Middle Emigrant Lake
Lake · 9,340 ft · Yosemite corridor
Middle Emigrant Lake sits at 9,340 feet in the Yosemite corridor's high Sierra, a glacially-fed basin tucked east of the main crest. Wind and afternoon thermal activity dominate the scene.
The lake catches afternoon thermals funneling off the crest; mornings are calmer. Wind averages 11 mph over 30 days but peaks at 35 mph in afternoon windows. Temperature swings from 13 degrees in winter to 39 degrees in summer. Snowpack persists into early summer; avalanche terrain borders the basin.
Over the last 30 days, Middle Emigrant Lake has averaged a NoGo Score of 34 with wind at 11 mph and temperatures near 26 degrees. The week ahead will continue this pattern of afternoon wind and lingering snowpack. Check the rolling chart below to spot calm windows and plan around thermal wind cycles.
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Today's score by factor
About Middle Emigrant Lake
Middle Emigrant Lake lies on the crest spine between Yosemite Valley and the Mono Basin, accessed via Highway 120 (Tioga Pass Road) and trailheads near Tenaya Lake. The lake drains north into the Yosemite high country; nearby Emigrant Lake to the south and Tenaya Lake to the west anchor the corridor geography. Most visitors approach from the Yosemite side via the Cathedral Lakes or Tenaya Lake trail systems; the drive to Tenaya Lake pullout runs about two hours from Yosemite Village. Winter closure of Highway 120 typically isolates the approach from November to late May.
Spring and early summer bring meltwater surge and persistent snowpack; avalanche terrain on the basin's west and north flanks demands awareness. The 30-day average wind of 11 mph masks strong afternoon thermals; morning visits before 10 a.m. offer the calmest conditions. By late September, temperatures stabilize between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, snowpack recedes, and the basin transitions to shoulder-season stability. Crowding averages 6 out of 10 across the month, rising sharply the first weekend after Highway 120 opens in late May.
Middle Emigrant Lake suits backcountry campers, cross-country skiers in April and May, and high-Sierra day hikers seeking solitude beyond the Yosemite Valley corridor. Experienced alpinists use it as a staging point for the peaks flanking the crest. Wind-sensitive activities like fishing or open-water paddling work best in early morning windows before thermal afternoon cycles take hold. Parking at trailheads fills by mid-morning on weekends in July and August; arrive before dawn if you plan to leave a vehicle.
Nearby Tenaya Lake offers a lower-elevation alternative when afternoon wind peaks at the basin. Cathedral Lakes to the south provide similar elevation but steeper access. Yosemite Lake and the Tuolumne Meadows complex sit on the plateau east of the crest and experience similar wind patterns driven by the Sierra's orographic effects. For winter ascents, check the SAC avalanche forecast for the region; wind-slab formation on lee slopes is common above 8,500 feet.