Trip notes: Tamarack Flat: The road to this
campground looks something like the surface of the moon. Then
you arrive and find one of the few primitive drive-to camps in
Yosemite National Park, 6,300 feet in elevation. From the trailhead
at camp, you can link up with the El Capitan Trail, then hike
across Ribbon Meadow on up to the north valley rim at El Capitan,
7,569 feet. This is the largest single piece of granite in the
world, and standing atop it for both the sensation and the divine
view is a breathtaking experience. From camp, Yosemite Valley
is 23 miles away.
Tuolumne Meadows: This is Yosemite's biggest camp, and
for the variety of nearby adventures, it might also be the best.
It is set in the high country, at 8,600 feet, and can be used
as a base camp for fishing, hiking, and horseback riding, or
as a jump-off point for a backpacking trip (wilderness permits
required). There are two outstanding and easy day hikes from
here, one heading north on the Pacific Crest Trail for the near-level
walk to Tuolumne Falls, the other heading south up Lyell Fork,
with good fishing for small brook trout. With a backpack, either
route can be extended for as long as desired into remote and
beautiful country. The campground is huge, and neighbors are
guaranteed, but it is well wooded and feels somewhat secluded,
even with all the RVs and tents. There are lots of food-raiding
bears in the area, so use of the food lockers is required.
Upper Pines: Of the campgrounds in Yosemite Valley, Upper
Pines is located closest to the jump-off to paradise, providing
you can get a campsite at the far south end of the camp. From
here it is a short walk to the Happy Isles Trailhead and with
it the chance to hike to Vernal Falls on the Mist Trail (steep),
or beyond to Nevada Falls (very steep) at the foot of Liberty
Cap. But crowded this camp is, and you'd best expect it. People
come from all over the world to camp here. Sometimes it appears
as if they are from other worlds as well. The elevation is 4,000
feet.
Wawona: Wawona Camp is an attractive alternative to the
packed camps in Yosemite Valley, providing you don't mind the
relatively long drives to the best destinations. The camp is
set along the South Fork Merced River with the sites more spaciously
situated that at most other drive-to camps in the park. The nearest
attraction is the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. The best
nearby hike is a strenuous eight-mile round-trip to Chilnualna
Falls, the prettiest sight in the southern region of the park,
with its trailhead located at the east end of the Redwoods in
North Wawona. It's a 45-minute drive to either Glacier Point
or Yosemite Valley.
White Wolf: This is one of Yosemite National Park's prime
mountain camps for people who like to hike, either for great
day hikes in the immediate area and beyond, or for overnight
backpacking trips. The day hike to Lukens Lake is an easy two-mile
trip, the payoff being this pretty little alpine lake set amid
a meadow, pines, and granite. Just about everybody who camps
at White Wolf makes the trip. Backpackers can make the overnight
trip into the Ten Lakes Basin, set below Grand Mountain and Colby
Mountain. Bears are common at this camp, so be certain to secure
your food in the bear-proof lockers. The elevation is 8,000 feet.
Yosemite Creek: This is the most remote drive-to camp
in Yosemite National Park, a great alternative to camping in
the valley or at Tuolumne Meadows, and the rough, curvy access
road keeps many out-of-state tourists away. It is set along Yosemite
Creek at 7,659 feet, with poor trout fishing but a trailhead
for a spectacular hike. If you arrange a shuttle ride, you can
make a great one-way trip down to the north side of the Yosemite
Canyon rim, skirting past the top of Yosemite Falls (a side trip
to Yosemite Point is a must!), then tackling the unbelievable
descent into the valley, emerging at Sunnyside Campground.
Yosemite NP1 - Yosemite NP2 - Yosemite
NP3
© 2001, Miwok Lodge 439, Order of the
Arrow, Santa Clara County Council Inc., BSA
Revision 1.2
