By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Magazine
Trip Date: Saturday, June 15, 2025
This past weekend, after enjoying the hometown charm of Carson Valley Days—including a hearty breakfast in the park and our local parade—we decided to chase some high Sierra magic with a spontaneous trip into Yosemite National Park’s wilderness. Saturday marked the first day of the park’s 2025 summer reservation system, but as seasoned locals know, if you arrive after 2 PM, you can enter without one. That was our plan: drive down Highway 395, hike the afternoon away, and grab dinner in Lee Vining before heading home.
A Familiar Drive, A New Adventure
Tom and I hit the road around 12:30 PM, making the familiar two-hour trek from Carson Valley to Yosemite’s Tioga Pass Entrance. Traffic was a bit heavier than our usual early-morning runs, but by 2:30, we were pulling into the Tioga Lake rest stop, soaking in views of Dana Meadows and Mt. Dana looming high above.
Rather than drive deeper into the park and risk losing daylight, we opted to hike a trail I hadn’t touched since November 2018—Gaylor Lakes and the lesser-visited Granite Lakes near the park’s eastern boundary. It’s a short, steep trek that packs in big alpine scenery.
We parked just down from the gate at the Gaylor Lakes trailhead and prepped for the climb. Snowfields still clung to the surrounding peaks, so we dressed for wet, cool conditions. I also took the opportunity to field test the La Sportiva Prodigio GTX boots again—perfect conditions to see how they handled mud, meltwater, and early summer terrain.
Upward to Gaylor: Snow, Solitude, and Scenic Wonder
The climb to Gaylor Pass is no joke—about 600 feet of gain in just over a mile—but the reward is immediate. Gaylor Lake was still nearly 80% frozen, though the outer edges glistened with meltwater. With clear skies overhead, the lake mirrored the grandeur of Yosemite’s Cathedral Range: Unicorn Peak, Cathedral Peak, Cockscomb, Vogelsang, and even Mt. Hoffman far in the distance.
As we pressed toward Upper Gaylor Lake, the trail turned to slush and mud in places. But it was quiet—no crowds, just the distant sound of meltwater trickling through alpine meadows. Unlike my last visit in late fall when the lake had been reduced to a muddy puddle, Upper Gaylor was full, thawing, and sparkling.
We paused for water and snacks, taking it all in, then veered off-trail toward the hidden gem of the area: the Granite Lakes.
Hidden Treasures: Granite Lakes and Spring Surprise
Cross-country navigation brought us to a soaking wet slope north of Gaylor, where we encountered a cheerful group of backpackers setting up camp—kids laughing while parents pitched tents. Soon, we crested the hill and reached the upper Granite Lake basin. This place is a secret sanctuary, often overlooked due to its location near the park’s edge.
Granite Lake was in full thaw, the upper bowl still holding a touch of ice while the lower section shimmered under late-day light. Towering granite ridges framed the lake, with small islets of stone dividing its sections like steppingstones through the alpine dreamscape.
We lingered for nearly an hour, photographing the cathedral skyline in the west and chatting briefly with Mather Camp counselors out for a day hike. The whole upper basin—dotted with ponds, creeks, and meadows—is a birthplace for California’s watershed, an alpine source of life feeding the Tuolumne River system.
A Final Push to Lower Granite Lake (Thanks, FOMO)
Though time was running short, I couldn’t ignore the pull of Lower Granite Lake—especially since I skipped it last time. A short 15-minute descent brought us into a more forested, tranquil zone. The lake here is quieter, more intimate, and probably a haven for wildlife come dusk. I could imagine backpacking here, sleeping beside its reflective waters.
With shadows lengthening and the sun dipping behind the granite crest, we began our steady climb back to Gaylor Lake, again pausing for photos and peaceful moments beside melt-fed creeks. Wildflowers are starting to emerge, but full bloom is likely still a couple weeks away.
We reached Gaylor Lake just as the sunlight faded from its shoreline. From this high basin, the infinity-pool illusion of the lake—looking west over the Yosemite high country—is mesmerizing. You feel suspended, as if hovering between sky and Sierra stone.
Twilight Descent, Dinner in Lee Vining, and Reflections
Crossing Gaylor Pass as the light dimmed, we paused to take in one last overlook toward Mt. Dana and the vast meadow valley east of the gate. The Kuna Crest caught the last light. It was… magical.
By 8:30 PM, we were sitting down at the Basin Café in Lee Vining—thankfully open until 9. The food was excellent, and the hospitality warm as ever. Highly recommend stopping in.
By the time we rolled back into Gardnerville just after 10 PM, the Carson Valley days Fair was still lit up and alive—probably the only time all year our quiet town stays awake that late.
Final Thoughts
This trip was a reminder that even with reservation systems, Yosemite is still accessible if you know how to time it right. A late-day trip brought us peace, solitude, and sweeping alpine beauty without crowds. Next time, maybe we’ll try the before-6AM route and make it an all-day epic.
But for this day, it was enough. Gaylor and Granite—still two of Yosemite’s most underrated gems.
