Lembert Dome Trail Reviews

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Jaw dropping view for only a short hike
 ·  SF, CA  ·  September 30, 2022

I've hiked Cloud's Rest and Lembert Dome, and Lembert Dome might just be a more incredible view. Cloud's Rest has more famous things in sight but I think Lembert is more fantastical in all directions and possibly 2x the range of Cloud's Rest? I loved Cloud's Rest but was pleasantly shocked by how incredible the view at Lembert Dome is. For sure, if you are short on time but want a staggering view, don't miss Lembert Dome! There is also a fun, slightly scary scramble up (and down) the rocky part to the top.

Harder than it looks, worth it
 ·  Oakland  ·  August 25, 2022

My 5 and 7 year old completed this hike (they let me tag along) and we while had a hard time with the elevation (starting and trail gain) and took plenty of breaks, we were rewarded with a "mountaintop" experience and the satisfaction associated with completing the challenge.

The views at the top are spectacular and there is plenty of exposure to feel like you're someplace special. Highly recommended. It was a little crowded, the parking area was full, but there was still some space to commune with nature.

Short hike, big reward
 ·  June Lake CA  ·  October 29, 2020

Always challenging to find hike that families can do together, including kids and people with little hiking experience/training. But this was a good one for us because it was shady, not too long, not crowded, and the journey to the top added enough excitement for everyone to feel that they'd done something cool. The views were really incredible. Not recommended for little kids to the top though. We made a loop of it which was nice.

Lembert Dome Hike
 ·  Rochester, MN  ·  May 24, 2018

This is a nice hike. One can access the dome from either the Lembert Dome parking lot, or from the Dog Lake Parking lot just up the road. If one is going to the Dome, adding on the lake will not add much either in distance or in elevation. It is a small but pretty lake and well worth the trip.

You will end up choosing the final path to the top (if you choose to go all the way up) rather than following a set path as you will be crossing a large granite dome. The condition of the granite is good (plenty of traction) and those wanting to make it all the way to the top should be able to get there.

The views from the dome are very good and make the trip worthwhile. The hike through the woods, once you get up the hill, is also very pleasant and typical for that elevation. We encountered some snow in late May, but nothing problematic. Interestingly, we heard frogs along the way, something I had not anticipated at this elevation.

The climb is manageable, and knowing the description, 900 feet at 9000 feet elevation, should help one decide how fatiguing this will be. With modest conditioning, it will be doable. I wouldn't recommend this as the first hike of a trip to those from sea level who are sedentary. Give yourself a couple of days to acclimate to the elevation. But do put it on the list and do it if time allows, you aren't likely to be disappointed.

Easy mountain climbing
 ·  Concord, CA  ·  February 7, 2017

Before 2010, the only time I'd been to Tuolumne Meadows was a day trip from Crane Flat when I was a teenager. And I saw this large rock with a slightly slanted side, and thought "hey, I can go up there." It took about 29 years :-D, but I made it to the top of Lembert Dome in 2010.

It's a pretty easy hike, and takes less than an hour to get to the top. There are two ways to go, and both start with a slightly steep uphill. Lembert Dome is at the end of a short spur.

It's such an accessible hike that I saw a wide range of ages at the top, from pre-teens to those even older than me (I've been 29 for many years now). And why not? It's rock climbing without a lot of effort. The view is tops all around. And it's probably the only way to get a look of all of Tuolumne Meadows. Note also that the part that can easily be seen from the Meadows is *not* the highest point.

Tuolumne Meadows offers many features and activities for a vacation outside Yo Valley. And if you do your vacation here, then going to the top of Lembert Dome should be on your itinerary.

Tougher than it seems ...
 ·  Vienna, Va.  ·  September 8, 2016

This trail is rated 4 out of 10 for difficulty.

Which is probably true ... IF you are acclimated to altitude. Or IF you're not a dude in his mid-40s who just flew from the East Coast to San Francisco the day before, or IF you didn't do the Tuolumne Grove trail a couple of hours earlier.

Even then, I'm not sure it's really that easy. It's a steady uphill climb, like going up an irregular staircase for a mile or two.

When you get there, the view is pretty good, especially if you choose to go high on the actual rock of the dome. Getting to the top of the outcropping looked a little more dangerous than I was willing to attempt, particularly as I was still getting my wind back. (Granted, if my hiking buddy and I had taken a couple of breaks on the way up, we would've been a bit fresher.)

If you're acclimated, or if it's your only hike of the day, you can do the double of going to the dome and Dog Lake. Another day for me, maybe!

High Country Views
 ·  San Jose  ·  September 23, 2013

Tuolumne Meadows is truly a beautiful place to visit, far away from the crowds of the valley. Lembert Dome was on my list of "to-do" hikes since I first started regularly going to Yosemite but something I just never got around to doing. That was a mistake.

The hike itself is nothing rugged or technical. It does start off with a fair amount of climbing initially but tapers off a bit as you approach the dome. Once reaching the dome it's a nice trek up to the top. Grip is good with the right shoes, and I echo that it does get really windy up there so make sure to stow any caps. However, once you summit the dome, the 360° view is simply stunning. The forests, the granite, the sky and the sheer amount of it all combined simply took my breath away. If I'm in the area with a couple hours to burn I would definitely do it again.

