Lembert Dome and Dog Lake

The walk starts at the Dog Lake parking area, on the road to Tuolumne Meadows Lodge. The trail leaves the north end of the lot and climbs steeply through lodgepole forest to a junction on the saddle behind Lembert Dome. Turn left for the dome first. The path runs out onto bare granite, where there is no marked route: pick the easiest line up the slabs to the top, which looks over the whole of Tuolumne Meadows. Go back to the junction and follow the signs to Dog Lake, about a mile further through the forest. Return down the same trail to the parking area.

It is 3.9 miles (6.2 km) round trip with 740 feet (227 m) of climbing; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy: short, on good trails, though the first climb is steep and the walk is above 8,700 feet.

Stay off the dome in a thunderstorm, and when the granite is wet or icy, when it is slippery. Storms are most common on summer afternoons. Pets are not allowed on the trails or at the lake. No permit is needed for a day hike, and there is no fee beyond park entrance.

Tioga Road closes with the first big snow, usually in November, and reopens in late May or June. No overnight parking is allowed along it from October 15.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.