The round trip from Yosemite to Merced Lake is an exceedingly scenic two-day excursion. One should telephone in advance for accommodations at the Merced Lake Lodge. Pedestrians may save an hour's hard climb by taking the Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Falls. An excellent three-day trip may be made by combining Trail Trips 7 and 6. First day: Lake Merced. Second day: Clouds Rest and Lake Tenaya via Forsyth Pass. Third day: Yosemite via the summit of North Dome and Yosemite Falls Trail.
From Yosemite we take the road on the south side of the valley past Camp Curry to Happy Isles Bridge. Here we turn right on the main Glacier Point Trail and follow Trail Trip 1 to the junction at the top of the Nevada Falls switchbacks. The Glacier Point Trail (Trail Trip 1) turns right and crosses a small bridge. We take the left-hand trail, which rises about 200 feet and follows up the Merced River. About half a mile beyond, the Little Yosemite Trail (Trail Trip 13) continues up the canyon. The main trail turns to the left and zigzags upward thru a dense stand of pine, fir and cedar. A climb of about 800 feet in one and a half miles takes us to the junction with the Half Dome Trail (Trail Trip 14), which branches left. Our trail turns eastward along a gently sloping bench. After a quarter of a mile the Clouds Rest Trail (Trail Trip 5) continues to climb to the left. The Merced Lake Trail turns right, fording a small creek and thence following up the west bank of Sunrise Creek, crossing about a mile above to the east bank. About half a mile above the crossing is Hopkins Meadow, where the Sunrise Trail to Tuolumne Meadows (Trail Trip 8) branches to the left.
We turn right, passing thru almost level open granite country for the next two miles where we obtain grand views of Little Yosemite, of the deep canyon of the Merced, and of Mt. Clark and Mt. Starr King toward the south. Descending some short, steep switchbacks the trail again becomes almost level and passes the picturesque little Duck Lake at the right of the trail. Rising a few feet we now descend abruptly into Echo Creek Canyon, crossing Echo Creek about a quarter of a mile from the Merced River. Here at Echo Valley are good camp sites, excellent feed and fine fishing. Echo Creek was stocked in 1905 with eastern brook trout. Steelhead and German brown trout will also be found in the river. The old "Merced Lake Trail," which is shown on the U.S.G.S. map as ascending Echo Creek is in very poor condition and is no longer used. From Echo Valley the trail climbs about 100 feet over a granite spur, in the ascent passing thru a beautiful forest of western yellow pine. Following for one mile along the glaciated granite slope, the trail parallels the river, which here descends in a series of rapids, cascades and low falls.
We arrive finally at Lake Merced (Alt. 7300). This is one of the most accessible and well known of the lakes in Yosemite's High Sierra. At its shores and along the entire seven-mile canyon above are ideal camping places. Horse-feed is abundant above the lake. Fishing is excellent in both lake and river. The lake contains Loch Leven, German brown and rainbow trout. Rowboats may be hired at fifty cents per hour or $2.50 per day. Merced Lake is undoubtedly the best base camp for trips thruout the entire upper watershed of the Merced River.
The trail skirts the north edge of the lake, passing into a beautiful forest of sugar pine and western yellow pine at the upper end. Just above the lake is Merced Lake Lodge, with excellent accommodations. One may here rent a fishing outfit and some supplies may be obtained. Washburn Lake is three miles further up the canyon.
TRAIL TRIP 8
YOSEMITE TO TUOLUMNE MEADOWS via SUNRISE TRAIL
(28 miles—12 hours)
The Sunrise Trail has long been famous as one of the most scenic routes between Yosemite and Tuolumne Meadows. The walk is almost too long to be enjoyed in one day and is better taken in two.