Cathedral Lakes

Starting from the trailhead along Tioga Road, Cathedral Lakes eases you in with a deceptively gentle climb through a lodgepole pine forest before the trail starts earning its reputation. The steady ascent — about a thousand feet spread over nearly four miles — never gets brutal, but it's persistent enough to remind you that you're hiking above 8,500 feet. The forest opens up as you approach the Cathedral Lakes basin, and suddenly you're face-to-face with Cathedral Peak, a granite spire that looks like it was designed by a Gothic architect with a geology degree. A spur trail drops down to Lower Cathedral Lake, which sits in a meadow-ringed bowl that reflects the peak like a mirror on calm mornings. Upper Cathedral Lake is the main destination, tucked right beneath the peak's flanks with a rawer, more alpine feel. This is the trail for hikers who want a High Sierra payoff without committing to a death march.