Camping in Yosemite: How to get a campsite
Camping in Yosemite: How to get a campsite
The tradition of camping has a lot of benefits for you and your family to experience. Camping in Yosemite National Park is an experience you want to have.
Here are some tips on how to get a campground in Yosemite.
Campgrounds in Yosemite
Yosemite National park has 13 very popular campgrounds. 7 of these campgrounds are on the reservation system.
Campgrounds are on the reservation system.
Upper Pines
Lower Pines
North Pines
Wawona
Crane Flat
Hodgdon Meadows
Tuolumne Meadows (50% of the campgrounds)
No Reservation campgrounds
There are just a few campgrounds that do not require a reservation. If you are hoping to get into one of these, just plan to be at the campground early.
Here is a list of campgrounds that do not require a reservation.
Camp 4 (Yosemite Valley) (no RVs/trailers)
Bridalveil Creek (RVs up to 35 feet/trailers up to 24 feet)
Tamarack Flat (not recommended for RVs/trailers)
White Wolf ( RVs up to 27 feet/trailers up to 24 feet)
Yosemite Creek (not recommended for RVs/trailers)
Porcupine Flat (limited space for RVs up to 24 feet/trailers up to 20 feet)
Tuolumne Meadows ( RVs and trailers up to 35 feet) (50 % of campgrounds)
For more details about camping without a reservation see this website http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/nrcamping.htm
For more information:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campground.htm
How to make a reservation:
Backcountry campgrounds
Little Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra camps, such as Glen Aulin, May Lake, Sunrise, Merced Lake, and Vogelsang, are not part of the campground reservation system.
You are required to get a wilderness permit for backcountry campgrounds.
Additionally, you can camp at High Sierra Camps and the Housekeeping Camp , which are lodging camps managed by Delaware North at Yosemite.
Bike riding in Yosemite
If you can bring your bike, you will enjoy many miles of biking trails. If you cannot bring your bikes, you can also rent them in the Park for a fee.
Hiking
If you want to do a lot of hiking in the Park, camping will help you get an early start. If you plan to do the Half Dome hike, you will definitely want to start early. And remember, you also need a permit to climb Half Dome.
See website.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm
Camping lets you experience the smells and freshness of the great outdoors. What can be better than cooking out and enjoying camp-cooked food?
Be sure to use the food lockers to keep bears out of your food, and NEVER leave any food in your car or around your camp.
Yosemite Campgrounds have water, bathrooms, showers, and trash containers.
Enjoy your camping trip in the most beautiful place on earth!
"Down through the middle of the Valley flows the crystal Merced, River of Mercy, peacefully quiet, reflecting lilies and trees and the onlooking rocks; things frail and fleeting and types of endurance meeting here and blending in countless forms, as if into this one mountain mansion Nature had gathered her choicest treasures, to draw her lovers into close and confiding communion with her." - John Muir
