It was a little bit spur of the moment decision. The Cathedral Lakes Lodge ("Lodge") is an adventure. This is the same trail you would take for. The area is popular with rock climbers. It is a bit of a challenging climb, but the lakes are well worth the effort. From Sunrise Lakes we hiked past the Sunrise High Sierra Camp. The shortest route to get Cathedral Lakes (not coming from Canada) is roughly 19 miles. I quickly threw my backpack in the tent and it started to rain. After our first trip to Thousand Island lake, we haven’t done backpacking together again. This hike breaches the 9000ft elevation mark so if you’re susceptible to altitude sickness you might opt to do one night at one of the campgrounds on Tioga Road to start acclimating. Master backpacking skills and hone your decision-making to competently travel in a backcountry setting safely. Day 2 was a little longer coming in at ~6 miles. The inside seating was closed, but we ordered outside and sat at a picnic table on the grass with an amazing view of Mono Lake. Once we started up toward Cathedral Pass, the mosquito swarms eased up. I was also apprehensive about leeches because the day before we heard some people yelling that they had them attached to their bodies. This last stretch is well worth the improved views of Cathedral Peak. The return hike follows the same route. Pick your way down the drainage to the lake. Lower Cathedral Lake is also along the way, about a half mile off of the main trail. These routes are marked but not well-defined and should only be attempted by experienced, well-equipped hikers with map-reading and orienteering skills. This is a retroactive post. Here is the map. Hiking There are three well-defined hiking trails into the park. From Vancouver, it’s about four hours east via Manning Park on Route 3 (also known as the Crow’s Nest Highway) past Hedley and before Keremeos, you exit on to the Ashnola Highway, … First-Come, First-Served Procedure for all Wilderness Permit Stations. The trail through this area is the famous John Muir Trail, which sees high traffic all season. A classic Yosemite Hike, located at around 9,000 feet that takes you through a beautiful forest and up to an open meadows of Cathedral Lakes. We quickly set up our tents which was no easy task with the wind howling. We packed up camp and hiked back down to our car. The return hike follows the same route. Highlights: Lakes, High Country. Getting to the Trailhead. There is also a small stream crossing which can easily be done without getting wet. We did this 12.6 mile thru hike over 3 days/ 2 nights with plenty of time to take in the scenery, relax, and do some day hike exploring. After my many trips to Yosemite National Park, the one thing that was left on the bucket list, so to speak, was to hike from the high country of Toulumne Meadows all the way down to Yosemite Valley. After approximately 4 miles of quiet solitude in the forest, you will reach Cathedral Lakes: a pair of high alpine lakes surrounded by the quintessential green meadows that Yosemite is famous for. Eight day hikers on trail to Cathedral Lakes from Tuolumne Meadows. Though somewhat damaged and heavily loaded I was moving quickly through lots of day hikers. Focus is on the trail, check the main page for the destination pics. I did this trip before I started this blog but its one worth mentioning. It wasn’t quite warm enough for us to go swimming but I imagine in the late summer it would be perfect. When we arrived at the lakes we looked around for a good spot to set up camp. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Brendo and I take on the Okanagan Cascade Boonies, backpacking, scrambling, and adventuring in Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park, with the goal of climbing legendary Grimface Mountain. This was the trip I took my partner on when we first met . Even hiking in the fall as we were, it is important to bring lots of water to stay hydrated and a few snacks as well. This is when we really noticed how few people are in Yosemite compared to a normal summer. He joined us with his 14 year old son Vinayak. High Sierra Trails website makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of this map. I first saw Cathedral Peak when I was on a prior trip, hiking up Mt Hoffmann. After my hour-long meeting, I was given a code to finalize my permit. Easy access, beautiful scenery and tempting peaks make this a popular spot for backpackers, day hikers and climbers. You can book a return Jeep trip through Cathedral Lakes Lodge, the owners of the singular private road to the top. John Muir said it was the first time he had been to church in nature when he saw Cathedral Peak and he was right on the money. Cathedral Lakes are nestled at the foot of Cathedral Peak. One of our friend’s is, so we drove down to Yosemite late Thursday night to get one night in before the hike. The Rim Trail is a circular hike in Cathedral Provincial Park in British Columbia’s interior. We're hiking South up beyond Upper Cathedral Lake approaching Cathedral Pass looking back to our North at the North Yosemite Backcountry, specifically the ridgeline descending West off the Sierra Crest at Matterhorn Peak dividing the Matterhorn drainage on the Left from that of Spiller Creek on the Right. An 8-mile round-trip hike visits the shores of both Lower and Upper Cathedral Lakes and passes through splendid alpine scenery including the shapely granite pinnacles that form Cathedral Peak. Next we got out our stoves and cooked some dinner. Cathedral Lakes - Key Facts. You will either have to shuttle cars, hitchhike, or catch the Tioga Rd Shuttle to do this thru hike. 2016. But once the sun was up, it quickly became suffocating inside our tents. This trail gets a lot of afternoon sun exposure and can get quite hot. There