Lukens Lake Trail Reviews

My wife and I hiked in to Lukens Lake in September 2016 while on an extended road trip through the west. In 1974 we did our first backpack together out of Tuolomne to Young Lakes. 42 years later we wanted to do another hike in Yosemite's high country but were 42 years older and... well, you get the point. So we picked this easy hike into Lukens as a quick break in our trip to smell and feel the high mountain air. We did the short hike, parking at the highway trailhead and putting our food in the bearbox before setting off. The hike didn't disappoint and we recommend it for anyone wishing the same sort of experience.

Very beautiful place to visit, with huge sequoias on the way to the lake with astonishing views of the meadow and the mirroring lake, especially impressive as the sun goes down and all the trees mirror in the lake. Not crowded, which is a BIG plus during your visit to the park. We liked it so much, especially our 18 year old daughter, we decided to go there once more and she brought her flute along and played there. I wish you could hear it:) the sound was echoing and coming back with the same clarity:), majestic.

Editor's Note: Inna probably saw enormous pines and firs rather than sequoias, which in Yosemite are only known to grow in the Tuolumne, Merced, and Mariposa Groves.

We hiked to Lukens Lake in late June and thoroughly enjoyed it. Park across the street from the sign on Tioga Rd. It's an easy hike through pretty forest, complete with big trees and the feeling that you could see a bear at any moment, although sadly we didn't. As you near the lake there are vivid green plants beside a little stream, and we were lucky to see the beautiful pink wildflowers. A deer was grazing in the marshy area. We were the only people there midafternoon, which worked well because my son and I wanted to swim, simply to be able to say we'd been in a sub-alpine lake. We were barefoot which made me a little squeamish. Take water shoes, the bottom is mucky and covered with limbs. There's also no good place to enter the water like at Tenaya Lake so we chose what looked like a decent area and just went for it. After 5 or 6 steps through the ooze it was deep enough to really get wet. Did I mention it was freezing?! We picked Lukens Lake to get into because I had read it was one of the shallowest and therefore, warmest, of the sub-alpine lakes. I can't imagine the colder ones! I literally lasted about 30 seconds submerged before I began my climb out. My son stayed in for a few minutes. As we were leaving a couple passed us, but otherwise we had the place to ourselves which is exactly what I wanted. It was picturesque and everything I had hoped it would be. Scenic. Beautiful. Solitude.

The first segment of this hike is fairly steep, but it soon levels out. The lake and adjacent meadow are pretty enough; recommend following the trail on around to the “back” side of the lake for a different perspective (lake in foreground, meadow in background). Mosquitoes (and other bugs) weren’t as much of a problem as we anticipated. Just the same, applying bug spray before beginning this hike is still a wise precaution.

It’s a pleasant enough hike through the forest and not terribly strenuous, but the views – both along the trail and at the destination – aren’t as spectacular as several others in Yosemite. You might want to put this one on your “if we have time” list.