Cathedral Lake has beautiful views of Cathedral Peak, and you can walk around the lake to see it from different perspectives. If you only have time for one, I’d choose Lower Cathedral Lake.
Is Upper Cathedral Lake worth hiking to?
If you have plenty of time and want to see both lakes, you can continue to Upper Cathedral Lake. However, I wouldn’t consider it a must-do. The additional hike added about 3.5 miles round trip to our day, and I’d rather have spent that time exploring and relaxing at Lower Cathedral Lake.
Can you swim in Cathedral Lakes?
Yes, you can swim in Cathedral Lakes. If you want to swim, I’d leave extra time at Lower Cathedral Lake. There are plenty of places along the shoreline to relax, and I wish we had brought our swimsuits and spent more time by the water.
Where do you park for the Medlicott Dome approach?
The Medlicott Dome approach begins from a small, unmarked pull-off along Tioga Road. I’d estimate there is room for about five cars, and there is no pit toilet at the trailhead. Save the Google Maps pin before leaving so you can find the correct pull-off.
