Yosemite Backpack: Tenaya Lake to Ten Lakes. Register

Date and Time:
Sat, Jul 5, 2025; 7:00 AM (Pacific) - Mon, Jul 7, 2025  3:00 PM  (Pacific)

Organized By: SF Bay Chp Backpacking

Location: RGMP+49 Yosemite Valley, CA, USA

Map | Directions

Event Organizers:
Thomas Meissner
   meissner.thomas2011@gmail.com
   (707) 479-4465
Nora Di Bene
   norabackpacking@gmail.com
   (408) 375-3040

Yosemite’s Northern backcountry offers a unique combination of sparkling alpine lakes, deep canyons, waterfalls and the meadows at the shores of the Tuolumne River. Our journey starts from Tenaya Lake on Hwy.120. We head along Murphys Creek and traverse the high canyons of the tributaries of Cathedral Creek before descending into the Ten Lakes basin. 
The trip requires a short car shuttle between Tenaya Lake and  Ten lakes TH, both along Hwy. 120.      

Itinerary (tentative):
Day 1: We car camp the night of July 4 along Hwy. 120 near the park entrance. Saturday morning, we want to get an early morning start, drive into the park, leave some cars at Ten Lakes TH and then shuttle with the other cars to Tenaya Lake. Route: Tenaya Lake - Murphys Creek - South Fork Cathedral Creek. Ca. 10 miles. 2,500 feet climb.
Day 2: South Fork Cathedral Creek - Ten Lakes. Ca. 6 miles. 1500 feet climb.
Day 3: Ten Lakes - Ten Lakes TH. Ca. 9 miles. 800 feet climb. After finishing, we will complete the car shuttle to Tenaya Lake.

The details of the itinerary might change depending on trail conditions.
Wet stream crossings are likely. Bear cans are required.

 

Level: Moderate(2BT)

Signup Instructions: Advance sign-up and leader approval are required. Please fill out the R.S.V.P. form, answer the medical questions and sign the online liability waiver. The leader will contact you with specific questions about your experience/background. If accepted you will receive instructions about how to pay the trip fee.

Bring: Individual commissary. Participants need to provide their own food and cooking equipment. Each participants needs to carry an approved bear canister. A detailed equipment list will be provided.

Carpool: The outing officially begins and ends at the trailhead. Carpool transportation and ride sharing is at the sole risk of the participants, both driver and passengers. A trip roster will be provided to all accepted participant so they can arrange ride sharing if they wish. It is recommended that drivers and riders agree in advance on costs. Participants are advised in advance that the Club will not assume responsibility for carpools.

Note: Carpool transportation is at the sole risk of the participants.