Middle Gaylor Lake & Lower Granite Lake Yosemite National Park

August 6, 2023

Thanks, guys.  I always am pleased to be in the Gaylor Lakes – Granite Lakes area.

There is a hiker atop Mount Dana, 13061'  ⇔

As I had said, in 2017 I got to a point well above the highest snow drift, but was too weary to continue the remaining 500-600 feet straight up through the boulders.

The final pitch to the ridge top, off the trail

Middle Gaylor Lake is 200 feet below

My beloved Cathedral Range

Red Mountain Heather

The entirety of Tuolumne Meadows is hiding in front of the mountains!

Heading toward what I call Panorama Peak

That's because my astrophotographer correspondent Chuck Vaughn went up there to take panorama photos just after I first met him in person.  Chuck is the one who showed me the Magic Bench route up to Cathedral Lake that we used three years ago.

Lower Granite Lake is a personal favorite

The Kuna Crest to the south

There is another good-sized lake between that one and the cliff

One of my most scenic outings circled around on top of that wall.

Granite Creek

Gaylor Peak, 11004'

West Bank of Middle Gaylor

East Bank

Starting back up

It's all down from here

The park entrance station is between us and Tioga Lake

Dana Meadows

Zoom in to spot another hiker beside the lower snow bank  ⇔

• Trailhead: Tioga Pass
• Distance: 4 miles
• Elevation: 9945' to 10560' to 10340'

Here's an overview of our two lakes, shot in July of 2015