May Lake & Mount Hoffmann

Distance: 2.5 miles (4 km) round trip to May Lake; 6 miles (9.6 km) round trip if you climb Mt. Hoffmann

Elevation gain: 500 ft (150 m) to May Lake; 2,000 ft (600 m) to Mt. Hoffmann

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult 

Time: 1.5 – 4 hours

Begin at: May Lake Trailhead, 1.75 miles (2.8 km) north of Tioga Road

A short trail leads through a conifer forest and across granite slabs to reach May Lake. Enjoy views of Half Dome and surrounding mountains on the way.

Towering above May Lake, Mt. Hoffmann is the geographic center of Yosemite National Park and an excellent, though strenuous, hike for May Lake visitors. Located on a quiet, high mountain lake, perfect for relaxing and fishing, the camp is a fantastic blend of hospitality and high country scenery. The ridge just behind the camp has a grand view of the southern end of Yosemite and is a popular sunset spot for hikers and photographers.

May Lake is also one of the High Sierra Camps and it is the easiest camp to access via a short, one-mile hike from the parking lot off Tioga Road.