May Lake Trailhead
Trailhead · Yosemite corridor
May Lake Trailhead sits at 8251 feet in Yosemite's high Sierra, offering alpine lake access with moderate exposure. Calmer than exposed ridges nearby but windier than the valley floor.
Wind averages 8 mph but accelerates mid-afternoon as thermals build. Morning calm typically holds until late morning. The lake surface reflects wind patterns; glassy water signals stable morning conditions. Afternoon chop and whitecaps indicate retreat to lower elevations.
Over the last 30 days, May Lake Trailhead averaged an 8 mph wind with temperatures around 31 degrees Fahrenheit; the 30-day NoGo Score averaged 18, meaning most days permit access but afternoon windows narrow as wind picks up. The week ahead will follow typical Sierra patterns: calmest before 10 am, warmest in early afternoon, windiest by 3 pm.
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About May Lake Trailhead
May Lake Trailhead is the primary gateway to May Lake, a small alpine lake nestled in the Cathedral Range west of Highway 120. The trailhead sits at 8251 feet elevation on the road to Mount Hoffmann, accessed via Highway 120 (Tioga Road) from either the western Yosemite corridor or Lee Vining on the east side. From Yosemite Village, the drive takes 45 to 50 minutes via Highway 120 eastbound to the May Lake Road turnoff. The route is closed in winter and early spring when snow blocks Highway 120; typical opening occurs late spring.
Conditions at May Lake Trailhead reflect high-Sierra exposure and morning-to-afternoon wind swing. The 30-day average wind sits at 8 mph, but maximum gusts reach 25 mph in wind events. Temperature averages 31 degrees over the last month, with annual extremes from 6 to 47 degrees Fahrenheit depending on season. Crowding remains light at 14 people per survey period, well below valley trailheads. Spring brings lingering snowpack and cool nights; summer warms to the upper 30s to low 40s; fall cools rapidly after mid-September as high-altitude nights drop below freezing; winter closes Highway 120. Afternoon wind funnels down from the Cathedral Range consistently.
May Lake Trailhead suits day hikers and backpackers planning 2 to 4 hour roundtrip lake visits. Morning starters encounter calm conditions and reflective water perfect for photography; afternoon visitors face wind-roughened surface and potential afternoon thunderstorm risk in summer. The trailhead has limited parking (15 to 20 spaces); arrive before 8 am on weekends or skip busy first weekends after Highway 120 opens. Snowpack dictates late spring and early summer access; a June visit may require microspikes. The lake sits in a cirque basin with no sheltered camping; most users day-hike and return by mid-afternoon.
Nearby alternatives include Cathedral Lakes (higher elevation, steeper, 7 to 8 hours roundtrip) and Glen Aulin (8 miles one way, different drainage). Mount Hoffmann trail branches from May Lake Road and adds 2 to 3 hours for peak views. Yosemite Valley (Highway 140, 25 miles south) offers warmer temperatures and higher crowding; the high-Sierra corridor (Highway 120) gives access to Mono Basin lakes and Lee Vining at lower altitude if afternoon wind proves unsafe for inexperienced hikers.