Mirror Lake Trailhead

Mirror Lake Trailhead sits at Valley shuttle stop #17, the start of one of Yosemite Valley's easiest walks — a gentle path along Tenaya Creek to a shallow pool that mirrors Half Dome, Mount Watkins, Washington Column, and Tenaya Canyon on calm days. The first mile is paved and open to bikes, making this one of the most accessible spots in the Valley to reach real mountain scenery without any real climbing.

What to Expect

From the trailhead it's 2 miles round trip to Mirror Lake and back, or 5 miles if you continue on the full loop that circles the lake and returns through Tenaya Canyon. Total elevation gain is a gentle 100 feet, and the National Park Service rates the route easy — a solid pick for families, casual walkers, or anyone easing into a Valley visit.

• Paved, flat surface for the first mile along Tenaya Creek — wheelchair and stroller friendly
• Bikes allowed on that same paved section
• Reflections of Half Dome, Mount Watkins, Washington Column, and Tenaya Canyon on still days

Getting There and Timing

The Valleywide and East Valley shuttles serve the trailhead directly at stop #17, running roughly every 22–32 minutes from 7 am to 10 pm, so a car isn't necessary. Mirror Lake lives up to its name only part of the year — full and glassy in spring, it shrinks through summer and typically dries into a meadow by late season, so plan for spring or early summer if the reflection shot is the point of the trip.