Hiking Mt Dana: A 13,000 Foot Peak in Yosemite National Park

Mount Dana is the second tallest mountain in Yosemite National Park and one of the best summit views in the state of California. The summit is accessed via a 7 mile round trip trail that has over 3,000 feet of elevation gain. I set out to hike it in mid-June 2022 with my friend Kirby. Here is all the information on this amazing Yosemite National Park Trail.
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[@SP-jx9bu]

I want to thank you for being so realistic with your hikes and letting us hear that it's hard to breathe at the altitude and that level of difficulty of hike. I appreciate your realness!

[@MaylesTrails]

Yes! That's one of the things I like about this channel

[@sheezcute]

Same here!

[@martinoleary5268]

Well done both of you ! Your video takes me back 22 years to when I climbed Mt Dana. I was a young man of 50 years then. Thanks for the video and greetings from Dublin 🇮🇪

[@danmoreno37]

This brought back nice memories of climbing to the summit of Mt Dana in 1966 with my dad (RIP), my older brother and sister. I was 10 years old and this the first time I climbed a mountain that high. Thank you!

[@gartwilliams3347]

This brings back so many memories of my youth. Back in high school (1973-1977) my friends and I backpacked the Sierra every Spring or early Summer. Little Lundy, Mineral King, Lodgepole, Cedar Grove, and Mt Whitney. Thanks for the Video!👏🇺🇸

[@DavidMartinez-cq3hx]

I climbed Mt. Dana almost 30 years ago in July of 94 and watching this video sure takes me back to my early 20's. I remember it was both a huge thrill and a major slog to make it to the top, especially the last maybe 500ft to the summit. Mt. Dana has to be the easiest 13,000ft peak to climb in the Sierra Nevada because it's right off Highway 120 and only about 3 and a half miles to the summit if I remember right. Great job Josh!

[@mikescheme]

So awesome to meet you and your buddy that day on the mtn! To follow up, my dad & I conquered Kili a couple of weeks ago. Mt Dana was the perfect training grounds for it.

[@Califoreigners]

When you say things like, “relentless uphill” it makes me happy I can experience the trial through your video! That one looks tough! haha

[@californiathroughmylens]

haha it was a tough one but it was amazing

[@bludeetu321]

Hiya. I love your channel. I'm a California girl but live a long ways away. And it is SOOOOO flat in Aus. Your great hikes up and down the trails in California bring a smile to my homesick heart. Thanks so much and best of luck! Cheers

[@quitgoogle2534]

Thanks for bringing back some great memories. Did this in 2012 and forgot how steep and exhausting it was but well worth it at the top!

[@Andy-vt7sl]

Thank you for such a quality video. I can’t wait to take my teenage son with me to try this out in a few weeks. Stoked to see it in person!!

[@timkasten343]

Bagged it in early spring of 1992. Skied the chute. And Ellery bowl. So much fun

[@14erfinisher52]

OMG - We have gotta' do this Peak! Thank you for sharing. Laura & Steve Love your channel!

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

Added to our Cali bucket list. Looked low key relentless. But man, those views, especially the summit! I really enjoy snow on a hike too. Thank you again

[@californiathroughmylens]

It was a tough hike but the payoff was pretty amazing!

[@sunset3052]

Thank you for sharing! I will be hiking up there and North Peak next week. Just did Leavitt Peak and Sonora Peak two weeks ago. Love CA forests!

[@carmenrivera6782]

That was an Amazing video. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the viewers like myself.

[@cebedojames]

Ive hike Mt Dana solo around 2011. The altitude got me. I walked super slow. It was very enjoyable though.

[@sluggotinfantryman]

An easy hike up there is past Olmstead point going west. There is a pull off right around the bend. You can walk out along the North edge of Tenaya Canyon, even down into it, towards Half Dome. Great Views. On is epic looking back to Tenaya Peak and Lake. You can take a photo standing where the road is not in it. North Dome is across from porcupine creek cg. Dana is a stand alone 360 degree peak with epic views.

