Overview

Despite Mount Lyell CA being thirteen miles from the nearest trailhead, it is still the most popular destination within Yosemite National Park. It is at the triple divide between the Merced River, the Tuolumne River and Rush Creek. It also holds the largest glacier in Yosemite, the Lyell Glacier.

Location & Information

Mount Lyell California lies near the southeast border of the park at the southeast end of the Cathedral Range. You can get there by traveling on Tioga Road, turning towards Tuolumne Lodge and parking just before the Lodge in the parking lot on the left hand side of the road.

Tioga Road is only open from approximately late May to late October, so this is the only time you’ll be able to have access to Mount Lyell.

Contact information: 209-372-0200

Activities

• Climbing
  Mount Lyell is one of the more difficult climbs within Yosemite. There are a few routes you can take to the top, including Lyell-Maclure, Glacier Direct and East Arete.
• Hiking
  Hiking Mount Lyell Yosemite is a favorite pastime of visitors, and you don’t have to go all the way to the summit. Taking the John Muir Trail from Tuolumne Meadows starts out easy and becomes of moderate difficulty as you come to Donahue Pass. The sights and sounds of the park come alive when hiking the backcountry.
• Camping
  Camp out in the upper section of Lyell Canyon, ensuring you get a permit for overnight camping in the backcountry. There are other places that make good camping spots, and all provide a unique adventure.

Fun Facts

Yosemite Mount Lyell was named after Charles Lyell, a well-known English geologist. Lyell wrote about the many economic advantages of geological surveys, thus endorsing and encouraging modern surveys, such as the US Geological Survey, which mapped natural resources within Yosemite.