Tough but it was worth it
 ·  Orange, CA  ·  June 30, 2013

Hiked Lembert Dome with my son. I was gasping for air every few minutes, but kept pushing on. When we finally made it to where the dirt trail ends and there's a dome on the right, we decided to go up that dome. As it turned out, we were off the marked trail, and on our own. We made up to that dome, but don't know its name. It was incredibly windy. We inched our way just about to the top to look south and west. Amazing view. Managed to make it back down. And then the descent was a challenge. By the end, I was spent, and my legs were shot.

Hiked It Long Ago...Didn't Know Its Name!
 ·  Media, PA  ·  October 22, 2012

In 1978, a friend and I were touring Yosemite before I moved back to Pennsylvania. We saw the dome as we drove along Tioga Road. It was early in the day and we had time to hike that dome. So...we did! We didn't even know its name at that time, but no matter...we felt the urge...saw the challenge and met it. We scrambled up the highway side of the dome and were thrilled to reach the top. I can't remember how long it took us, but we climbed with no gear...just had our impulses and energy and youth. We took only 2 photos but I treasure them. It was the last time I touched Lembert Dome. I returned 2 weeks later by myself and hiked the back country...starting at Tioga Road. I had the most fantastic experience...including a face-to-snout experience with a black bear as I lay in my sleeping bag at 5 am. I aged from 28 to 100 in 5 minutes. Eventually, I hiked back toward the valley and up the cable "trail" to the top of Half Dome and was in heaven for those many hours. I was 28 then. I'm 63 now and the thrill has not left me...only my stamina and hair. I wish I could hike Lembert Dome again with my old friend...I wish I could hike up Half Dome again and feel Yosemite flow through me like the Merced. I may never get my aging bones back to my beloved Yosemite but I will always be there in spirit.

Enjoy those panoramic views!
 ·  Little Rock, Arkansas  ·  September 27, 2012

We took the more direct route to Lembert Dome, beginning at the Dog Lake parking lot. The first segment of this trail is a moderately strenuous climb; once on the spur to Lembert Dome, it isn’t quite as bad. Panoramic views of the nearby meadows and distant, snow-capped mountains from atop Lembert Dome are impressive. (How many of those peaks can you name?)

You might be tempted to think that the views from Lembert Dome and nearby Pothole dome are too similar to justify climbing both, but both hikes are worthwhile – and ascending each dome is unique. Do ‘em both, but probably not on the same day.

Between Glacier Point & Half Dome...
 ·  Menifee  ·  August 8, 2012

The hike is short but steep, but the view is almost like Half Dome which is a much tougher hike. Navigating the dome is a little tricky and tie your hat on if you want to keep it. Watch the loose rocks, stay on the granite and be sure to wear good tennis shoes or hiking boots, this is not a sandal friendly footing. It is a good preview of what Half Dome is like without the 16 mile hike from the valley floor so if you have uneasiness about being on top of Lembert, I would reconsider ever doing Half Dome.

A little unimpressed
 ·  Redlands, CA  ·  Jul 30, 2012

Starting from Dog Lake (7/23/12) the trail climbs steadily around the Dome before you start the real climb. The rock is very rough and I don't think the laws of physics and the coefficient of friction would allow you to slip as long as your shoes have rubber soles! But you do have to be careful; I think the best route is to bear around to the left once you get to the steepest part.

In my opinion the views aren't as good as from the much smaller Pothole Dome, because the latter gives a closer view of the meadow instead of the postage-stamp size it appears from Lembert; there are more big mountains closer to Pothole, and viewing Lembert from Pothole is more impressive than viewing Pothole from Lembert! So if you don't fancy the climb, there are valid reasons to choose the flatter dome. On the other hand, if you enjoy a brisk challenge, the panorama from Lembert Dome certainly isn't chopped liver.

Wow, what a view!
 ·  Ahwahnee, CA  ·  Jul 16, 2012

This is a fantastic hike, I was surprised there weren't more people doing it! I started at the Dog Lake Trail head to shorten the hike a bit. It's quite a climb up from there but totally worth it. Once you've reached the top keep going, there is a small pinnacle that takes a small scramble to get there but very worth the effort. A 360 degree view of Tuolumne Meadows and the surrounding mountains!

What a View!
 ·  Oakland, CA  ·  May 6, 2012

This was one of the best hikes I have done in the park! Rewarding views at the top of the dome. You feel like you're on top of the world! Solitude until the very end where everyone piles up, but still lots of space. Well worth the effort.

Fun and rewarding!
 ·  middle of a cornfield ILL  ·  October 25, 2011

Lembert Dome was beautiful, serene and a perfect view. No others on foot or horseback on the third week of Sept. Surprised at how much grip there was on the surface of the dome. For a flatlander (we live at 724 ft.) we loved it. Watching the sunset clouds roll in was awesome. Well worth our time. Wish we could have spent more time in the park than the 3 days we had!