[@aidaovasapyan9951]

Helooo from California we enjoy all your amazing programs , all beautiful , I love hiking the only thing I’m afraid from 🐻 ,you are brave to go all this bear areas to hike , hiking is the best experience and perfect exercise and close connections whit nature , thanks

[@RG-bf7bw]

Absolutely breathtaking!!! 😃 😍

[@kevinjack5184]

Looks like a good place for Milky Way photography

[@tesstimmons422]

Fantastic

[@nevadahiker6661]

I hiked Mt Dana on July 2nd 2012. Spent almost 3 hours on the summit until someone else finally came up! You can also see the Nevada highpoint, Boundry Peak and White Mountain, Cali's 3rd highest from Dana! Saddlebag Lake and the Twenty Lakes Loop is well worth checking out!

[@neverhomepnw]

Love it!

[@csem5455]

Another great adventure! Thanks for taking us along and sharing the beauty of our state. There’s so much more to California than epic shorelines. 😀

[@helenh8535]

I was in Yosemite during mid of June. Drove to Mono Lake through Tioga. We couldn’t do this hike. Thank you so much for showing us the fantastic view on the top!

[@ricardoantonio5085]

Love your vids. I'm like you, an honest dude with a passion to hike and not into expensive hi-tech gear for show off. Thanks.

[@NickCC23]

At the age of 15 I climbed to the summit of Mt. Baldy. NM 12,449 ft. That is my peak altitude.

[@hoaphuong003]

Nice video! Beside Cloud Rest. This is our favorite trail in Yosemite. Less crowd and the view is awesome!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Clouds Rest is a stunning hike for sure

[@sunandsage]

My brother and I and 2 scout kids from a troop that we were working with crested Mount Dana back in the mid-80s except that we went a different way but I definitely couldn't forget about the views from the top. Unknown to me at the time boundary Peak which is the highest point in Nevada is visible from the top of Mount Dana. It's one of the mountains you focused on towards the end of this video. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[@TomNavesink]

I’ve done it twice or nearly twice. The first time we were within a few hundred feet of the summit when thunderstorms came in. Got about two or 3 inches of hail and lightning bolts all over the place so we retreated. Second time was sometime in the summer, because the first part of the ascent was the prettiest wildflower display I’ve ever, ever seen.

[@violetbf3773]

I’m glad you got to enjoy the views before the fires started. That’s an unbeatable view for sure! As always great video of course! 🙌🏼

[@travelwithpops]

Gorgeous location with breath taking views

[@marcsorensen2985]

i suggest a hike to mt. Tallac in Tahoe, the best views of the lake as well as the crystal range. love your stuff keep it coming

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Wow!! I’ve skied Dana Meadows in July and hiked over the entrance station ridge to Gaylor Lakes - all while looking at Dana and wondering what hiking it would be like. At 77, I suspect that train has left the station. Thanks for showing me what I missed!

[@bobbysavetheworld4629]

Literally going to Yosemite next week & this video makes me want to replan what I want to hike. This looks AMAZING!!! 🤩🤩🤩 SWEET SHOTZ 📸🎥🤙

[@yunl204]

Just came back from Yosemite hours ago, the ongoing Washburn fire is still 0% contained and made the air quality really bad in the mornings even at high elevation. Make sure you check the conditions before you go.

[@Twobarpsi]

Wow, what a hike!! Anything over 10,000 feet is extremely difficult! Seriously, great job!!

[@lisacalderon3367]

Very nice

[@MaylesTrails]

Great summary Josh. Congrats on finally making it to the summit! Dana was my first ever 13er, back in 2011.

[@fradee2830]

I climbed Mt Dana solo last August... took me 10 hours lol. Going to try again July 17, 2024. Going to try to go under 10 hours, this time. 😅

[@DaliaTutoring]

Wow, that might be the most stunning view you’ve ever posted!

[@JM-gz1ej]

That's one hell of hike.

[@californiathroughmylens]

haha it really is!

[@hikingelevated]

That's epic. Love the 360 degree views man. All the best from Utah.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks for watching, it was a crazy hike for sure!

[@TheAlphaSexy]

Going to be staying in the lake June area in October hopefully tioga pass is open !

[@Roadtosomethingnew1]

Mt Dana is a tough 1. Been wanting to hike it, just never got the chance

[@doarelectroni]

That was amazing! Those views make me want to go back and reach the summit next time.

