Cathedral Peak
CATHEDRAL PEAK
Yosemite National Park, CA
Image by Mark Brodkin @ www.markbrodkin.com
It has been said, “If it were easy, anyone could do it”. This is what came to mind when arriving at Upper Cathedral Lake and was able to experience this magnificent location.
In the backcountry of Yosemite National Park (off the Tioga Pass) you can find some of the best places to hike and photograph the wonders of Yosemite. But, like many great places - getting to this spot can be challenging. At the end of a tough 4-mail hike (with 1,000 elevation gain), you will come to this wonderful high country lake that provides breath-taking views of Cathedral Peak. And as the sunset approaches, the granite peaks light up with a glow that you will never forget.
Photo and assistance with location summary by Mark Brodkin.
Trail Difficulty - CHALLENGING
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as 3 - 4 (with 5 being most difficult) depending on your ability to hike in high elevation environments with considerable elevation gain. This challenging, but beautiful hike to Upper Cathedral Lake is 4.1 miles each way with an elevation gain of over 1,000 ft and takes about 3 - 4 hrs each way.
Carrying 20 - 45 lbs of photography and potentially camping equipment for this distance/elevation gain is a tough hike for most folks. So I would strongly urge caution before starting this adventure.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
9,606 Ft. Elevation
View In Google earth
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the parking are for Cathedral Lakes
From Lee Vining - take the Tioga Pass on CA-120 (just south of Lee Vining). At around 12 miles, you will come to the Yosemite Park entrance for Tioga Pass. Once you are through the park entrance, drive 8.7 miles and you will see the Cathedral Lakes trailhead sign on your left.
From Yosemite Village - travel west on CA-120 out of the Yosemite Valley and take the Tioga Pass on CA-120. Once on the Tioga Pass, travel 25 miles until you come to the Cathedral Lakes trailhead sign on your right.
IMPORTANT: The Cathedral Lakes trial will take you to either the Lower or Upper Cathedral Lakes (the trail splits at approximately 3 miles). The above shot is found at the UPPER CATHEDRAL LAKE.
At the Cathedral Lakes trailhead hike the very well-defined/maintained trail for approximately 3 miles where you will come to a split in the trail with an easily missed sign that directs you to either Lower and Upper Cathedral Lakes. Follow the trail to UPPER CATHEDRAL LAKE. Hike the next 3/4 miles down to the lake and then another 1/4 mile to the back southwest corner of the lake.
The location of the shot is at the back of the lake. The shot above (which has the Cathedral Peak in the center of the reflection) requires climbing high up the granite rocks at the back of the lake. TO GET TO THIS POSITION, THE HIKE IS PRETTY SKETCHY.
Photography Tips
Once you have hiked the long trail to the Upper Cathedral Lake, you can choose your composition and prepare for the late afternoon. To photograph the lake and peak is fairly straightforward. However, in order to get the Cathedral Peak in the center of the reflection, you will need to scramble up quite a bit of rock and establish a relatively high shooting position. TO GET TO THIS POSITION, THE HIKE IS PRETTY SKETCHY, TO SAY THE LEAST. Obviously, use extreme caution as you are a very long way from medical attention if you fall.
Be prepared to shoot an hour or so before sunset as the rays of the setting sun will move fast and you will only get one chance to catch the glow on the peak. Again, you may need/want to keep your tripod/camera in the same position until sunset to catch the setting sun in the sky and composite them together.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 23 mm
Exposure – 1/8 th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Oct 5th
Time – 6:46 9m
Best Time of Day to Shoot
You can photograph Cathedral Peak anytime during the day. However, the location is best photographed in the late afternoon (about 30-45 minutes before Sunset) as the long rays from the sun provide for a golden glow on the peaks. You may need to continue to shoot after sunset and composite the images together to capture the late color in the clouds.
I would strongly suggest arriving a couple of hours before sunset to find your composition and wait for the glow to make its way across the peaks. REMEMBER, the sun moves fast in the late afternoon the glow moves/changes rapidly.
Best Time of Year
The best time to shoot Cathedral Peak is in the late summer and fall when the side-light of the afternoon sun paints the front peaks with a golden glow. During the summer months (June/July), the sun will set more to the left and you will not get as much of the late afternoon glow on the front of the peaks.
As mentioned, The Cathedral Lakes trailhead is off of the Tioga Pass which normally doesn’t open until May/June and stays open until November (check the historical opening & closing dates for the Tioga Pass and the Yosemite road conditions before going) and the Upper Cathedral Lake is at almost 10,000 ft above sea level and is only open for a few months each year.
The above image was taken on October 5th
Lens(es) Needed
The hike to Upper Cathedral Lake is not easy and you will want to carry as little equipment as possible. Depending on your composition, you can shoot this location with either a standard or wide-angle lens. However, to get the entire scene (lake, Cathedral Peak, reflection, and surrounding areas) you will want to take your wide-angle lens. If you have a 16-35mm zoom, this would be the lens you want to bring.
The above image was shot at 23mm
Birds-Eye View
Permits
Cathedral Lakes are in Yosemite National Park. As of the writing of the summary (Summer 2021), the entry fee was $35 per vehicle. Once in the park, there are no other permits required.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot is north by northeast at around 40°.
Equipment Needed
From a photography standpoint, you will need a sturdy tripod and should consider using a polarizing filter to help reduce the glare of the water
I would also strongly suggest bringing some mosquito repellent - as you will be standing next to the water, in the woods around sunset. And after shooting, you will be hiking (unless you are camping the night) back 4 miles in the dark - so dress appropriately and make sure you have headlamps and flashlights.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
The hike to Cathedral Lakes is popular in the summer for hikers and tourists. However, the area around the Upper Cathedral Lake is large enough to have plenty of space to scout and enjoy the wonder that surrounds you. In the late afternoon to sunset, you should have plenty of space to set up and compose your shot.
Weather
The weather in Yosemite varies by where you are. The hike to Cathedral Lakes takes you from 8,500 at the trailhead off the Tioga Pass to 9,600 ft and weather can be volatile. Make sure you check the local weather and be prepared for the worst.
Cell Service
I use Verizon, and there is no cell service at or on the trail to Cathedral Lakes.
Lodging & Camping
The Cathedral Lakes trailhead is off of the Tioga Pass and is a long way from any lodging (Lee Vining or Yosemite are 45 min to 90 min away), but there are several camping opportunities on the Tioga Pass or you can choose to overnight camp at the Cathedral Lakes.
Nearby Restaurants
The closest towns/communities are either Lee Vining or Yosemite which are 45 min to 90 min away and there are not any eating establishments anywhere on the Tioga Pass.
Area Guides and Workshops
None