Yosemite national Park Special Edition - Backpacking Cathedral Range Backpacking+the+Cathedral+Range+-+Yosemite+Nationa | Page 3

Backpacking O Trail in Yosemite National Parks Cathedral Range
The trail to Nelson Lake is considered off trail because the maintained trail ends at Elizabeth lake out of
Tuolumne Meadows so hikers must either go off trail and cross the Unicorn Peak/ Cockscrum range area over
into Echo Creek Basin or make there way over from Matthes Lake using nothing but map directions and
compass. However the “User” trail out of Elizabeth Lake over the mountain and through the Echo Creek basin is
pretty darn easy to spot and follow most of the way to the lake. The trail leaves Elizabeth lake and heads south
towards the Cockscrum peak area hikers aiming between peaks for a small saddle area to the East of the
Cockscrum peak. The climb here is intense but relatively short up to to a sandy granite saddle, which leads you
down into the Echo creak basin. The Echo Creek basin opens into a series of lush meadows and the trail stays
on the south-side of the creek for approx 1.5 miles before the ridge of the south starts to turn and the Second
large meadow comes to a forest end where the trail heads back up approx 200 ft to Nelson Lake.
After a great evening photographing the Sierra Glow off Choo-Choo mountain into the reflection Pool of Nelson
Lake, Swimming and exploring around the lake, the next stage of our adventure would take us west to Matthes
Lake. A challenging journey that requires map skills and depending on the route you choose some rock
scrambling skills as you drop 200 ft from Nelson Lake back across Echo Creek and face a steep set of
mountain terrain with what I might describe as “Sketchy” choices if you want to take short cuts to a more
moderate route that requires patience and map reading skills to navigate without going miles out of your way
just to back track to the lake. We choose to follow a group of old fishing buddies over the “Sketchy route” they
had done it before and seemed certain of the route. They new exactly what they were doing and the route was
hard at times nearly vertical but doable even with a pack on.
Matthes Lake – Yosemite National Park
We crested the ridge at just below 10,000 ft to the beautiful site of Matthes Crest directly in front of us and the
crystal clear waters below, as well as the vista views of much of the granite valleys surrounds us.
Backpacking Off Trail in Yosemite National Parks Cathedral Range