Yosemite National Park: a Camping Guide

Yosemite National Park - a priceless naturaleach month through the National Park Reservation
beauty of sculpted granite mountains,System (NPRS). Camping fees may change from
glacier-carved valleys, rushing streams,year to year. It should be noted that the majority
shimmering lakes and tumbling waterfalls.of Yosemite campground reservations are filled
The magnificent Yosemite vacation site is locatedby noon hour on the designated reservation
in the central Sierra Nevada of California aboutdates.
150 miles east of San Francisco. YosemiteVery occasionally, cancellations might still make it
Park’s 750,000 acres, 1,200 square milespossible to obtain a reserved campsite. Visitors
contain thousands of lakes and ponds, 1,600 milesare advised to check the first-come, first-served
of streams and creeks, 800 miles of hiking trailsYosemite campgrounds. However, during the
and 350 miles of roads. Two picturesque rivers,month of May these camping sites are generally
the Tuolumne and the Merced, flow westwarddifficult to obtain. If crowded conditions would
from the Yosemite into the Central Valley ofmean an uncomfortable camping Yosemite
California.experience, visitors are cautioned that Memorial
Yosemite National Park is open 365 days a year,Day weekend is the most popular Yosemite
24 hours each day. Upon payment of an entrancevacation weekend of the year.
fee, visitors are permitted to drive in and throughOnline reservations can made through from 7:00
Yosemite Valley without any requirement fora.m. to 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Yosemite
reservations. There are five main entrances tocampground reservations may be made by
the Park:telephone: 800-436-7275 within in the United
1. The South Entrance - Highway 41 North fromStates; 301-722-1257 outside the United States;
Fresno.888-530-9796 for TDD users. Alternatively,
2. Arch Rock Entrance - Highway 140 West fromrequests can be made by letter to NPRS, P.O.
Merced.Box 1600. Cumberland, MD 21502.
3. Big Oak Flat Entrance - Highway 120 WestSince written requests for reserved Yosemite
from Modesto and Manteca.campgrounds are not processed until the fifteenth
4. Tioga Pass Entrance - Highway 120 East fromof each month, the same day telephone and
Lee Vining and Highway 395.online requests are also being processed; the
5. Hetch Hetchy Entrance - Hetch Hetchy Roadfollowing information should be included:
from Evergreen Roadwest of the Big Oak Flat• name of the Yosemite campground
Entrance.• camping equipment to be used (RV, tent,
Current road conditions should be checked prior toetc.)
travelling and visitors are advised that chains may• method of payment.
be required anytime from October through April.Be advised that written requests for Yosemite
Public transportation to the national park is alsocamping reservations must be made so that they
available. Check commercial airlines, bus and trainare received no sooner than two weeks prior to
services for schedules.the fifteenth of each month. It is important to
It is possible to enjoy a short Yosemite vacationnote that this is the reservation date, not your
of two to three days touring some of theplanned arrival date.
Valley’s main scenic attractions by automobileFor example, if you would like to camp anytime
or shuttle bus. But to really experience thisfrom June 15 to July 14, the first day to make
magnificent natural sanctuary, visitors should takeYosemite campground reservations is February
full advantage of Yosemite camping and lodging15. If you plan to camp anytime from July 15 to
facilities. Visitors can choose three basic types ofAugust 14, the first day to make reservations is
accommodation - a concession-operatedMarch 15, and so on. In other words, if you plan a
Yosemite lodging facility, a Yosemite nationalYosemite vacation and wish to stay in one of the
campground , or wilderness camping.Yosemite campgrounds, reservations can only be
DNC Parks and Resorts operate Yosemite lodgingmade on the 15 of each calendar month, five
facilities under contract with the National Parkmonths in advance of your planned arrival date.
