Camp 4 is now reservation only.

Wait, but there’s plenty of reservations left? Who is stopping the climbers? I just booked my sites at home, over my phone. Now I can use that precious time I would be normally using walking from site to site asking for a place to park my tent and do climber things instead, like stashing water at the base of my route cause I’m an approach wussy.

Ally L wrote:

Wait, but there’s plenty of reservations left? Who is stopping the climbers? I just booked my sites at home, over my phone. Now I can use that precious time I would be normally using walking from site to site asking for a place to park my tent and do climber things instead, like stashing water at the base of my route cause I’m an approach wussy.

Silly Llama, campsites are for tourists. Climbers stash water during the night because there's no sites in the valley to sleep in!

Hi, and sorry if this has been covered above, but is the reservation system likely to be in place next June. And if so, when might one be able to make a reservation? Thanks

PS. Bringing a group of 10 from the UK and I haven't been in the valley for a few years, so other accommodation options welcomed. 

Kevin DeWeese wrote:

Having 6 individuals share a single site (camp 4) is slightly different from having a site to yourself (pines)

Dealing with drunken frat parties and the people sharing your site slamming the bear boxes 5' from your tent (camp 4) is slightly different from the nearest possible party being a full site away as well as being able to move your tent to the opposite side of the site (pines)

Yeah, fair enough. Maybe I’ve been more lucky with my neighbors at Camp 4 and less so at the Pines, but I’ve found the latter to be pretty noisy too most of the time

Norman Pelak wrote:

Where are these campgrounds you’re staying at inside Yosemite Valley where there aren’t noise and crowds? Compared to the Pines campgrounds (the closest comparison), I would much rather stay in Camp 4, where the no-cars rule makes it feel like there is more space at the sites, and you don’t have to listen to any generators. Plus, the new bathrooms/showers aren’t bad!

First a disclaimer: I haven't stayed in Yosemite in over 22 years, so I fully realize that things have changed, but I do base all this on upwards of 20 multi-week visits and a few month+ stays. I lived in NJ and CT that entire time.

When I camped in the Valley, my pref was for the River Campgrounds, but most often it usually meant I could only find space in one of the Pines. Crowded? Sure, but not particularly worse than any other national park campground. Crowding and neighbor proximity is something you know you need to deal with, however......

In Camp 4 my tent was no more than 4' from the tent in the site next to me. I could hear every breath and certainly the snoring. The worst was the whispered deep relationship conversation that lasted till 1:30. At least in Upper Pines that takes place in the RV or a tent far enough away to not be an issue. Generators are off by 10pm as most of those campers respect quiet hours. In Camp 4 instead you have the loud campfire spray-a-thon going till midnight, the guy who just can't put down his guitar at  1am 'cause tomorrow is his rest day, and then you have the guys making breakfast and racking up at 4am. Did I mention the drum circles? You know, it's all cool, bro'.

Another aspect is simple lazyness on my part. It's a PITA to walk the non-trivial distance to and from your vehicle for the forgotten dinner item or whatever at Camp 4.

Every time I stayed in Camp 4 - all 3 of them - it absolutely sucked and I only lasted one night before moving to a Pines site. One year we splurged and got a WOB at the lodge. To pay for that we went car-less and bused to the Valley. The one and only time we ever did that idiotic stunt!

How have folks found the air quality (campfire smoke) when sleeping in Camp 4? Last time I stayed at the Pines (last November) the air was downright noxious from 100 different campfires, plus RV generators. Super unpleasant and put me off camping in the Valley. While Hardin Flat road is a drive, at least it is quiet and you can breathe.

It's been 10+ years since I've slept in Camp 4, so I don't really recall how things are there. Better (at least there's no RVs), or still a smokey mess? Assume November cold night inversion conditions.

Marc801 C wrote:

First a disclaimer: I haven't stayed in Yosemite in over 22 years, so I fully realize that things have changed, but I do base all this on upwards of 20 multi-week visits and a few month+ stays. I lived in NJ and CT that entire time.

When I camped in the Valley, my pref was for the River Campgrounds, but most often it usually meant I could only find space in one of the Pines. Crowded? Sure, but not particularly worse than any other national park campground. Crowding and neighbor proximity is something you know you need to deal with, however......

In Camp 4 my tent was no more than 4' from the tent in the site next to me. I could hear every breath and certainly the snoring. The worst was the whispered deep relationship conversation that lasted till 1:30. At least in Upper Pines that takes place in the RV or a tent far enough away to not be an issue. Generators are off by 10pm as most of those campers respect quiet hours. In Camp 4 instead you have the loud campfire spray-a-thon going till midnight, the guy who just can't put down his guitar at  1am 'cause tomorrow is his rest day, and then you have the guys making breakfast and racking up at 4am. Did I mention the drum circles? You know, it's all cool, bro'.

Another aspect is simple lazyness on my part. It's a PITA to walk the non-trivial distance to and from your vehicle for the forgotten dinner item or whatever at Camp 4.

