Weather, clothing: The weather from late June through
mid-September is remarkably dry, though an occasional storm may
dust the peaks and higher areas with short-lived snow. Summer
temperatures in Tuolumne Meadows and in most of the lake-studded
High Sierra are likely to climb into the 60s and 70s, while those
in Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Hetch Hetchy and Pate Valley soar
in the hot 90s. Most of the parks' trails are located above 7000
feet and therefore have please ant temperatures. During July
and August, the night temperatures at high elevations usually
dip into the 40s but only rarely get below freezing. However,
by mid-September, as before mid-June, freezing nighttime temperatures
can be quite common. In winter, various areas of the park are
closed because of snowfall. The weather can be changeable; layered
clothing is recommended.
Trip notes: Bridalveil Creek: There may be no
better view in the world than the one from Glacier Point, looking
down into Yosemite Valley, where Half Dome stands like nature's
perfect sculpture. Then there are the perfect views of Yosemite
Falls, Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls, and several hundred square
miles of Yosemite's wilderness backcountry. This is the closest
camp to Glacier Point's drive-to vantage point, but it is also
the closest camp to the best day hikes in the entire park. Along
Glacier Point Road are trailheads to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point
, and McGurk Meadow. At 7,200 feet, the camp is more than 3,000
feet higher than Yosemite Valley. A good day hike out of camp
leads you to Ostrander Lake, just below Horse Ridge.
Crane Flat: Crane Flat is located within a five-minute
drive of the Tuolumne Grove of Big Trees, as well as the Merced
Grove to the nearby west. This is the feature attraction in this
part of Yosemite National Park, set near the western border near
the Highway 120 entrance station. The elevation is 6,200 feet.
Yosemite Valley is about a 25-minute drive away.
Hodgdon Meadow: Hodgdon Meadow is on the outskirts of
Yosemite, just inside the park's borders at the Highway 120 entrance
station, at 4,900 feet in elevation. It is located near a small
feeder creek to the South Fork Tuolumne River.
Lower Pines: For combat-style camping, this is a pretty
good place. Lower Pines sits right along the Merced River in
the center of Yosemite Valley. Of course, the tents and RVs are
jammed in quite close together. Within walking distance is the
trail to Mirror Lake , as well as the trailhead at Happy Isles
for the hike up to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. The park's
shuttle bus picks up riders near the camp entrance.
North Pines: North Pines Camp is set along the Merced
River. A trail out of camp heads east and links up the paved
road/trail to Mirror Lake, a virtual parade of people. If you
continue hiking past Mirror Lake, you will get astounding views
of Half Dome and then leave the masses behind as you enter Tenaya
Canyon. The elevation is 4,000 feet.
Porcupine Flat: Porcupine Flat, set at 8,100 feet, is
southwest of Mount Hoffman, one of the prominent nearby peaks
along Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park. The trailhead for
a hike to May Lake, set just below Mount Hoffman, is about five
miles away, on a signed turnoff on the north side of the road.
There are several little peaks above the lake where hikers can
gain great views, including one of the back side of Half Dome.
Sunnyside Walk-In: The concept at Sunnyside was to provide
a walk-in alternative to drive-in camps that sometimes resemble
combat zones. Unfortunately, it doesn't really work, with the
sites here jammed together. Regardless, the camp is in a great
location, within walking distance of Yosemite Falls. It has a
view of Leidig Meadow and the southern valley rim, with Sentinel
Rock directly across the valley. A trail is routed from camp
to Lower Yosemite Falls. In addition, the trailhead for the Yosemite
Falls Trail is a short distance away, a terrible butt-kicking
climb up Columbia Rock to the rim adjacent to the top of the
falls, providing one of most incredible views in all the world.
Yosemite NP1 - Yosemite NP2 - Yosemite
NP4
© 2001, Miwok Lodge 439, Order of the
Arrow, Santa Clara County Council Inc., BSA
Revision 1.2
