Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Northern California → Yosemite → Tuolomne Meadows – Soda Springs

Location: Tuolomne Meadows Area, Yosemite National Park, California

Distance:  2.4 km (1.5 miles) roundtrip

Elevation Gain: none

Time Required: 30 minutes

Red Tape/Notes: Only access is via Tioga Road, which is open seasonally (typically late May or early June to October or November)

What’s Nearby?: June Lake, Mono Lake, Tioga Road, Cathedral Lakes

The Soda Springs themselves are not exactly mind-blowing. There’s a little log cabin that’s been built around the main source of the springs – which are in fact actually soda-esque (i.e. cold and carbonated), but that’s clearly not much of a destination, since all you can see is a little cabin and some minor bubbly puddles on the ground. On the other hand, this “hike” (more of an easy stroll, really) provides the opportunity for a very pretty meander through Tuolomne Meadows, with the winding and sparkly Tuolomne River and wildflowers in the spring. It makes for a nice opportunity to get out and stretch your legs and see some of the less-often visited northern parts of Yosemite. This area of the park generally provides a welcome breather from the vast quantities of people you’ll find in Yosemite Valley.

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Northern California → Yosemite → Tuolomne Meadows – Soda Springs