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May Lake

Mariposa · Managed by Yosemite National Park (NPS) · Region: Yosemite National Park
Difficulty 4/100 · Easyout and back#beginner-friendly#shortest-backpack#high-sierra-camp#children
Distance
2 mi
Total gain
400 ft
Net gain
400 ft
Net loss
400 ft
Elevation
8,264–9,331 ft
Days
1–2
Permit
Required
Campfires
Stoves only

Overview

May Lake is the shortest backpacking trip in Yosemite: a 1-mile, 400-foot stroll to a 9,300-foot lake beneath Mount Hoffmann, the geographic center of the park. With a backpackers campground and the May Lake High Sierra Camp on the shore, it is the perfect first night out for children and beginners.

Highlights

  • Yosemite's shortest backpack — under a mile from the car
  • Mount Hoffmann's dome rising over the lake's south shore
  • The May Lake High Sierra Camp and its famous tent cabins
  • A quiet evening above the tree line, an hour from the Valley

How hard is May Lake?

CaliPeaks rates this route 4/100 (Easy). The score weights five factors: climbing counts for 45% — 400 ft puts this trip at 3% of the reference climb; distance 20% at 2 miles; maximum altitude 15% at 9,331 ft; route technicality 10% (established trail throughout); and trip length 10% at 2 days. A score under 20 suits first-time backpackers; 60+ means serious endurance. See how we score difficulty for the full method.

Logistics

  • Trailhead: May Lake Trailhead (8,264 ft) · parking: May Lake road turnoff from Tioga Road (Hwy 120)
  • Water: May Lake; treat all water.
  • Resupply: None; the High Sierra Camp may offer limited services in season.
  • Shuttle: Not needed — the trailhead is a short drive up the May Lake road.
  • 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 May Lake entry 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. May Lake sits above 9,600 ft, where campfires are prohibited in Yosemite. Stoves only. 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 late June.

Heat: Pleasant at 9,300 feet.

Bugs: Mosquitoes at the lake through July.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • The trailhead is one of the most requested in the park — reserve early
  • Stoves only: the lake sits above Yosemite's 9,600-foot fire line
  • 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. Trailhead and destination elevations sampled at geocoded coordinates; location from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL).
  2. Tioga Road Backpacking Trails — May Lake. Yosemite National Park (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tioga-road-backpacking-trails.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Distance (2 mi round trip), elevation gain (400 ft), and description as the shortest backpacking trip in Yosemite.
  3. Wilderness Permits. Yosemite National Park (National Park Service). 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 (National Park Service). https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildregs.htm. Accessed 2026-09-07. License: Public domain (US government work). Campfires prohibited above 9,600 ft; bear canister requirement.