Mirror Lake Loop
A flexible valley hike beneath Half Dome with a paved approach and a rougher circuit around Tenaya Creek.
Route overview
Mirror Lake Loop in Sierra Nevada.
The shorter Mirror Lake option follows a paved road to the seasonal lake, while the full loop continues on unpaved trail around the basin and Tenaya Creek. The full circuit is quieter and more natural but includes uneven ground and water-edge hazards. Mirror Lake may be shallow or dry later in the year.
Trail facts
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Sierra Nevada
- Distance
- 8 km full loop; 3.2 km to the lake and back
- Typical duration
- 2–3 hours full loop; about 1 hour for the shorter option
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation gain
- Not published by official source
- Best season
- Spring for strongest water reflections; year-round with seasonal ice and heat planning
- Trail type
- Loop or shorter out and back
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- Park entrance pass; no hiking permit
Safety context
Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
Rockfall zones, dangerous creek flow, heat, ice, mosquitoes and confusion between paved and unpaved pet-access rules
Highlights
Yosemite National Park, Mirror Lake, Tenaya Creek, Half Dome views, valley hike
Why find a buddy
A companion helps with loop navigation, creek-side awareness and deciding whether conditions suit the unpaved section.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.