Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop

Yosemite National Park, CA

Info

Distance
10.2 mi
Elevation gain
4,700 ft
Route type
Loop
Duration
6.5 hr
Crux
Class 2
Quality
7/10
Ecoregion

Peaks bagged

1
Mount Dana
SPS
VSC
13,058 ft / Rise 2,456 ft
2
Mount Gibbs
SPS
VSC
12,766 ft / Rise 1,110 ft

Trip report

Standing over 13,000 feet, Mount Dana is the highest peak in Yosemite National Park. During the summer months, a reservation is required to drive into the Yosemite; however, if arriving from Owens Valley in the east, one can park along Highway 120 just short of the Tioga Pass Entrance and walk across the boundary to the Mount Dana Trailhead.

The trail makes short work of the summit, crossing Dana Meadows before ascending Mount Dana's west slope. Mount Gibbs, Yosemite's second-highest peak, can be reached by traversing two miles along the connecting ridgeline. From the summit of Mount Dana, most choose to descend the west ridge. It ends at the Mono Pass Trail, which leads back to Highway 120 about 1.5 miles south of Tioga Pass. An ensuing road walk completes the loop.

Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Starting along the Mount Dana Trail.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Crossing Dana Meadows.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
A still pond reflecting a west spur of Mount Dana.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Abundant wildflowers along the trail.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View south toward Tuolumne Meadows. Mammoth Peak is on the left.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Approaching a plateau.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Crossing the plateau en route to Mount Dana.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View back toward Tioga Pass as I start up Mount Dana's west slope. In the distance is Mount Conness.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Following a lattice of trails up the rocky slope. Some lingering patches of snow were easily avoidable.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Sky pilot flowers below the summit of Mount Dana.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Mount Dana summit. View south toward Mount Gibbs (right of center).
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View northeast across the Mount Dana cirque. Mono Lake is in the distance, top-left.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View northwest toward Tioga Pass.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View west toward Tuolumne Meadows.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Descending Mount Dana's south slope to the saddle between Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs (right of center). On the far left is the unnamed Peak 12565.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Closeup of Peak 12565's craggy north face.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View back up Mount Dana's south slope.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View along Gibbs Canyon toward the barely visible Kidney Lake and (in the distance) Mono Lake.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Arriving at the saddle. From here, the route contours the slope toward Mount Gibbs (right).
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View back toward Mount Dana.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View down the Dana-Gibbs bowl.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Approaching the north ridge of Mount Gibbs.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View of Mount Gibbs's east face from a bump along the ridge.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Following the ridge toward Mount Gibbs.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View back toward Mount Dana.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Class 2 along Mount Gibbs's north ridge.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View back.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
More Class 2/3 terrain.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Final scramble to summit of Mount Gibbs.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Mount Gibbs summit. View south toward the Kuna Crest.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View north toward Mount Dana.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Starting down Mount Dana's west ridge.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Steep, rocky slope.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View back up the slope.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
More tedious, rocky terrain.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Another view back toward Mount Gibbs.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
A second steep slope along Mount Gibbs's west ridge.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
From the slope, view north toward Mount Dana.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Arriving at the tree line.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Veering south to connect with the Mono Pass Trail.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
On the Mono Pass Trail, headed west.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Entering Dana Meadows.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Crossing the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Joining Highway 120 at the Mono Pass Trailhead. From here, it's about 1.5 miles back to Tioga Pass.
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
Trip report photo for Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop
View back at Mount Dana (far left) and Mount Gibbs (left of center) from Highway 120.