Service. These Park lodging facilities range fromWhen is the best time for a Yosemite vacation?
simple tent cabins to luxury rooms in TheIs weather an important factor for you? Do you
Ahwahnee to the High Sierra Camps. For onlineprefer a quieter vacation experience? Which areas
reservations for Yosemite park lodging, prices andof Yosemite National Park do you wish to see?
descriptions, check out the DNC Web site.The summer season (June through September) is
Reservations are available 366 days in advancethe peak Yosemite vacation period. Some of the
and are recommended for the peak summermore popular places to visit include the large, open
Yosemite vacation months.sub-alpine Tuolumne Meadows along the winding
Yosemite National Park camping , either by RV orTuolumne River, the Mariposa Grove of Giant
tenting, is by far the most popular way toSequoias, the breath-taking outlook at Glacier
experience the remarkable beauty and scenicPoint and the Half-Dome, and the silvery mists of
variety of this world heritage site. Yosemite ParkBridalveil Fall. The Yosemite Valley offers endless
has 13 campgrounds of which seven are on aopportunities to explore its world-renowned
reservation-only system. Yosemite campgroundspectacular waterfalls, granite cliffs, and unusual
reservations are absolutely essential during therock formations. Hetch Hetchy, the lesser-known
busiest season from April through September.twin to Yosemite Valley, is home to equally
However, the growing demand for Yosemitemagnificent scenery, as well as the starting point
campgrounds means that even the campgroundsfor many of the less-used wilderness trails.
on a first-come, first-served basis are alreadyThe fall season (October and November) has
filled as early as noon from May throughfewer visitors, but still permits access to large
September. Visitors are advised that there is aareas of the park during the month of October,
limit to the size of recreational vehicles and/orand sometimes into November. Since most of the
trailers permitted on Yosemite campgrounds. Thetrees in Yosemite are evergreens, the park is not
maximum length is 40 feet. This informationknown for its spectacular fall colors. However, if
should be confirmed when making Yosemitethe weather remains seasonable, a Yosemite
camping reservations. Sites are rented on avacation still presents ample opportunity to
“per person” basis up to a maximum ofexplore the Park’s exquisite scenery at
six persons per campsite, regardless of thegreater leisure. Short-term closures may occur
number of people in your party.because of weather conditions although Yosemite
The following Yosemite campgrounds requireValley and Wawona remain open all year.
reservations:The winter season (December through March) is a
• Upper Pines: Open all year.Yosemite vacation opportunity for those who
• Lower Pines: Open from March to October.enjoy skiing and solitude. While Yosemite Valley
• North Pines: Open from April to September.and Wawona remain accessible year-round, the
• Wawona: Open all year. ReservationsTioga Road and roads between Crane Flat and
required May through September.Tioga Pass, including the Tuolumne Meadows are
• Hodgdon Meadow: Open all year.closed. From mid-December through early April,
Reservations required May through September.the Glacier Point/Badger Pass Road is plowed to
• Crane Flat: Open June to September.permit access to the popular downhill and
• Tuolumne Meadows: Open July tocross-country skiing areas.
September. This is the only YosemiteThe spring season (April and May) is the best
campground where reservations are required fortime to view the park’s spectacular waterfalls.
only 50 percent of its campsites. TuolumneAs warmer weather begins to melt the snow,
Meadows also has 25 walk-in sites available forcreeks and streams are rushing with water, and
backpackers and other visitors without vehicles.many unnamed waterfalls and cascades can be
Six Yosemite campgrounds are on a first-come,seen all along the rim of Yosemite Valley. Roads
first-saved basis and do not require reservations.closed during the winter season remain
Visitors should be advised that theseinaccessible.
campgrounds are usually filled by noon of eachAbout 95 percent of Yosemite National Park was
day during the peak summer months.designated as wilderness in 1984. Wilderness
• Camp 4: Open all year.camping is a viable alternative Yosemite vacation.
• Tamarack Flat: Open from June until earlyCamping permits are required year-round for all
Septemberovernight trips into the park’s wilderness
• Bridalveil Creek: Open from July to earlycountry. However, unlike other Yosemite
September.campgrounds and lodging facilities, these
• White Wolf, Yosemite Creek: Open from Julywilderness camping permits are free. For those
to early September.who prefer to spend a Yosemite vacation
• Porcupine Flat: Open from July to earlyday-hiking along some of the park’s 800 miles
September.of trails (without an overnight stay), no permits
Yosemite campground reservations are availableare needed. A trailhead quota system limits the
in blocks for up to a maximum time of onenumber of hikers beginning from each trailhead
month per calendar year, and must be made asper day.
early as five months in advance on the 15th of