Lower Cathedral Lake
Lower Cathedral Lake sits in a granite basin in Yosemite's high country, offering one of the range's most dramatic alpine reflections with Cathedral Peak rising sharply above the far shoreline. The lake's calm surface in early morning gives you mirror-like reflections of the peak, so position yourself along the eastern or northeastern shore to frame the spire directly over the water. Sunrise is the prime window, when alpenglow catches the granite and the air is still enough for clean reflections; stormy skies and passing clouds add drama that flat blue-sky days completely lack. The hike in is roughly four miles with around 1,000 feet of gain, so plan to arrive before first light by camping nearby or starting well before dawn. A wide-angle lens in the 16-24mm range lets you include both the foreground water and the full height of the peak. (Yosemite National Park, California, United States)
