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Tuolumne Meadows camping post season

Original Post
Group Captain Mandrake · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0

Hi,
I'll be passing through the Meadows at the beginning of October and am looking for a place to camp & climb for a few days. However, the NPS website says the TM Campground closes on 27 Sept. Does anyone have any experience with late-season campgrounds? Is it accepted practice to quietly & respectfully use the officially closed campsite or is it better to drive in from Tioga everyday?

Thanks for the help!

Aaron Hope · · San Luis Obispo · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 341

This issue is that overnight parking along the road or anywhere else in the Meadows, within the NP, is illegal starting October 15th each year, regardless of conditions. So you'll have to drive up each day. But you can bivy just outside the eastside park entrance which makes the drive relatively short. Note that it gets really cold and windy up there in October...you're at 9,000 feet at the eastside entrance. There are some campgrounds down the hill closer to Lee vining that may be a more comfortable option. Between Sept 27th and October 15th....not so sure. But I wouldn't gorilla camp in the campgrounds...there are better places for that.

nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/…

Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349

""...is it better to drive in from Tioga everyday?

Is it a long way from Tioga to TM????

(thats a joke)

aaron is spot on.... EXIT the NP to the east.... at a big turn about 1/2 way down the pass... look to the right and see a level area back from the road. A gated road goes up hill across the street. If you cant find that, almost everything down by US395 is BLM. Eat at the Mobil Mart.

ENJOY

Group Captain Mandrake · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0

thanks for the beta guys :)

Kathy K · · SLT CA · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 77

guerrilla. Aaron :) KK

Aaron Hope · · San Luis Obispo · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 341
Kathy K. wrote:guerrilla. Aaron :) KK
Haha. Thanks KK! But, I actually wear a gorilla suit when I bivy. Soo..
Kathy K · · SLT CA · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 77

Federal rangers digging through your car while you are staying nice and warm in your gorilla suit, or your Che tee shirt!

christoph benells · · tahoma · Joined Nov 2014 · Points: 306
Guy Keesee wrote:""Eat at the Mobil Mart. ENJOY
No way. Mono market is where it's at. Is Mobil mart even open then?
Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450

At the north end of Lee Vining there is a privately owned campground that does have some tent sites (mostly RV's). I've never stayed there, but I have gone there numerous times to use their showers which are decent, 3 or 4 bucks I think they were.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
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