If a gorgeous setting is what you yearn for, there is no better place to be than paddling Tenaya Lake on a windless day, with water so still one can see flawless reflections of the majestic mountains. Surrounded by granite peaks on three sides, Tenaya Lake’s sparkling blue water and 2.5-miles of shoreline offer a short, leisurely paddle.Towering pines and steep granite outcroppings bordering the water’s edge deliver extraordinary views. The exhilaration of this scenic alpine lake provides an unforgettable experience for canoeists, kayakers and SUP boarders alike.

Tenaya Lake is a wonderland combination of activity and tranquility that will both relax and excite you. It is a tiny lake, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in beauty. Known for outstanding hiking opportunities, in recent years, this enchanting alpine lake has drawn many paddling enthusiasts. Tenaya Lake is located in a region of astonishing beauty, at 8,150’ elevation in Yosemite National Park, between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows on Tioga Pass Road, which closes in the wintertime. The paddling season is typically in the months of June to October, depending on when the snow melts.

Tioga Pass Road passes along the lake’s northern edge so the lake is hard to miss. With limited parking on both sides of the lake and primitive restroom facilities, the crowd factor is usually not as much of a problem as you might experience at other lakes within Yosemite National Park during the summer months.

Tenaya Lake offers a wide range of recreational activities, from kayaking, canoeing, SUP boarding, fishing, swimming, photography, biking, and hiking. After a leisurely paddle, there’s an abundance of hiking trails in the area to explore. A 2.5-mile hiking trail around the lake’s perimeter provides superb views. Encounters with deer, bald eagles and even bears are not uncommon.

Map of Tenaya Lake