Every time I stayed in Camp 4 - all 3 of them - it absolutely sucked and I only lasted one night before moving to a Pines site. One year we splurged and got a WOB at the lodge. To pay for that we went car-less and bused to the Valley. The one and only time we ever did that idiotic stunt!

I’ve only been coming to the Valley the last 3-4 years, so that probably explains some of our differing experiences (Yosemite was a lot different 20 years ago, or so Valley Uprising would have me believe). I haven’t really known Camp 4 as being mostly/entirely filled with climbers, as they started the lottery system the first year I was here. And I’m not familiar with the River campground, I don’t think it’s there anymore?

I guess it also depends what you’re looking for—some like the Camp 4 vibe, but if it’s only about getting a good night’s sleep, I probably sleep better in my van at the park entrance than I would in a tent at either site. But I know what you mean re overhearing whispered conversations in the middle of the night, I never understand how people think tent fabric is soundproof…

JCM wrote:

How have folks found the air quality (campfire smoke) when sleeping in Camp 4? Last time I stayed at the Pines (last November) the air was downright noxious from 100 different campfires, plus RV generators. Super unpleasant and put me off camping in the Valley. While Hardin Flat road is a drive, at least it is quiet and you can breathe.

It's been 10+ years since I've slept in Camp 4, so I don't really recall how things are there. Better (at least there's no RVs), or still a smokey mess? Assume November cold night inversion conditions.

I've definitely been choked out from campfire smoke at the Pines sites in the past. So many people just let their fires smolder all night instead of putting it out properly.  For whatever reason, the smoke at C4 doesn't seem to linger as bad as the Pines. Generators can make the nights feel about as relaxing as a night on a 2nd floor unit in the Tenderloin. Car alarms accidentally set off randomly through the night... Once I even saw a guy wheel into his site at C4 a portable generator, which he fired up at about 7:30am so he could use his phone in his site. Still, sometimes it's nice to wake up and already be there. 

Norman Pelak wrote:

And I’m not familiar with the River campground, I don’t think it’s there anymore?

Wiped out and never rebuilt after the flood of 1997(?).

Colin Rowe wrote:

C4 has traditionally been a first come walk in campsite. Unfortunately since early October this is no longer the case. This historic, international site is no longer for climbers. Instead, the site is now occupied by non-climbers. Climbers now have to compete with non-climbers for sites. Climbs now have to be organized around the newly instigated reservation system that was implemented at short notice in a chaotic manner. What stops the Park Service allocating the newly developed site as a reservation only and historic C4 as a walk in campsite. It seems the Park Service is riding rough shod over the freedoms previous climbing generations fought for. Please lend your voice and oppose this change.

so what if u walk up to a camp 4 camper and join there site with a tent or hammock or bed roll? 

Maybe Consider wrote:

so what if u walk up to a camp 4 camper and join there site with a tent or hammock or bed roll? 

Without the legitimate camper's permission? 

Lower River campground was tent only iirc, that was nice.

Real climbers sleep back in the woods or hang a bivy 5 pitches up and sleep there.

Used 2climb wrote:

Real climbers sleep back in the woods or hang a bivy 5 pitches up and sleep there.

Do you have your overnight climbing permit for that bivy?

I am excited to hear this one discussed! 

Interesting issue. I’d need to do some research. But, it could be that the campsite registration paperwork includes a clause that permits such intrusions as a condition for receiving the permit.

Whatever the legalities, it is just gross. Glad that my Yosemite camping days are far behind me from all that I have been reading in this thread, but this most of all.

Camp IV has always been for noobs and foreigners - my observation.  The climbers you’re following on social media don’t set foot in the place.  It’s always been a dirty, noisy hell hole and a pain to get into.

I notice the reservation system is allowing only a few weeks out - although it’s nearly closed for the year too.  If they keep it that way - maybe a 2 week in advance rolling window with a set and published opening time for the next reservable day - sounds like the best of all evils to me.  If they open it to 5 months out on a monthly basis like the Pines - kiss that place goodbye.

The searching tents thing happened, but was short lived - ancient history. 

If you’re thinking of “breaking into” Camp IV instead of some other peaceful, quiet and secluded spot - you must be dumber than a rock.

abandon moderation wrote:

Again, IANAL, but

I appreciate your being upfront, but internet tradition dictates that you don’t mention this until *after* spraying us down with several pages of legal opinions 

Norman Pelak wrote:

I appreciate your being upfront, but internet tradition dictates that you don’t mention this until *after* spraying us down with several pages of legal opinions 

I was just surprised that I could figure out what IANAL meant!

I have to say, I've had nothing but great experiences camping in Yosemite. Specifically in Camp4... one time I forgot to pay for my site during an extended stay. The next morning the ranger came by and suggested I drop some $$$ in the box. No big deal. I've also showed up a day later than my reservation a few times and the ranger always finds me a spot.

As someone else mentioned, Pines campgrounds nearly always have open spots from people forgetting to cancel their reservation. The camp host will get you settled no prob. But you will have to move from site to site each day using this method.

Camp4 may be noisy and dusty but it's full of "the spice of life". Walk into the enchanted mossy boulders and you can just FEEL the weight of history and all the great climbers that have rolled through this magical place!