Kayaking on Tenaya Lake - Yosemite National Park
Hi friends! This week we’re exploring the high country of Yosemite National Park, and I’m super excited to take you out on the pristine alpine waters of the largest lake found in the park. Let’s escape the heat and the crowds found at lower elevations, so join me on a kayaking adventure on Tenaya Lake.
Kayking on Tenaya Lake at sunrise in Yosemite
Kayaking on Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park
Location
Tenaya Lake is the largest lake in Yosemite National Park, measuring over a mile long. It’s located right off Tioga Road near Olmsted Point about 15 miles west of the Tioga Pass Park Entrance.
There is no official launch spot on the lake for kayaks, but there are multiple areas along Tioga Road and at the far ends of the lake where putting in and taking out is feasible. However, my favorite spot to enter is in the small lagoon found on the southwest corner of the lake near the Sunrise Lakes parking area. The waters here are almost always still, and there are some wonderful granite slopes, perfect for launching kayaks.
Tenaya Lake lagoon perfect for launching
Kayaking on Tenaya Lake with Tenaya Peak above
History
Tenaya Lake was formed by the Tenaya Glacier, which flowed from the Tuolumne Ice Sheet all the way down through Tenaya Canyon and into the Yosemite Valley.
One of the iconic Yosemite features we get to enjoy from the water is Tenaya Peak, which juts high above the lake at over 10,300 feet in elevation. Both the peak and lake were named for Chief Tenaya, who was the leader of the Ahwahneechee people in the early to mid 1800s. Prior to the native tribes being forceably removed from their land here in 1851, Chief Tenaya actually met with the Mariposa Battalian on these very shores. Prior to the modern-day naming, the Ahwahnechee had long given this lake a very different name, “Pie-we-ack”, meaning lake of shining rocks.
Kayaking on Tenaya Lake at sunset in Yosemite
Kayaking on the Merced River in Yosemite Valley with Half Dome above
Kayaking in Yosemite National Park
Before heading out on any adventure like this in Yosemite National Park, it’s extremely important to inform yourself on current park rules and regulations. There are several spots in the park that are open to kayaking and different forms of water activities, including Tenaya Lake, parts of the Merced River in the Yosemite Valley, the South Fork Merced River in Wawona, and the Tuolumne River. Each location has specific restrictions in place, so make sure to reference the Yosemite NPS Water Activities page prior to heading out.
Other than Tenaya Lake, one of my favorite spots to kayak in the park is along the Merced River in between Stoneman Bridge and Sentinel Beach. It is truly a magnificent way to experience the sights and sounds of the Yosemite Valley. Along the journey you can see iconic landmarks like Half Dome and Yosemite Falls from all kinds of unique vantage points not accessible by land.
Bestway Inflatable Kayaks along Tioga Road at Tenaya Lake
Kayaking on Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park
Kayaking on Tenaya Lake
Nonmotorized vessels, such as kayaks, rafts, and stand-up paddleboards are allowed on Tenaya Lake, as long as each occupant is wearing or has a personal floatation device within reach. If you have kiddos under the age of 13 with you, they will need to be wearing life vests at all times on the water.
One thing I love about being out on the water here is it allows me to slow down and just soak in the sights and sounds of nature. Wildlife can be seen and heard in every direction. Fish can often be seen jumping out of the water, and all kinds of birds roam these skies. In fact, on a recent kayaking trip here, I even saw an osprey circle right above me and plunge into nearby waters to catch its next meal.
Truly anytime time of day on these waters are a dream, but my personal favorite times to kayak here are at sunrise and sunset when the waters are typically calm and the sunshine isn’t as harsh.
The middle of the lake is extremely deep, reaching depths over 100 feet in some areas. However there are large sections of the lake that are very shallow, especially along the southwest edge. Here the water is crystal clear, allowing you to see the granite boulders just beneath you.
Ancient “Ghost Tree” submerged in Tenaya Lake
Ghost Trees of Tenaya Lake
During your kayaking adventure, you may come across strange stumps peaking out from the surface of the water. These are actually trees that have been perfectly preserved by the cool alpine waters of Tenaya Lake for centuries. From around 850 to 1300 AD, there were a series of “megadroughts” during what was considered the “Medieval Warm Period.” It’s believed that during this time, the waters of Tenaya Lake drastically receded, allowing these pine trees to take root and grow for several decades before lake levels eventually returned. Over time, the tree tops were worn away by weather, but the trunks below the surface (some with heights over 50 feet) have largely been preserved and are still rooted on the lake floor. For more info on these unique trees, check out this YouTube video by the Yosemite NPS and Yosemite Conservancy.
Kayaking on Tenaya Lake at sunset in Yosemite National Park
Bestway Hydro-Force Inflatable Kayak
Bestway Hydro-Force Inflatable Kayaks
For this Tenaya Lake adventure, we brought our Bestway Hydro-Force Inflatable Kayaks. These are super easy to inflate, which only takes a few minutes, and they pack up nicely, making them a great option if you don’t have a vehicle that can accommodate carrying large traditional kayaks. I love these kayaks and have been using them for several months now. They have been extremely durable, scraping up against Yosemite granite boulders and enduring the extremely salty waters of Death Valley’s Badwater Basin. I highly recommend them for anyone just getting started with kayaking. If you’re interested in purchasing, you can find them on Amazon here.
Kayaking on Tenaya Lake at sunset in Yosemite
Shallows in Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park
Know Before You Go
• For a few weeks each year, you can rent rafts for the Merced River at Curry Village, however there are no kayak rentals in Yosemite’s high country near Tenaya Lake...so you’ll have to bring your own nonmotorized vessel.
• Weather can change suddenly in Yosemite National Park. Pay close attention to forecasts, because bright sunny mornings can turn into stormy and windy afternoons quickly, and you don’t want to be out in the middle of this lake during a thunderstorm.
• Most years Tioga Rd is open from June through October, but it’s important to check the NPS website for exact and up-to-date opening/closing information.
• Yosemite National Park is home to black bears. While out on the lake, make sure to no leave any food or scented items in your vehicle. Bear-proof lockers can be found in many parking lots along Tioga Road, including the nearby lot for the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead.
• Wildfires are not uncommon in the Summer and Fall months when Tioga Road is open, so always check the Yosemite NPS website for the most up-to-date information on air quality, road closures, and park conditions.
• Remember the Leave No Trace Principles and pack out what you pack in.
• Through October 27th, 2024, Yosemite National Park requires entrance reservations to drive into the park between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. during peak hours. Reservations are available on Recreation.gov. Exceptions include visitors heading into Hetch Hetchy, with lodging, camping, or wilderness permits inside the park, as well as those with commercial tours or arriving by public transit. Entering outside peak hours (before 6 a.m. or after 4 p.m.) does not require a reservation. Plan to enter the park early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid long entrance wait lines.
Osprey flying over Tenaya Lake in Yosemite
In Summary
Thanks so much for joining me this week inside Yosemite National Park. For a virtual visit of my kayaking adventure on Tenaya Lake, make sure to watch my Behind the Blog video located at the top of this post, or watch it on YouTube here. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
Swimming in Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park
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About Me
I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based out of Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and reviews on hotels & products, I seek to share my journeys to help you plan for your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the globe...and every Monday I post new content here, including a comprehensive blog post and YouTube video.
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