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Camping at Yosemite

Original Post
kstrom · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 5

My friend and I will be heading down to Yosemite the week of May 12th to camp. I tried reserving a camp site at any of the campgrounds in the Valley and outside the park but nothing is available. Is this accurate? If so is there any alternative places you can recommend somewhat nearby.

Jonathan Dull · · Boone, NC · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 415

Get to Camp 4 EARLY as crap and hope for the best?

Keith Boone · · Henderson, NV · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 492
Jonathan Dull wrote:Get to Camp 4 EARLY as crap and hope for the best?

+1

You will find people sleeping in line in the pre-dawn hours.
FoamFinger _______ · · Rad Town, Not set (USA) · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 250

I'm heading in on the 13th and from what I understand you gotta get there really early and get in line to get a spot for the day. The park reserves half? the tent sites for folks who want to just show up the day of. Good luck, we're all going to need it!

Scott Scharfenberg · · Santa Barbara, CA · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 15

Speaking from experience, here's what you need to do:

Roll into the park around 5am, 6am at the LATEST, and get in line in front of the ranger kiosk at Camp 4. The kiosk opens at 8am, and they hand out as many tickets as there are people scheduled to check out that day. DO NOT BE ASLEEP IN LINE WHEN THE RANGER HANDS OUT TICKETS! If you are sleeping in line, you'll get passed up. If you left to pee and your buddy is "holding your spot" when the ranger starts passing out tickets, you won't get one. They're pretty strict.

Ok, so you got there in time and got a ticket. Awesome! Stay in line, get checked in, and pay your fees. Then go and climb until at least noon, because the people whose site you're taking over don't have to be out until then. I'd suggest a fun romp up Royal Arches, then come back and set up your site.

Make sure to follow park rules regarding food and bear boxes, and have a great time in one of the most historic climbing areas in the world! The history and culture of Camp 4 alone is awesome--spend some time reading about it and you'll appreciate your stay there that much more.

FoamFinger _______ · · Rad Town, Not set (USA) · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 250

Just out of curiosity what is a good alternative tent-camping site that isn't too far away from Camp 4?

Marc H · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2007 · Points: 265
FoamFinger wrote:Just out of curiosity what is a good alternative tent-camping site that isn't too far away from Camp 4?
Fresno. Or you could throw up a tent in your room at the Awahnee. It would probably only run you about a $1K.
kstrom · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 5

Thanks for all the info guys. Its gonna be tough getting there that early because we will be driving in from Tahoe which is obviously several hours away. Does anyone know of any forest roads outside the National Park that we can possibly camp at. I've never been to Yosemite before so I don't know the area that well.

vincent L. · · Redwood City · Joined Jan 2005 · Points: 560

A lot of the forest around the park has been off limits because of the rim fire , but I believe you are allowed back on much of that land now , including forest road bivies.

Camping in Yos. on short notice is always a gamble . You can always check for cancellations at the other campgrounds like upper and lower pines . Sometimes just nicely asking people if you can share a camp site works , add some money and beers to the equation and that sweetens the deal.

I usually look for older couples that are staying in an RV , they usually don't mind if I borrow a patch of dirt .

Lastly , and I'm not sure why more folks don't do this , is just go sleep up in the rocks or the forest . Maybe it's the bugs on the ground or the fear of being alone , but a bivy sack on the ground off in the trees has worked for many generations of climbers...

Cassidy Anderson · · San Diego, CA · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 261
vincent L. wrote: Lastly , and I'm not sure why more folks don't do this , is just go sleep up in the rocks or the forest . Maybe it's the bugs on the ground or the fear of being alone , but a bivy sack on the ground off in the trees has worked for many generations of climbers...

Camping out of Bounds in YNP is illegal and can get you ticketed/fined.
climbing coastie · · Wasilla, AK · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 95

Drive down 395 and climb in Tuolumne for the day. Then camp outside the park on the East side and wake up at 4:00 and head to C4. Or just keep climbing in the Meadows the whole time.

I think there's a campsite a few miles outside the gate on 140, but I've never stayed there.

Mikekd · · CA · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 10

Up towards Hetch Hetchy, before Evergreen Lodge there are forest service roads. Just drive down far enough so you're not visible from the main road.

Michael Spielman · · Reno, NV · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 26

kstrom,

Just got back to Reno from Yosemite today. Couldn't get a reserved spot in the valley. The Rim fire closed only some of the campgrounds outside the park. We stayed at Dimond O on Evergreen Road just outside the west gate on 120. It's the closest one to the west gate and takes about an hour to get all the way to Curry Village at the end of the valley. It was a great campground, still really green despite fire damage all over, a river right next to it, public bathrooms and running water. You can reserve tent spots at Hodgdon Meadows still which is just inside the west gate so a little shorter drive. I just checked because I am seriously thinking about heading back down there to climb this week (on a family outing the last one).

Give me a call or text if you need any more info 775.747.7594.

Have fun!

Mike

Michael Spielman · · Reno, NV · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 26

Oh, and 120 to Tuolumne is still closed. I didn't drive up it but the Caltrans site says it's closed from Crane Flat which is right past the west gate up to the pass.

climbing coastie · · Wasilla, AK · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 95

Mike,

The park website says it opened on Friday. I would think it's open all the way through, just not to the Meadows from the east but not 100% sure.

Here is the link:

nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/…

Michael Spielman · · Reno, NV · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 26

Thanks Coastie!

It must have opened while we were there. Shoot, I wish I would have known. I've never been to Tuolumne.

Mike

Chris D · · the couch · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 2,230
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
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