[@christinerolle3876]

Awesome job Josh.wanting to hike this and still looking for a hiking buddy to do it with.🥰😍🤩

[@anthonywarthold]

Thank you mate, this is beautiful. You’ve inspired me to do this on our next trip. Also another opportunity to go to Copper Top BBQ 🍗 😋

[@williamputnam281]

I was 500ft from the peak in July 2020 but was chased off it by a pretty bad thunderstorm with tons of lightning…didn’t want to be fried to a crisp at 12,500’. Thanks for the awesome video!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Oh wow, good job turning around, that sounds really sketchy!

[@fathercubed769]

Wow! Great video even better experience!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Glad you enjoyed it! I was so excited to finally check it of my list!

[@markyuen2312]

Better you than me. I'm too old to do that type of hike. I'll just watch your video and say that I did the climb. :-D

[@californiathroughmylens]

haha fair enough! :)

[@miahmarieeeeee]

Great video love it

[@californiathroughmylens]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@prowrestlingisart6742]

I truly hope All Trails is sponsoring you by now haha. I use the app weekly myself

[@susieschleppenbach5054]

Awesome! Would you ever do it again or would you do Whitney?

[@Dlee4000]

Would like him to try Mt Whitney that would be awesome.

[@californiathroughmylens]

I want to do Mt Whitney again, it has been about 10 years since I did it. Hopefully next year!

[@2-old-Forthischet]

In our younger years, we did some hiking to fish Tioga lake at 9000 feet and had to take breaks every few hundred feet! I can't imagine what you guys went through.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Oh man, I bet that is a pretty epic spot to fish!

[@2-old-Forthischet]

@@californiathroughmylens it wasn't that hard to access as it is right next to the road but finding a nice spot sometimes took vertical hiking.

[@jphan21]

Always learning from your videos!!! Gonna do a family trip to Mammoth Lakes in a few months. Would you have any videos about that area?

[@californiathroughmylens]

I have one I am working on with my toddlers but nothing else really. Be sure to check out Devils postpile and Rainbow Falls, plus the hike to Crystal Crag is pretty great as well.

[@rupman27isback]

Awesome video and congrats on summiting this super strenuous hike Josh. One question, why did your friend take an extra pair of shoes with him? lol

[@markvanderstelt8999]

he has a extra set of feet that he only shows when the first two get tired out.

[@sunset3052]

Same here

[@gabrielsholisticcare]

Great hike! I really enjoy your videos! What’s your home base! My is Northern California

[@LegendarySportsOrg]

I was just there last week! That's a volcano and the red color of it is due to magma settling and drying.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Oh wow, I didn't know what was a volcano!

[@A-K_Rambler]

Coffee Stipend!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thank you so much, that is very kind of you!

[@thomza]

Which was more difficult. This hike or Clouds Rest?

[@sluggotinfantryman]

Great hike in the snow. View is top ten in Yosemite. If you want to see it in snow, May 31st, it's on my feed. If Sun is out you will get nuclear blasted all the way up take spf 700.

[@oliverolover]

Made it up that one just in time there Josh, huh?

[@sluggotinfantryman]

The Sun will murder you winter or summer. Do it in the snow. Walk straight up. Done.

[@bachelor99]

great hike! thanks for sharing. how early did you start? and how long did it take to finish? Thanks! Cheers! :)

[@californiathroughmylens]

We started at around 6 AM and it took us about 6 hours but that was with a good 45 minutes at the summit and a lot of filming

[@C-TOS]

Wow! How long is the trail from the visitor's entrance to the summit?

[@californiathroughmylens]

It is around 3.5 miles one way to the summit with 3100 feet of elevation gain,

[@weirdshibainu]

Go early. No shade

[@californiathroughmylens]

Agree, 100%

[@mixeddrinks8100]

yikes love the view... but hiking that no thanks... sort of wish the national park will do their official drone footage since you can't bring your own.

[@californiathroughmylens]

It would be pretty crazy to see spots like this from a drone

[@TaraQuestRelax]

It's beautiful, I hope to see it on site soon!😃 I moved here from Europe not so long ago! ....new sub