Mirror Lake Hike
4,100 ft | California
5 mi loop
200 ft
2.5 hr
Easy
Mirror Lake Hike at a Glance
The Mirror Lake hike is 5 mi loop with 200 ft of elevation gain, about 2.5 hr of hiking.
| Summit elevation | 4,100 ft |
|---|---|
| Distance | 5 mi loop |
| Elevation gain | 200 ft |
| Hiking time | About 2.5 hr |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Your time: about 1 h 45 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 2 h 15 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,000 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route not verified. The mapped track reaches the summit of Mirror Lake but starts at about 4,068 ft, only 32 ft below the top, so it begins partway up (often on a neighboring summit or ridge) rather than at a trailhead. The 5 mi distance is from a published source; the line and elevation profile below are not. Use the land manager's trail map to plan this hike.
Partial route shown. The 5 mi distance and 200 ft of gain for this hike are verified (nps.gov), but public trail data currently maps only part of the route — the line below is incomplete. Carry an official map and don't navigate from this track alone.
About Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is a 4,100-foot destination in California. The Mirror Lake Loop covers 5.0 miles (loop) with about 200 feet of elevation gain — a gradual walk with modest climbing.
The Route
Along the way the route passes a spring (Iron Spring) near mile 0.45, a cave (Indian Cave) near mile 0.65 — useful checkpoints for judging your pace.
Getting There
The trailhead is at 37.73978, -119.55985 (tap for driving directions). It's roughly 125 miles south of Reno, Nevada. Parking: Mirror Lake parking or shuttle stop. Fee: $35 park entrance. Cell service is often unreliable once you leave the highway.
When to Go
Late May through October is the main season. Snow and ice linger into spring and return early in fall at this latitude and elevation; in winter this becomes a different, more serious undertaking requiring traction devices and warm layers.
Know Before You Go
The Easy rating comes from the National Park Service difficulty formula, which weighs total distance against elevation gain. Most hikers should budget about 2.5 hours of moving time; add margin for breaks, photos and the descent. Download the GPX track from this page before you go — a saved route works offline in any GPS app, and cell coverage is unreliable in the mountains. Conditions change: verify current access, closures and weather with the official land manager before you go. Trail data is sourced from National Park Service - Yosemite.
Nearby summits with their own guides on this site: Half Dome (1.1 mi away), Vernal Fall (1.2 mi away) and Nevada Fall (1.4 mi away).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to hike Mirror Lake?
The Mirror Lake Loop is 5.0 miles as a loop with about 200 feet of elevation gain, and most hikers take roughly 2.5 hours of moving time. Add time for breaks and conditions — winter or wet weather can double the trip.
How hard is the Mirror Lake hike?
It's rated Easy using the National Park Service difficulty formula (5.0 miles as a loop, 200 ft of gain — about 50 ft of climbing per mile).
Are dogs allowed on the Mirror Lake trail?
Rules vary by land manager — national parks often prohibit dogs on trails, while most national forests allow them on leash. Check with the managing agency for this trail before bringing your dog, and pack out waste.
When is the best time to hike Mirror Lake?
Late May through October for snow-free hiking. Check a summit point forecast before you go — conditions up high differ from the trailhead.
How tall is Mirror Lake?
Mirror Lake stands at 4,100 feet (1,250 meters) in California.
Best Time to Visit
spring
March - May
Muddy trails, snow at higher elevations, stream crossings high
summer
June - August
Best hiking conditions, afternoon thunderstorms possible
fall
September - November
Peak foliage mid-September to mid-October, cooler temperatures
winter
December - February
Severe alpine conditions, high winds, extreme cold
Fall Gear Checklist
- Layers
- Headlamp
- Warm hat/gloves
- Rain gear
Tip: Parking lots fill early during foliage season. Arrive before 7am on weekends.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Rapidly changing weather
- Ice possible on summit
- Wet leaves on trails
Turn-Around Time
1:00 PM (2:00 PM summer)
Plan to reach the summit by this time to allow safe descent before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Summit Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Mirror Lake Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- National Park Service - Yosemite
- Distance
- nps.gov
- Elevation
- Open-Meteo (Copernicus 30 m DEM)
- Route line
- OpenStreetMap / curated waypoints, densified by interpolation
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Peaks
Explore other mountains near Mirror Lake. Great for peak-bagging or planning your next adventure.
Half Dome
8,842 ft
Vernal Fall
5,900 ft
Nevada Fall
5,900 ft
Panorama Trail
7,214 ft
Peak Bagging Tip
Half Dome is only 1.1 miles away. Consider combining these peaks for a bigger day or overnight trip!