Mirror Lake/Meadow Trail, Yosemite National Park

Nice little walk to get to the lake. Very fast, and very accessible. The charm is crazy but from April the level is quite low, after that I fear that the lake will dry up quickly…

An easy walk through the woods takes you to mirror lake. It is a breathtaking place. Be sure you are there at the right moment in the morning to see the perfect reflections on the lake.

Definitely one of my favorite sights in Yosemite. The view of the lake is just breathtaking with the majestic half dome standing in the distance! Easy hike - about 45 min each way from Yosemite Village. The incline gets slightly steep toward the end of the hike but it’s mostly flat. The entire trail is paved so it’s good for beginner hikers and families, however the old dirt trail runs alongside the paved route for much of the way, so you can get some variety in scenery. There are several patches of ice along the way, though most can be avoided. Many people slip on the ice in the parking lot so watch your steps there, in particular.

Mirror lake shares the same trailhead with Mist Trail. There are 3 ways to get to the trail head: * Take the free shuttle to the trailhead (Shuttle Stop 17) * From happy isles, follow the paved road to the trailhead (about 0.5 mile) * From happy isles, take the trail along the paved road to the trailhead. From the trailhead to the lake, it is about one mile paved service road with little elevation. It is an really easy hike ( total 2 mile round trip, 100 feet elevation). If you want more challenge, you can continue the hike passed the lake, and there is a loop trail following the Tenaya Creek. After crossing two bridges, you can return to the lake with snow creek trail. Mirror lake is dry most of the year. The best time to visit is when there are a lot of water in the lake, otherwise, you will never understand why it gets the name of mirror lake. The reflection of surrounding cliffs is breath-taking.

Great place to hike with small kids. Plan to spend 2 to 4 hours. ADA accessible. Amazing view of half dome. Kids will enjoying the shallow lake and exploring the grassy fields Mirror Lake has little water much of the year and, while pleasant at any time of year, it is fullest in spring and early summer, when Tenaya Creek flows freely with fresh snowmelt. When water is calm, the lake offers beautiful reflections of surrounding cliffs. Mirror Lake is often referred to as Mirror Meadow in late summer due to the lack of water and the influx of grasses and sandy areas.