Tioga Lake, Glacial reservoir in Mono County, United States

Tioga Lake is a glacial reservoir perched at about 2,960 meters (9,700 feet) in the Sierra Nevada within the Inyo National Forest. It sits just north of the main entrance to Yosemite National Park and is ringed by steep alpine peaks.

Tioga is an Iroquois word meaning "where it forks" or "swift current"; Tioga County, New York, gave the lake its name. Indigenous peoples are believed to have settled the area as early as 10,000 years ago, and John Muir was among the first Americans to see it. Mining and logging brought the next wave of interest.

The name Tioga is not from the Sierra but from an Iroquois word meaning "where it forks" or "swift current", borrowed via Tioga County, New York. The lake bed lies beside State Route 120, and the surrounding area is thought to have been settled by indigenous peoples as early as 10,000 years ago.

The area has a small campground with about 13 sites where you can pitch a tent, fish, and picnic. The best time to visit is late spring through early fall, when the lake is fully accessible and weather is more stable.

Tioga is an Iroquois word meaning "where it forks" or "swift current", and the lake takes its name from Tioga County, New York. The area is thought to have been settled as early as 10,000 years ago, and John Muir was among the first Americans to see it.