An abrupt climb of 650 feet now takes us over a spur ridge and to the source of the east branch of ~Snow Creek~. There is here a small meadow at the left of the trail, where good horse-feed and camp sites will be found. A 1500-foot descent by zigzags thru scattered timber takes us down a side canyon to ~Snow Creek~, across which is a foot-log. About 300 yards beyond the crossing, the ~North Dome Trail~ (Trail Trip 4) turns northwest and follows up the west branch of Snow Creek. We turn left, passing thru a beautiful forest of Jeffrey pine, lodgepole pine and fir. Fishing is fair, but the trout are small. About one mile below the crossing we suddenly emerge at the rim of the canyon between ~Mt. Watkins~ (Alt. 8235) at the left and ~Basket Dome~ (Alt. 7602) at the right. The following abrupt descent of 2500 feet by 108 switchbacks takes us to the bottom of ~Tenaya Canyon~. Turning downstream our trail enters a dense forest of oaks, laurel, pine and cedar. One mile of almost level path takes us to ~Mirror Lake~, where we skirt the west shore to the end of the road. Yosemite is three miles distant by road. TRAIL TRIP 6 YOSEMITE TO TENAYA LAKE _via_ MIRROR LAKE AND RETURN _via_ FORSYTH PASS AND CLOUDS REST Reverse of Trail Trip 5 (32.25 miles--2-day trip) ~Tenaya Lake~ is one of the gems of the High Sierra. The very scenic two-day round trip from Yosemite is too long and strenuous to be attempted in one day. Excellent accommodations will be found at Tenaya Lake Lodge, but reservations should be made in advance by telephone. If the trip is to be taken in the following direction one should start early to avoid the intense heat of the zigzags above Mirror Lake. Water should be carried. The trail starts at ~Mirror Lake~, three miles from Yosemite. One should plan to see sunrise there (about 8 a.m. in summer). Skirting the west shore the trail follows up the canyon about one mile, thru a dense forest of oak, laurel, yellow pine, Douglas fir and incense cedar. Then begins a long, hard climb of 2500 feet up 108 switchbacks (one and a half miles--two hours). Above the rim of the canyon the trail follows the west bank of ~Snow Creek~. Fishing is fair but the trout small. Further down stream are picturesque cascades. After passing thru a forest of Jeffrey pine, lodgepole pine and fir for about one mile the trail to North Dome and Tioga Road (Trail Trip 4) branches to the left. Our trail turns right and crosses ~Snow Creek~ (foot-log) about 300 yards beyond. We then climb 1500 feet by zigzags up an east branch of Snow Creek thru scattered timber. At the headwaters of this creek is a small meadow at the right of the trail, a good campsite with forage fairly abundant.