Soda Springs and Parsons Memorial Lodge - Yosemite National Park
Happy Monday friends! This week we’re back inside Yosemite National Park & we’re heading out along Tioga Road to enjoy a gentle hike through Tuolumne Meadows. Join me as we explore Soda Springs and historic Parsons Memorial Lodge.
FAST FACTS
• Distance: > 2 miles RT
• Elevation Change: > 50 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
Soda Springs Trail
Location
Located along the Tuolumne River right off Tioga Pass Road (not far from the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center) in the heart of Yosemite National Park, there are a few ways to access the spot. The main Soda Springs Trailhead is located along Tioga Road, but you can also hike from the Lembert Dome Parking and Picnic Area located about a mile down the road. I personally enjoy starting from the Lembert Dome Parking Area, but both trail options are almost identical in distance. This great little hike is gentle enough for most ages and skill levels, coming in it just about a mile and a half with less than 50 feet in elevation change but, it is still rich with majestic Yosemite views. As with all Tioga Road adventures, it is important to plan your trip during the summer or fall months as the road closes in the winter due to snow (often from mid November to June here).
Lembert Dome
PCT & John Muir Trail
Tuolumne River Bridge
Hike
This hike begins by crossing the famous Pacific Crest Trail briefly (while the full Pacific Crest Trail covers over 2,600 miles from Mexico to Canada, it’s fun to enjoy a tiny glimpse of this incredible trail system which covers 25 national forests and 7 national parks, including Yosemite). Looking back toward the trailhead you have great views of Lembert Dome towering above, and early on in this hike you begin to soak in the beautiful sights and sounds of the meadow and meandering river. Once you reach a fork in the trail, head up to the right to reach Soda Springs and then continue on to Parsons Memorial Lodge. You can make it an out and back hike, but I recommend taking the short loop down to the river and crossing the historic bridge for even more beautiful Yosemite views before continuing back the way you came.
Soda Springs Cabin
Soda Springs
Soda Springs
Soda Springs are natural mineral springs, but they’re nothing like the incredible features found in California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park, such as Bumpass Hell. You will only see a gentle bubbling up in a few spots, and you may even have to look closely to see that. Over a century ago in 1889 John Lembert built the wooden structure commonly known as the Soda Springs Cabin directly around the largest spring here, presumably to protect the water from being contaminated from livestock. In the summer it’s fun to sit quietly here and listen to the bubbling water as you enjoy the rich orange colors where the water flows over the rocks in contrast with the vast vibrant green meadow.
Yosemite Wilderness
History
The original inhabitants of this area were long the local Native American tribes, but in the 1800s European settlers arrived. While John Muir famously grazed sheep here in 1869, it’s often John Lembert (of Lembert Dome namesake) who is recorded as Tuolumne Meadows first European settler. John Lembert filed a claim to 160 acres here in 1895 under the Homestead Act and he spent his summers in the area with a flock of goats, and then he traveled to Yosemite Valley during the winter months.
Parsons Memorial Lodge Exterior
Parsons Memorial Lodge Fireplace
Parsons Memorial Lodge Interior
Parsons Memorial Lodge
Continuing on past Soda Springs you quickly reach Parsons Memorial Lodge. This historic building was constructed during the summer of 1915, it sits at over 8,600 feet above sea level in Yosemite’s high country. The pink feldspar and grey granite stone, which helped construct the lodge, was gathered on site while other building materials and logs were packed here by mule. The lodge is one of the early rustic stone structures in the park and it was designed to withstand the altitude and harsh winter conditions. A highlight of the lodge is the massive fireplace centered opposite of the entrance along the north wall. Edward Taylor Parsons, the lodge’s namesake, served as the Sierra Club Director from 1905 to 1914 and the club built this lodge in his honor. In 1973 the NPS acquired the building from the Sierra Club, and it is still used as a high country nature center today. In 1987 the lodge was declared a National Historic Landmark and a few other buildings are located nearby, including the McCauley Cabin. If you want to explore inside Parsons Memorial Lodge for yourself, check the NPS website for hours and seasonal openings, and for more in-depth details on Parsons Memorial Lodge, the NPS has great information which can be found here.
Trail view of Parsons Lodge
Know Before You Go
• Check the official NPS website prior to visiting for the most up-to-date weather and road conditions.
• Currently (Summer 2023), there are sections of Tioga Road that are damaged and still under construction. The road is down to one lane in between Olmsted Point and Tenaya Lake, so be prepared for potential delays.
• Wilderness, by definition, is an unpredictable and even hazardous place, so stay on the designated trails. Traveling off trail is a leading cause of hiking accidents in Yosemite.
• While a wilderness permit is not required for day hikes, wilderness permits are required year-round for backpacking, overnight climbing, or any other overnight stay in the Yosemite Wilderness, so plan your visit accordingly.
• Remember the Leave No Trace Principles and pack out what you pack in.
• This is black bear country. Bears and other wildlife can be present on trails at any time of the day or night. Feeding and approaching wildlife is dangerous and illegal. Make sure to properly store your food. Bear canisters are required for wilderness food storage for overnight hikers.
• Be prepared for sudden and sometimes hazardous changes in weather and trail conditions.
• Be cautious when crossing swollen streams and turn back if conditions warrant. Good planning and judgment may protect you from unsafe situations and prevent the need for rescue.
Top 10 Things to Do Along Tioga Pass
Tuolumne Meadows
Lembert Dome
Pothole Dome
Soda Springs & Parsons Memorial Lodge
Siesta Lake
Tioga Lake & Ellery Lake
Tioga Pass Valley Overlooks
Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias
Tuolumne River
In Summary
Thank you so much for joining me this week in Yosemite National Park’s high country. For a virtual visit here, make sure to watch my Behind the Blog video found at the top of this post, or watch it on YouTube here. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
Tuolumne Meadows
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About Me
I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based out of Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and reviews on hotels & products, I seek to share my journeys to help you plan for your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the globe...and every Monday I post new content here, including a comprehensive blog post and YouTube video.
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