Tenaya Lake is a relaxing stop where you can just enjoy the water, have a picnic, and take beautiful photos. You can also go into the water if you want to.
Contents
Directions
If you enter Yosemite National Park from the east entrance (Tioga Pass Entrance), one of the first attractions you will drive by is Tenaya Lake.
Arch Rock
From the Arch Rock entrance, head northeast on on El Portal Rd for 4.6 miles. Then turn left on Big Oak Flat Road (signs for CA-120/Tioga Rd/Manteca) and drive for 9.5 miles. Big Oak Flat Road will turn into Old Yosemite Coulterville Rd. Turn right on CA-120 E and drive for about 32 miles.
Big Oak Flat
From the Big Oak Flat entrance, head southwest on CA-120 E toward Tuolumne Grove Rd for about 7 miles. Turn left to stay on CA-120 E and drive for about 32 miles. The destination will be on the right.
Hetch Hetchy
From the Hetch Hetchy entrance, head northwest on Hetch Hetchy Rd and drive 1.3 miles. Turn left on Evergreen Rd and drive for 7.4 miles. Then turn left on CA-120 E and drive for 8.8 miles. Stay on CA-120 E for about 32 miles.
South
From the South entrance, head northwest on CA-41 and continue on to Wawona Rd. Take Big Oak Flat Road to CA-120 E in Wawona and drive for 40.5 miles. Turn right on CA-120 E and drive for about 32 miles.
Tioga Pass
From the Tioga Pass Entrance, drive about 15 miles on CA-120 W towards Tioga Pass Parking Lot.
This is a map of Yosemite and where Tenaya Lake is located.
Parking
You can park in the lot or shoulder on Tioga Road (that’s where we parked) and just walk down to the lake. There are other parking areas on either end of the lake as well.
Restrooms
There are no restrooms here so you will need to use it either before you get to this location or after.
Distance
If you hike or walk the entire Tenaya Lake loop then the trip will be about 2.5 miles roundtrip. However, you can just walk from the parking on Tioga Road and you’ll already be at the lake (only a couple steps).
Difficulty
The loop around Tenaya Lake is an easy hike and you can go at your own pace while enjoying the scenery.
Tenaya Lake
We spent some time here taking photos right next to the lake:
Places Nearby
Tuolumne Peak, Polly Dome
Since Tenaya Lake is so easy to get to in exchange for a serene view, we would recommend adding this as one of your stops.