are only a few places open for food in Yosemite, but there were 2 food trucks parked at Curry Village. Being out there is beautiful, inspiring, refreshing, meditative, and it never gets old. Adventure Review of 3 day backpacking adventure to Nelson, Matthes, Echo and Cathedral Lakes in Yosemite National Park. Backpacking to Cathedral Lakes. Day 1 is ridiculously short (~3mi) and starts off at the Tenaya Lake/ Sunrise Lakes trailhead. As far as hikes from Tuolumne Meadows go, the Cathedral Lakes hike is my favorite. But for being so short, we saw some pretty amazing scenery. Some of my most precious memories of wilderness adventures are planted in places for which access requires extra effort. July is really busy. Overall the views are spectacular and well worth the detour. Hikers will enjoy views of Cathedral Peak and Echo Peak and access to Long Meadow, Sunrise High Sierra Camp, and Sunrise Lakes. The majority of people visit the park by either camping or booking a room at the Cathedral Lakes … We provide friendly service; delicious, home-cooked meals; access to incredible hiking and a relaxing hot tub at the end of the day. This may be a bit of a "slog" but is definitely worth the extra effort. AllTrails has 6 great hiking trails, forest trails, lake trails and more, with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers, and nature lovers like you. Cathedral Lakes Yosemite National Park. After dinner we walked around the lake. Head left here at the split and continue another half mile to Upper Cathedral Lake. Located in the Pasayten Wilderness and surrounded by Amphitheater Mountain and Cathedral Peak, Cathedral Lakes are a great destination for a multi-day backpacking trip. 'This hike will take you backpacking into Cathedral Lakes, then continue an 18 mile loop to Sunrise High Sierra Camp, and then onto Tenaya Lake. Day 1 is ridiculously short (~3mi) and starts off at the Tenaya Lake/ Sunrise Lakes trailhead. The extraordinary Cathedral Provincial Park owes its name to sensational mountain peaks that reach over 2600m/8,500 ft around a bowl in the Cascade Mountains just north of the U.S.A. border. After the rain stopped we were able to come back out and cook dinner. I saw millions of stars and even a little bit of the Milky Way. There is roughly around a 1,000 ft. of elevation gain if you were to go all the way to Upper Cathedral Lake. We do 12 mile days now and while its still tiring, we think nothing of it. It also has the most elevation gain so maybe its for the best. A wilderness permit is required year-round for backpacking or any other overnight stay in the Yosemite Wilderness. Back in camp, it was so warm that I slept on top of my sleeping bag and with both doors of my tent open. The whole day is more or less switchbacks and uphill. Map includes surrounding trails, campsites, trail elevation profile. One of the most popular day hikes in the Tuolumne Meadows area, Cathedral Lakes explores some of the grandest glacially-carved terrain in the Yosemite high country. Everything was bogged down from all the snow melt so for the next few miles, we were in a constant state of mosquito attack. It was weird to walk past Housekeeping Camp and to see it completely empty. by jaunts5_wp | Posted on August 19, 2020 August 19, 2020. Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park is an amazing cirque feature, encompassing alpine ridges, granite spires and tarn lakes, while blessed with Okanagan sunshine and favorable weather conditions. I walked around looking for the comet, but I never found it. Unauthorized duplication of any of this website's content, including but not limited to photographs and written word, without the author's explicit permission is strictly prohibited. Sunrise Lakes. Stop at Lower Cathedral Lake and sit on the granite banks enjoying the tranquil waters before heading up the trail to the truly epic view of Upper Cathedral Lake. Simply go to Adventure-Crew**** and fill in the A-C eNews box. Near the top of the climb, it passes a spur trail to Lower Cathedral Lake (0.5 mile to lake). Saket was interested in going along. The adventure begins with the drive to the Lodge's parking area along the Ashnola River - it's a beautiful drive up a river canyon. This was honestly one of the first hikes where I didn’t ever think about how far we were from the end at … We actually got lucky in the lottery and got a permit to hike Mt. It never loses its impact and I find it literally insane that people go their whole lives without ever wondering what’s out there. Cathedral Provincial Park Hiking The park has many well-defined hiking trails and a number of cross-country routes. This year in the valley the only backpackers camp is located in the Upper Pines Campground. The soul needs excitement. Normally to receive a permit I would go into a visitor’s center and meet with a ranger, however, this year the meeting had to be done online. We stopped for lunch at Whoa Nellie Deli in the Mobile Gas parking lot in Lee Vining. There was still water in the creek in July and we saw a bald eagle and a few marmots. In any event, we packed the rest of our food in the bear lockers at the trail head and set off around 11:00am up the trail. I logged in with other permit holders and a ranger went over all the basics with us and gave us info about to be safe in a national park during a pandemic. Cathedral Lakes trail map, Yosemite National Park. Cathedral Park is southwest of Keremeos and accessible via Hwy 3. We set up camp around the third Sunrise Lake with plenty of time to wander around and play on the boulders. Since we were close to 395 we drove out of Yosemite on Tioga Pass. The Park’s Core Area is only accessible by hiking routes from the Ashnola River corridor or, by a private jeep service, operated by Cathedral Lakes Resort. The