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High Sierra Camp Loop

Tuolumne · Managed by Yosemite National Park (NPS) · Region: Yosemite National Park
Difficulty 45/100 · Strenuousloop#loop#high-sierra-camps#alpine-lakes#yosemite
Distance
48.2 mi
Total gain
6,450 ft
Net gain
6,450 ft
Net loss
6,450 ft
Elevation
8,238–8,704 ft
Days
5–7
Permit
Required
Campfires
Stoves only

Overview

The High Sierra Camp Loop is Yosemite's grand tour by foot: 48 miles linking all five High Sierra Camps — Vogelsang, Merced Lake, Sunrise, May Lake, and Glen Aulin — through the park's finest alpine country. The classic six-day circuit.

Highlights

  • All five High Sierra Camps in one itinerary
  • Vogelsang's 10,000-foot basin and the Merced's waterfalls
  • The Cathedral Range's lakes from the Sunrise country
  • A complete loop with zero shuttle logistics

How hard is High Sierra Camp Loop?

CaliPeaks rates this route 45/100 (Strenuous). The score weights five factors: climbing counts for 45% — 6,450 ft puts this trip at 54% of the reference climb; distance 20% at 48.2 miles; maximum altitude 15% at 8,704 ft; route technicality 10% (established trail throughout); and trip length 10% at 7 days. A score under 20 suits first-time backpackers; 60+ means serious endurance. See how we score difficulty for the full method.

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Tuolumne Meadows (8,704 ft) · parking: Tuolumne Meadows trailhead parking; the loop can start from several trailheads
  • Water: Lakes and creeks at every camp; treat all water.
  • Resupply: The High Sierra Camps sell meals only to reserved guests — pack your own food.
  • Shuttle: Not needed for a loop.
  • Stove required: yes — no fires possible on this route
  • Bear canister required.

Permits

  • Agency: Yosemite National Park (NPS)
  • Reserve or apply on nps.gov
  • Quota: Trailhead quota for the entry point applies; 60% reservable 24 weeks out, 40% seven days out.
  • Reservation window: Lottery-based advance reservations; remaining quota releases weekly.

Campfires & stove regulations

Stoves only. The High Sierra Camp areas sit at or above the 9,600-ft fire line in several places, and fires at the camps are limited to communal rings. Stoves throughout. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: July, August, September.

Snow: Usually snow-free by early July.

Heat: Cool; nearly all the loop is high.

Bugs: Mosquitoes in the meadows through July.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • Five to seven days of high-altitude travel — plan food carefully
  • Camps sit at the fire line — stoves only
  • Bear canisters are required

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. SRTM90 elevation data (sampled). OpenTopoData (SRTM, NASA/USGS-derived open data) via Photon geocoding (OpenStreetMap). https://www.opentopodata.org/. Accessed 2026-09-10. Elevation sampled at geocoded coordinates; location from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL).
  2. Tuolumne Meadows Backpacking Trails — High Sierra Camp Loop. Yosemite National Park (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tuolumne-meadows-backpacking-trails.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). 48.2-mile loop with 6,450 ft gain linking Tuolumne Meadows to Vogelsang, Merced Lake, Sunrise, May Lake, and Glen Aulin High Sierra Camps.
  3. Wilderness Permits. Yosemite National Park (NPS). https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Permit requirement, quotas, and reservation windows.
  4. Wilderness Regulations. Yosemite National Park (NPS). https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildregs.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Campfire rules and bear canister requirement.