Vogelsang Peak

Vogelsang Peak is a mountain summit at 11,498 feet (3,505 m) elevation in Yosemite National Park's Cathedral Range, featuring steep rock walls on its southeastern side and cirques on the northwestern face. The granite composition shapes its appearance and creates a rugged, alpine landscape in this area.

Colonel H.C. Benson named the peak in 1907, though it remains unclear whether he honored Charles or Alexander Vogelsang from the California Fish and Game Commission. This naming question is part of the local history surrounding this mountain.

The name comes from German and means a meadow where birds sing, reflecting the natural surroundings of this area within Yosemite National Park.

Access to the summit begins from the Tuolumne Meadows trailhead, where hikers follow the John Muir Trail southward before switching to the Rafferty Creek Trail toward Vogelsang High Sierra Camp. Visitors should expect alpine conditions and plan for multiday hiking.

The peak sits in a strategic position where visitors can see the entire Cathedral Range, Merced drainage, Clark Range, Sawtooth Range, and Kuna Crest in a single view. This panoramic outlook over multiple mountain chains makes it a remarkable vantage point for hikers.