Buena Yosemite: Merced River High Trail

Yosemite National Park

DAY 1  |  DAY 2  |  DAY 3  |  DAY 4  |  DAY 5  |  DAY 6  |  DAY 7  |  DAY 8

Green line for day 5. Click for interactive map

Morning came and we needed another early start because it would be the longest day of the trip. We didn't get it because we were feeling the long day prior, if only a little bit. And anyway, it's all downhill.

Morning on the upper unnamed lake by camp.

The lower lakes and Triple Divide Peak and neighbor sporting a last piece of snow.

We found our way to the trail to start the long day's downhill.

The long downhill begins.

We soon came to a junction that clearly told a tale that most people turn left. Petr already took much of that trail the prior year, so that was not the plan. We would be following the higher trail instead. While lesser traveled, it was still very clear and had plenty of footprints to tell of recent users.

On a thin and well used trail.

Out there is Red Peak, which has a popular pass route. I suppose that area could be a good hike too.

While we had some downhill moments, we weren't actually getting lower yet. We were very nearly back at 10k feet, where we started, as we stopped for lunch.

Grey Peak (left point) through the trees.

Getting higher again means a bit more views through the trees.

Shortly after lunch we crossed the 10k contour line once more.

Now we go downhill? For real? Overlooking Merced River's Lyell Fork.

Water sheeting across the rocks.

Our view of Washburn Lake.

The rest of that view of the lower canyon and Merced River.

Many a peak upstream.

Changing views on the way down.

Down among cliffs.

And almost to Lyell Fork.

No bridge to cross Lyell Fork, but there's plenty of rocks to hop this season.

While the way down to Lyell Fork felt like downhill, offering some spectacular views as we went, we would again be within 200 feet of the 10k contour soon. We grabbed water at Lyell Fork since we'd seen dry creeks where we expected flow.

Following rocks marking the trail across granite ledges above Lyell Fork.

We found ourselves among some very impressive specimens of Sierra juniper. It's hard for me to think of the often ground cover like "common juniper" as a juniper since it should be impressive trees (or at least short stuff trees like Utah juniper) like these! But it is called common because it is common. It was with a little glee that I pointed these out as real junipers to someone who grew up where the common juniper was the only juniper. Turns out it can be hard to think of these as juniper too.

Petr poses by a very large Sierra juniper that happens to be behind another.

Another section of Lyell Fork.

Somewhere below, Lyell Fork flows into Merced River.

A tiny waterfall along the way.

One last swamp onion still in bloom.

As we came above the Merced River proper, we had a bit more meadows to travel through. We had more trees down, one at a sandy wash blocking the view of the trail as it exits so that many had wandered down the wash instead. I had to call the boys back from following those errant footprints.

Well, hello there, yellow bellied marmot.

Wisps of cloud coming over the edge.

Some few bits are even soggy meadows.

One meadow big enough to be on the map.

Trail through a rock littered terrain.

Still a few views to be had.

The trail got to feeling grey and dreary near the end, though.

One last creek crossing led to one last little uphill, tagging the 9600 foot contour, before the final long downhill. Our planned camp was at the 7200 foot contour. Apparently it wasn't all downhill after all, but now it was.

Looking back to clouds from the crossing before the downhill. It won't be our turn for a little weather yet.

The descent toward Lewis Creek had all kinds of trees down on the trail, but none blocked our progress across the sometimes quite steep slopes. The trees were getting tiresome when we hit a patch that was recently cut. The crew had clearly been hauling stock along with them and given up after finding the trail was very rough in a few spots right near the bottom. It really made this trail feel unwanted. They may well have been over the worst of it already.

Coming down to Lewis Creek. Now we go downhill.

Once down to Lewis Creek, we still had a long way down, but were now on a bit of trail between High Sierra Camps. Those are stock supplied, so the trails are expected it to be stock ready. There's lots of destinations on the sign for that big trail while ours just said "Isberg Pass 12.6".

What are you up to, cloud?

Still views even down along Lewis Creek. We weren't all that close to the creek.

First look at Merced Lake with a familiar profile getting lost in the sun above.

A dome at the top of a glacially carved gully that serves to give tribute to Lewis Creek now.

Another junction, but this one has High Sierra Camp destinations on both sides.

It was getting late and darkness was already falling below as we made our way down. There was a small and pretty little camp with okay water access that was very tempting except that it was certainly illegal. Way too close to both water and trail.

One of a few looks at Lewis Creek beside a small, illegal camp site.

Another view of Merced Lake.

A graceful granite canyon wall with windows to more granite.

The audio of a waterfall led to a rather obscured view of a waterfall.

I found the boys behind the old Merced Lake Guard Station, making camp in some sites there. We did not quite make it to our goal at the lake, but it was getting very dark. We would even have a table to use.

Merced Lake Ranger Station, currently unoccupied.

Continue on to the next day ⇒


*photo album*




©2025 Valerie Norton
Published 11 Dec 2025