Dana Lake
Lake · 11,145 ft · Yosemite corridor
Dana Lake sits at 11,145 feet in the high Sierra, east of Yosemite Valley. A glacially-carved alpine lake on the Sierra crest, it draws backpackers and peak-baggers heading to Dana and Gibbs peaks. Wind and snow dominate the calendar.
Dana Lake sits fully exposed on the Sierra crest. Morning conditions are typically calmer; wind funnels in hard by mid-afternoon, regularly exceeding 15 mph average. Snow persists into late spring; snowpack instability and wind-slab danger are routine concerns through early summer.
Over the last 30 days, the 30-day average wind of 15 mph and average temperature of 25 degrees Fahrenheit reflect the alpine spring pattern at elevation. The week ahead will track similarly; expect afternoon wind to intensify, temperatures to remain cold, and crowding to stay light as Highway 120 remains unsettled. Check the SAC avalanche forecast before committing.
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About Dana Lake
Dana Lake lies on the Sierra crest immediately south of Highway 120, roughly 13 miles west of Lee Vining and 2 hours northeast of Yosemite Valley. The primary access is the Dana Lake trailhead near Tioga Pass on Highway 120; the turnoff is well-signed and parking fills quickly on clear mornings. The lake sits at 11,145 feet elevation in genuinely high-Sierra terrain. Nearby peaks include Dana (13,057 feet), Gibbs (12,773 feet), and Mount Mono (12,590 feet). The drainage feeds the Dana Fork, which joins the Tuolumne River system. Winter and spring closures of Highway 120 make this an early-summer and late-summer destination primarily.
Conditions at Dana Lake are dominated by its crest-top exposure and the 25-degree Fahrenheit 30-day average temperature. Wind is the defining feature: the 30-day rolling average is 15 mph, with gusts regularly reaching 39 mph. Mornings before 10 a.m. are calmer and safer for any activity. Afternoon wind arrives reliably by mid-day and persists until sunset. Spring snowpack remains thick and unstable; avalanche terrain surrounds the lake on the north and east. Summer brings warmer days but the wind pattern holds. Fall and early winter see fewer visitors and less predictable snow stability. Crowding averages 6 on the 30-day window, meaning the lake sees light to moderate foot traffic when Highway 120 is open.
Dana Lake is best for experienced backpackers, peak-baggers, and mountaineers with avalanche awareness and high-altitude tolerance. Day-hikers are common on calm mornings but few return in afternoon wind. Summer is the safest window for snow-free access; winter and spring require avalanche knowledge and winter mountaineering gear. Parties planning overnight trips must understand bear canisters (mandatory in the region) and the harsh cold at elevation. Wind makes camping marginal; sheltered sites on the east shore are the rule. The lake itself is too cold for swimming; most visitors come to climb the surrounding peaks, not recreate on the water.
Nearby alternatives include Mono Lake, 13 miles southeast at much lower elevation with entirely different character: lower wind, warmer water, and heavy alkalinity. Giardinelli Lake and Mono Pass lie on the same high-Sierra crest but see even lighter traffic. Yosemite's high country (Cathedral Lakes, Glen Aulin) lies west over the crest and involves longer approaches. For climbers, Dana and Gibbs are non-technical scrambles that reward early starts and early descents before afternoon wind becomes severe.