Higher Cathedral Rock
Peak · 6,643 ft · Yosemite corridor
Higher Cathedral Rock rises to 6643 feet in the Yosemite corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. A granite peak with avalanche terrain and year-round exposure, it demands calm conditions and solid snowpack awareness.
Wind climbs steadily through the morning and peaks in early afternoon as thermals rise off lower elevations. Exposure is severe on the summit; shelter lies in the lee of the peak's eastern face only in light winds. The 30-day average wind of 7 mph masks gusts to 17 mph, most common between 1 and 4 pm.
The past month held to a 30-day average score of 32 and average wind of 7 mph, with swings from 6 to 50. Winter snowpack remains unstable through spring melt; avalanche terrain on the north and east aspects demands caution. The week ahead will track typical spring conditions: cool mornings near 41 degrees Fahrenheit, stiffening afternoon wind, and rising crowd volume as Highway 120 opens.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Higher Cathedral Rock
Higher Cathedral Rock sits at 6643 feet on the eastern rim of the Yosemite corridor, roughly 90 minutes east of Yosemite Valley via Highway 120. Access is via the Cathedral Lakes Trail from the Tenaya Lake trailhead or from the Cathedral Range approach roads accessed from Highway 395 south of Lee Vining. The peak is not heavily trafficked; base popularity sits at 0.2, meaning most days see zero to two parties. The nearest towns are Lee Vining (60 miles southeast) and Tuolumne Meadows (35 miles west), both on Highway 120.
Spring conditions dominate the rolling stats: average temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit and average wind of 7 mph. The 365-day range tells the full story: winter lows plumb 7 degrees, summer highs reach 62 degrees, and max wind gusts have hit 17 mph. Avalanche terrain covers the north and east slopes; springtime is the most unstable season as the snowpack settles and corn forms. Crowding averages 3 out of 10 even now, far lighter than Cathedral Lakes or nearby Clouds Rest. Most traffic arrives in the brief window after snow consolidates but before summer heat drives visitors to lower elevations.
Higher Cathedral Rock suits experienced peak baggers comfortable with scrambling on exposed granite and those skilled in avalanche terrain assessment. The low baseline popularity means solitude is near-guaranteed outside the peak season window. Plan an early start to catch the summit before 2 pm, when afternoon thermals begin to drive wind gusts over 10 mph. Parking at Tenaya Lake or Cathedral Lakes trailhead is rarely full. Winter and early spring demand solid snowpack judgment; post-hole descent in unstable corn snow is common and exhausting.
Nearby Cathedral Lakes lie west at lower elevation and track similar wind patterns but hold more crowding. Clouds Rest, one mile north, commands comparable views and slightly less avalanche exposure. Tenaya Peak and the Cathedral Range spine to the south offer alternative high-country scrambles with slightly better shelter from afternoon wind. For those unfamiliar with spring snowpack behavior in the high Sierra, Lee Vining ranger station and the SAC avalanche center publish current conditions and should be consulted before approach.