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appear almost at once. The sight line to your destination will be clear—a good thing, since the trail is sketchy at this point. The last stretch to the top is a little spooky, with sheer drops on each side, but your perseverance will be amply rewarded with spectacular views of the park's granite domes. Overnight stays (with a permit) offer the added incentive of beautiful sunrises.

Dog Lake

3 miles RT. Easy. Access: Tioga Rd. to access road for Tuolumne Lodge. Pass ranger station and leave your vehicle at a parking lot on the left. Walk north (back toward the highway), up an embankment, and recross Calif. 120 to find Dog Lake Trail.

This easy climb through forests offers great views of Mount Dana. Dog Lake is warm, shallow, and great for swimming.

El Capitan (the back way)

14.4 miles RT. Very strenuous. Access: Tioga Rd. to Tamarack Flat Campground. Turn right and follow road to east end of campground, where you'll see an abandoned road. Trail begins here.

Appropriate only for experienced mountain hikers in extremely good physical shape, this hike takes you along an abandoned road to Cascade Creek, and then along a roadbed to the North Rim Trail. Through a series of switchbacks, the trail climbs and climbs and climbs, and a spur trail leads to a summit for wonderful panoramic views. (The main trail heads to Eagle Peak.)

Elizabeth Lake

6 miles RT. Moderate. Access: Tioga Rd. to group camping area of Tuolumne Meadows Campground, where trail begins.

This popular day hike attracts a slew of people, which can be a bummer, but it's nonetheless magnificent for its beauty; Elizabeth Lake glistens like ice. Don't forget your camera and some extra film—the entire route is one long Kodak moment.

Gaylor Lakes

6 miles RT. Moderate. Access: Tioga Rd. to Tioga Pass. Trailhead is on northwest side of the road.

This trail begins with a climb, then descends to the alpine lakes. It's a particularly pretty hike in summer, when wildflowers dot the mountainsides.

Glen Aulin

10.4 miles RT. Strenuous. Access: Tioga Rd. toward Tuolumne Meadows, about 1 mile east of Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center and just a few yards east of bridge over Tuolumne River. Follow marked turnoff and take the paved road on your left. The trailhead begins about .3 mile ahead, at a road that turns right and heads up a hill toward the stables.

This hike takes you to an impressive waterfall with grand views along the way. Start by heading across a flat meadow toward Soda Springs and Glen Aulin. The trail is well marked, and signs along the way do a good job of describing the area's history. This was once the old Tioga Road, which was built in 1883 to serve the Great Sierra Mine at Tioga Pass. The hike offers a view of the landmarks of Tuolumne Meadows. Behind you, Lembert Dome rises almost 900 feet above the meadow. About .4 mile from the trailhead, the road forks; head right up a grassy slope. In less than 500 feet is a trail that leaves the road on the right and a steel sign that says GLEN AULIN IS 4.7 MILES AHEAD. Along the way you'll pass Fairview Dome, Cathedral Peak, and Unicorn Peak. The crashing noise you'll hear in early to midsummer is Tuolumne Falls, a cascade of water that drops first 12 feet, then 40 feet down a series of ledges. There's a hikers' camp nearby if you want to spend the night.

Lembert Dome

2.8 miles RT. Moderate. Access: Trailhead at parking lot north of Tioga Rd. in Tuolumne Meadows, at road marker T-32. Follow nature trail that starts here and take off at marker no. 2.

This hike offers a bird's-eye view of Tuolumne Meadows—and it's a great vista. A well-marked trail leads you to the top, and from there you'll see the peaks that encircle the valley and get good views of this lovely meadow. It's a great place to watch sunrises and sunsets.

May Lake

2.5 miles RT. Easy. Access: Tioga Rd. east past White Wolf; turn off at road marker T-21 and drive 2 miles to May Lake parking area.

Winding through forests and granite, this picturesque hike offers