Blauert on Outdoors: Mount Hoffmann provides best view of Yosemite

There are many great viewpoints at Yosemite, but it’s hard to find a better one than the top of 10,845-foot Mount Hoffmann.

Located in the central part of Yosemite’s high country, this summit stands high above the peaks that surround it, giving hikers a nearly uninterrupted view in every direction. There’s not another place where you can see so much of the park with only a moderately challenging hike.

The round trip is 6 miles, though it does climb about 2,000 feet in elevation and there are some rough sections of trail. If you’re in decent shape, you should be able to do it in a day.

The views are nice all the way, starting with Mount Hoffmann from the parking lot at 8,700 feet. The trail climbs steadily for 1.2 miles to May Lake, one of the prettiest high-country lakes in the park. As you climb, you start to get glimpses of the surrounding landscape.

Once you reach May Lake, the official trail ends. The next 1.8 miles to the top of Hoffmann are unofficial but so frequently used they are easy to follow. There are a few places where there are multiple paths, but as long as you keep your eyes on the summit, you should be able to stay on a route that will get you there. There will likely be hikers ahead of you to follow if you’re unsure. There’s considerable loose gravel on many of the granite boulders along the trail that can pose a slip hazard. Take it easy, especially on the way down.

The actual summit is neither of the two you can see from the parking lot or May Lake. There’s a higher point hidden behind them.

There are a few ways to reach the top, all of which include scrambling over a few boulders. Plan on spending serious time on top – there’s much to see in every direction. There’s also no better place to eat lunch. Clouds Rest used to be my favorite Yosemite high point, but from Hoffmann you look down on it and Half Dome. If you have the time, the other summits also have their own unique views, including nice views straight down to May Lake (you can’t see it from the main summit).

There are nice wildflower displays along the trail, despite the drought.

Because this hike is so outstanding, expect to see a lot of people. We saw at least 50 hikers last Tuesday, plus backpackers at May Lake.

The lake is the site of one of Yosemite’s famed High Sierra Camps. If you’re interested in staying at one of the camps, reservations are awarded through a lottery system. Applications can be submitted between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1 for 2016 reservations. For information, go to http://www.yosemitepark.com/high-sierra-camps.aspx.

When I was 10 years old, May Lake was one of my first backpacking trips. My dad and I set up camp and then attempted to continue our hike to the top of Hoffmann. Before long, I had altitude sickness and had to turn around. It’s not uncommon to get altitude sickness above 8,000 feet, but as I got older and went up to high elevations frequently, it stopped being a problem. The surest way to avoid it is to spend a couple of days getting used to the elevation before doing anything strenuous.

Having failed to reach the top back then, we finally returned last week to give it another shot.

This is a summer hike, open from the time snow melts off the summit of Hoffmann (usually May or June) to the time Tioga Road is closed by snow in late October or early November. Thunderstorm activity started developing above the surrounding peaks while we were on the summit, so we got down quickly. Hoffmann is not a place you want to be if there is a risk of lightning.

To find the trailhead, look for the May Lake sign about 27 miles east of Crane Flat. The 2-mile drive to the trailhead parking is rough and potholed but passable for any vehicle driven carefully.

This story was originally published July 7, 2015 at 6:32 PM with the headline "Blauert on Outdoors: Mount Hoffmann provides best view of Yosemite."