6. Glen Aulin: Distance: 13 miles round trip Elevation change: 7,800

6. Glen Aulin:
Distance: 13 miles round trip
Elevation change: 7,800 ft. - 8,600 ft.
Best time of year: July - October
Difficulty rating: 4
The ride to Glen Aulin is spectacularly gorgeous. You will ride across Tioga Road, and through the meadow
area, which is beautiful on its own. Cross the bridge heading toward Soda Springs, turn left (west) and follow the well-travelled trail to Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp. Expect to see LOTS of hikers. Probably 2/3 of
the ride to Glen Aulin will have only moderate changes in elevation, with some rocky spots to walk across.
Once over the 2 bridges, your trail will drop more dramatically in elevation, which allows for views of the
cascading Tuolumne River and impressive Tuolumne Falls. This section is VERY rocky, which is the reason
for the difficulty rating of 4. Stock travel this trail regularly to service the high sierra camp. For those not
accustomed to riding on rocks, this will be a challenge. The scenery is breathtaking. If you ride all the way
to the high sierra camp, you will be rewarded by another beautiful waterfall, the White Cascade.
Tuolumne River
from the bridge
looking toward
Glen Aulin
7. Mono Pass
Distance: From Camp: approximately 23 - 25 miles round trip (depending on how far you go), from Mono
Pass trailhead: 7 - 10 miles (depending on how far you go)
Elevation change: 8,600 ft. - 10,600 ft.
Best time of year: July - October
Difficulty rating: 3 for longer ride, 2 for shorter ride
The Mono Pass area is near the Sierra crest. If you want to try to ride to this area from the camp, there is a
way to do so, but it is not always easy to follow, and is not on the Park Service maps. The Native Americans
take an annual walk between the Mono Lake area and Yosemite Valley each summer. They follow this
route, and after they have done so, it is much easier to follow. We have met them in late July. If you wish
this route, follow the trail toward Lower Gaylor Lake as described in ride 5. Once you cross Tioga Road,
within a mile you should find signs of the trail leading east through a meadow area. There may be a physical
sign still on this trail. This is part of the old Tioga Road. Once you find this trail, you will parallel Tioga Road
for several miles, and then cross it about a half mile west of the official parking area for the Mono Pass
Trailhead. You will then connect to the trail to Mono Pass. If you wish a shorter ride, or do not want to try
to find this old trail, you can most easily park your trailer in a turnout on the south side of Tioga Road, .4 of a
mile BEFORE (west of) the parking area for Mono Pass Trailhead. Go slowly and you will see a paved turnout
with a small pond next to it. Ride from the northeast side of the pond, up the hill, and watch for the trail
described above, which has just come across Tioga Road. Watch for cut logs, which help to mark the trail.
Shortly you will meet the main trail to Mono Pass. The official parking area is quite small for trailers. Once
on this easy trail, you will have a very pleasant ride to a trail intersection. At this split, one trail will take you
to Spillway Lake, a wind-swept beautiful high country spot. This trail will follow bubbly Parker Pass Creek,
coming from Spillway Lake. In season, wild flowers here are plentiful. The other trail to the east will take
you to Mono Pass, where you will find lakes, and a vista to Mono Lake. It is not recommended to ride any
farther than the vista point, as this trail (into Bloody Canyon) is difficult for horses.
View of Mono Lake and the east side of the mountains
Flowers along Parker Pass Creek
8. Vogelsang Loop:
Distance: approximately 19 miles
Elevation change: 8,600 ft. - 10,400 ft.
Best time of year: July - October
Difficulty: 3 for a horse in mountain condition
This beautiful loop ride will take you through level Lyell Canyon, then climb to high country Evelyn Lake.
Once past the lake, you will find Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, and make your way back down to the
Tuolumne area on a trail well travelled by both hikers and stock.
9. Sunrise Lakes Loop:
Distance: 29 miles, or shorter option of 24 miles
Elevation change: 8,000 ft. - 9,900 ft.
Best time of year: July - October
Difficulty rating: 5
Are you ready for the ride of a lifetime? If your horse is in mountain condition, has experience riding on
rocks, and you enjoy a challenge, try this ride. You will pass through 3 High Sierra Camps (counting
Tuolumne Meadows), which would take hikers several days to accomplish. The route marked in red is
spectacular for nearly the entire ride. Once leaving camp, ride toward Cathedral Lakes, continue up to
Sunrise High Sierra Camp, and then ride toward Sunrise Lakes. After passing the lakes, drop down to Tenaya
Lake and cross the road at the northeast corner of the Sunrise Lakes paved parking lot. Across the road look
for signs of a trail, which may look like a sandy wash. You will see boulders lining the “wash”. This is a spur
trail which in .9 mile will lead you to the Murphy Creek Trail, and down to Glen Aulin. From Glen Aulin you
will make your way up the rocky climb to the Tuolumne Meadows area, and back to camp. This is NOT an
easy ride, but for those ready to try something a bit more, it truly is the ride of a lifetime.
If you wish to make this shorter and easier, there is a trail you can pick up by Tenaya Lake which will parallel
Tioga Road and take you directly to Tuolumne Meadows. This trail gets little use, but is typically maintained.