Cathedral Lakes Private Hike
Yosemite National Park
5.0 (3 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Alpine Lakes
- Wonderful Summer Temps
- Beautiful Yosemite Views
- Amazing Natural & Cultural History
- Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking Poles
- Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch
Description
This wonderful Yosemite hike links two of the most beloved areas in Yosemite by way of a pleasant and relatively easy trail through a forest of old growth lodgepole pines. Beginning in beautiful Tuolumne Meadows, the largest sub-alpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada, the path ascends a thousand feet in three miles to a side trail to Lower Cathedral Lake. The upper and more scenic Cathedral Lake is reached after another half mile. Here, the incredible views of Cathedral Peak reflected in the lake are as much a symbol of Yosemite as El Capitan and Half Dome. Tressider Peak, a half mile to the southwest, is an easy walk-up for those with extra energy. Another option, for the adventurous, would be to return to the trailhead via Budd Creek, along the east slope of Cathedral Peak.
(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)
$225-$620 Per Person
Season: 6/15-10/15
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This hike follows a maintained trail all the way to Cathedral Lake with minimal areas of exposure to vertical drops. With a distance of 8 miles and elevation gain/loss of 1600 feet, it is a solid Level 2 hike.
Hiking Distances:
8 miles
Backpack Weight:
8-12 lbs
Terrain:
Lightly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
1600 ft
Heights Exposure:
Light
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 5-7 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on lightly rugged terrain
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
- Level 1: around other hikers the entire time
- Level 2: around other hikers most of the time
- Level 3: around other hikers some of the time
- Level 4: see a couple other groups during the hike
- Level 5: most likely to have the trail to ourselves
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsRates
- 1 person: $620
- 2 people: $350 per person
- 3 people: $310 per person
- 4-5 people: $260 per person
- 6-7 people: $225 per person
- 10 and younger: $155 per person
Private day hike tours are only open to your party.
*Prices do not include guide gratuity
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Tour dates reflect general availability. You will select your desired hike during the registration process. The season for this hike is June 15-October 15 (but can vary based on spring snow pack and road closures).
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
- A commitment to make the tour as exciting, challenging, informative, and full as you’d like, and as is possible in a day
- Trail snacks and a picnic lunch
- Use of a top of the line, technical day pack
- Use of trekking poles
- Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Yosemite
What's Not Included (Required)
- Lightweight hiking shoes or hiking boots
- Waterproof rain jacket or poncho
- Warm wool or fleece top (Spring, Fall, Winter)
- Warm hat and gloves (Spring, Fall, Winter)
- Water bottles or bladder (2 liters total capacity)
- Sunhat
What's Not Included (Recommended)
- A cold or frozen bottle of water or Gatorade (Spring, Summer, Fall)
- Sunglasses
- Knee braces (if needed)
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Gratuity for your guide
Food: What to Expect
Day hike tours include energizing trail snacks and a delicious picnic lunch. Your guide will customize the food for your hike, but a typical lunch consists of gourmet sandwiches or wraps, fruit, veggies, chips, drinks and a dessert. On wintery or cold days you may be treated to soup or a hot, freshly cooked lunch (if you’d prefer a hot meal, please let us know!)
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Trip Logistics
Where Do We Meet?
This hike meets in Tuolumne Meadows at the trailhead. Your guide will contact you approximately 7 days prior to coordinate the rendezvous and answer any last minute questions you have.
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
Weather in the Sierras
Being a high mountain environment, the Sierra Nevada Mountains are prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. This is an exciting aspect of being in the mountains. On trips in June, snow is a possibility, and the rest of the summer rain is always a possibility on your trip. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||
|
Month
|
Valleys
|
Alpine
|
||||
|
hi
|
low
|
hi
|
low
|
|||
|
January
|
49°
|
26°
|
45°
|
25°
|
||
|
February
|
55°
|
28°
|
46°
|
26°
|
||
|
March
|
59°
|
31°
|
48°
|
27°
|
||
|
April
|
65°
|
35°
|
54°
|
30°
|
||
|
May
|
73°
|
42°
|
62°
|
37°
|
||
|
June
|
81°
|
51°
|
71°
|
46°
|
||
|
July
|
89°
|
57°
|
77°
|
50°
|
||
|
August
|
89°
|
56°
|
81°
|
53°
|
||
|
September
|
82°
|
51°
|
71°
|
46°
|
||
|
October
|
74°
|
39°
|
62°
|
37°
|
||
|
November
|
58°
|
31°
|
51°
|
29°
|
||
|
December
|
48°
|
26°
|
46°
|
25°
|
||
Trip Reviews
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Bonnie L
Excellent Company
Wildland is an excellent company. They never disappoint!
Mary D.
High Expectations Met
I have high expectations and this company and our guide Dylan met them. He was profwessional on all accounts. Knew the hike and gave great history and local stories. I'm a hiker and traveler and although I could have done this by myself I thought for my birthday I'd leave all the navigation and meals to someone else. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our day thanks to Dylan.
Andrea R.
Wonderful Time
This was my second time choosing Wildland for a trip and we had a wonderful time on our day hike. JP was a great guide, he shared a lot of park history and knowledge with us, and made a great lunch! I will be sure to choose Wildland again when going on my next trek.
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