pass is your gateway to an endless array of Yosemite hikes and backpacking trips that most visitors to Yosemite Valley will never step foot on. October gets really quiet. We did this 12.6 mile thru hike over 3 days/ 2 nights with plenty of time to take in the scenery, relax, and do some day hike exploring. The camps are closed this year, but we were curious about what they look like. I also invited my colleague Umkant who was eager to experience the wilderness through hiking and backpacking. Cathedral Lakes is only accessible for hiking from ~June-October, depending on snow melt. The whole day is more or less switchbacks and uphill. Big trees provide shade and we saw lots of ferns and wildflowers. After breakfast, we filled up a collapsible bucket and washed our hair with some biodegradable soap. An excellent day hike (7-10 hours) is a 15 km loop which originates at Quiniscoe Lake and goes along the Ladyslipper Trail + Cathedral Rim Trail. We were in hiking boots with zero climbing gear, it was a relatively low key scramble but gave you a stunning view of the lake and peak on the opposite side. We did this 12.6 mile thru hike over 3 days/ 2 nights with plenty of time to take in the scenery, relax, and do some day hike exploring. Cathedral Park is southwest of Keremeos and accessible via Hwy 3. This hike also joins a famous John Muir Trail, which is the beginning point of 210 mi (338km) journey that ends at the top of Mt.Whitney located in Sequoia National Park. but we decided to camp at Lake of the Woods. From our lodge, you have access … There are also no water sources on this section of the hike so its recommended to start early. The trail travels up and down through big trees and then across several meadows. If you don’t have time for the backpacking portion you can always make it a day hike. Small patches up snow were still around with everything else being pretty marshy. For this trip, I just wanted to camp at Lower Cathedral Lake and do Upper Cathedral Lake another day. Interactive map: Cathedral Provincial Park No matter where I am, its the same feeling so its hard to bring novelty to the way I describe the places I’ve been other than physical appearance. I didn’t start camping and backpacking until I was in grad school so I think this was my 4th time backpacking ever. The lakes, hiking trails, campsites and private lodge accommodation are all located in the park’s core area, 2000m above sea level. One of my favorite destinations in Yosemite - these are my Cathedral Lakes hike photos. It was a lot easier going down than it was on the way up. Aug. 30. Cool refreshing water was bubbling up through the sand. Their density depends on the times of year we hike through. You are invited to stay in our comfortable lodge or cozy cabins. After parking your car in the secure (fenced in) parking lot, it's then a one-hour or so ride up to the lodge through pristine wilderness in a 4x4 - and without four-wheel low you ain't getting there. Cathedral Lakes are nestled at the foot of Cathedral Peak. The Park’s Core Area is only accessible by hiking routes from the Ashnola River corridor or, by a private jeep service, operated by Cathedral Lakes Resort. I’m not sure why they’re called the Sunrise Lakes, but sunset was spectacular. Cathedral Park offers hiking, fishing, camping, wilderness camping, and mountaineering. On the 3.5-mile hike in, the trail gains over 1,000-feet at a fairly steady incline. Wilderness Permits are required for backpacking in Yosemite, and can be obtained as early as 24 weeks in advance during the quota season, May through October. It was a little over 9 miles roundtrip. You will either have to shuttle cars, hitchhike, or catch the Tioga Rd Shuttle to do this The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until September. Looking for a great trail in Cathedral Provincial Park, British Columbia? Our backpacking permit allowed us to enter the park. If California wasn’t in a drought we probably would’ve been caught up in some snow. By Devon Spencer | Published . You see Cathedral Peak as well as Upper Cathedral Lake. Trekking Cathedral Lakes in Yosemite National Park Whenever I go on a trip to Yosemite National Park, I always cringe at the thought of entering the valley and competing for parking with the masses of tourists that come every summer. Why you should go: A short out-and-back hike up to a pair of stunning glacial lakes, nestled under the towering shadow of Cathedral Peak. We were hiking out on Day 3 but not before we did a quick scramble up the short peak on the south edge of the lake. Whitney, but instead, we did a 3-night backpacking trip to Cathedral Lakes in Yosemite. No one. Enter your email to get notified every time I post! Cathedral Lakes Photo by J. Knox. Now that I think about it, I can’t believe that trip was only 12 miles…and over 3 days no less. Whitney, but instead, we did a 3-night backpacking trip to Cathedral Lakes in Yosemite. Taft Overlook was our first stop. We woke up to a beautiful sunny day and after breakfast, we decided we would hike to the Sunrise High Sierra Camp. The first few miles are the hardest, because it is a steady uphill climb, but the scenery is beautiful. Our goal was to set up camp at the lower Cathedral Lake which sits more at the base of the peak. Main points of interest on this hike are the Sunrise Lakes, Sunrise High Sierra Camp, Cathedral Peak and Cathedral Lakes. One good one cuts from Upper Cathedral Lake up to Tressider Peak and down to Sunrise Lakes. Whitney, but then COVID hit, and then there was a major earthquake in Lone Pine and we had to change our plans. We tried to stay outside to look for the comet that was passing by, but it was too cold and we ended up in our tents reading until we fell asleep. 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