We had originally planned to head up to Lembert Dome after Gaylor Lakes, but decided against the idea. After our extended detour, mild instability due to the altitude change, and the setting sun, we chose to set up our tent at the Tuolumne Meadows campground to get a good night’s rest.
The next morning, we were so excited to get to Lembert Dome! Our bodies had acclimated to the altitude and were pumped to get started. The trail climbs upwards through the trees for quite some time. Below are some beautiful sights along the trail.
And here are some of the finer details on the trail: a visiting chipmunk, wildflowers of the season and a baby tree sapling somebody protected with a pile of rocks.
There is no route to the top of Lembert Dome from the rock base. The dirt trail ends and there’s the rock to clamber on! Some people might find it dangerous because there’s a sheer drop-off on one side and a sloping rock face… I didn’t find it menacing at all and kept going.
Here are some pictures of the stunning views of the Tuolumne Meadows I snapped as I trekked across the rock 🙂
Looking North
Looking East (Do you see that solo hiker on the top of the rock! Perfectly candid moment. Thank you dear hiker for being there!)
Looking South
Looking West (with views of Cathedral Peak and Tuolumne Meadow)
I also wanted to include a picture of Lembert Dome from the base. This view is easily accessible because it is right off of Tioga Road. We also some climbers on the rock. I can’t even identify them in this picture because they looked like ants on the rock!
Lembert Dome (via the trail to Dog Lake and Young Lake)
Start: parking lot at shuttle stop #2 on an off-shoot road leading to Tuolumne Lodge parallel to Tioga Road
Alternate start: Lembert Dome parking lot on Tioga Road or for climbers, climbing up the face of the dome
Duration: 1 hour (if only doing Lembert Dome)
Difficulty: easy-moderate
Length: 2.2 miles RT (if only doing Lembert Dome)
Length: 2.2 miles RT (if only doing Lembert Dome)
Exposure: the trail is partly shaded, but the rock is completely exposed
Danger: high winds, bright sun, and possible thunderstorm exposure. Please do not attempt if it is raining!
Happy travels!
Cat
P.S. If anybody knows how to adjust photos in Photoshop so they all have similar blue skies, let me know!
For more on the Yosemite Tuloumne Meadows journey, check out the previous posts:
- Detour at Stanislaus National Forest
- Picking up hitchhikers
- Taking in the view at Mono Lake
- First breath of Yosemite air at Ellery Lake
- Frolicking at Gaylor Lakes
