Dog-Friendly Camping at Tuolumne Meadows
Olmsted Point view on the way to Tuolumne Meadows, captured on my Sony 6400 + 18-105 mm Lens
Tuolumne Meadows Campground is open again! After several years of renovations, this campground, one of our favorites, is ready to welcome back campers and their pups. At nearly 8,600 feet in elevation, this high-country gem in Yosemite National Park is filled with granite domes, winding rivers, and wide-open skies. It’s cooler, quieter, and less crowded than Yosemite Valley, and the perfect base camp for many dog-friendly adventures. This campground tends to book up fast, so plan ahead. If it’s full, you might consider White Wolf nearby—just note that you’ll need to bring your own drinking water and be comfortable with portable toilets.
Like most national parks, dogs are only allowed on paved roads and a few trails within Yosemite, but that doesn’t mean we have to leave our dogs behind! Tuolumne Meadows Campground sits only 20 minutes from the Inyo National Forest, home to many epic dog-friendly hikes.
Here are a few of our favorite Inyo National Forest hikes:
Twenty Lakes Basin Loop-Starting at Saddlebag Lake, this 8-mile loop is one of the most breathtaking dog-friendly hikes near Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite’s eastern entrance. The trail winds through a high-alpine basin filled with turquoise lakes, rugged peaks, and wide-open Sierra skies. After leaving Saddlebag Lake behind, you’ll pass a string of lakes—Greenstone, Steelhead, Cascade, and Odell Lakes. We even found a patch of snow to play in during our August hike!
In mid-summer, wildflowers blanket the meadows, and the crystal-clear lakes offer endless opportunities for your pup to cool off. Just remember, at over 10,000 feet, the air is thin and the weather can change fast, so pack layers, sun protection, and plenty of water.
Saddlebag Lake Loop-This hike starts in the same place as the Twenty Lakes Basin Loop, but is a shorter and mostly flat 4-mile loop around Saddlebag Lake. Expect wildflowers, beautiful vistas, and plenty of shoreline for your pup to splash around in.
Maul Lake via Mine Creek Trail-This lesser-traveled 6-mile out-and-back hike near Tioga Pass is perfect if you and your pup are craving a little solitude. The trail follows Mine Creek for much of the way, winding through forest, meadows, and the remnants of an old mining town. Along the route, you’ll pass a chain of alpine lakes—Shell, Fantail, and Spuller—each offering cool water and quiet spots to take a break, before finally reaching Maul Lake.
Between the crisp alpine air, endless star-filled skies, and nearby dog-friendly trails, Tuolumne Meadows is one of the best summer getaways. If your dog loves mountain adventures and cool lake swims as much as ours do, Tuolumne Meadows definitely deserves a spot on your dog-friendly camping list.
And if you’re planning to camp with your dog, a good packing list makes all the difference. We put together our go-to dog-friendly camping essentials—the things we always bring for Luna and Linus.
Luna-cooling off in Greenstone Lake
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