Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs Loop

Yosemite Wilderness Area, CA

Trip info

Distance10.2 mi
Elevation gain4,700 ft
Route typeLoop
Duration6.5 hr
CruxClass 2
Quality7/10

Peaks bagged

1
Mount Dana
SPS
Vagmarken
13,058 ft / Prom. 2,456 ft
2
Mount Gibbs
SPS
Vagmarken
12,766 ft / Prom. 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 Yosemite; however, if arriving from the east via Tioga Pass, one can park along Highway 120 just short of the entrance and walk across the park boundary to the Mount Dana Trailhead. The trail makes a direct line for the summit, crossing Dana Meadows before making its way up Mount Dana's west slope. Mount Gibbs, the Yosemite's second-highest peak, is an easy 2-mile traverse from Mount Dana and offers incredible views of the surrounding high country. The west ridge of Mount Gibbs terminates 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.

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

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