Yosemite Valley camping

[kimrb266]

We are planning on a trip to Yosemite this summer (along with a million other people), looking for information or suggestions on which campgound to make reservations at..preferably in the valley...?

[OC Campers]

Kim, the NNCers have a Yosemite rally planned foir the first weekend in August.  We are staying at the Yosemite Lakes Thousand Trails.  This will be our first year going so I am not too sure where it is in Yosemite.  Check it out on the NNC forum.  You may need to go looking for it.  There hasn't been a post about it in a couple months.

Jacqui

[Dee4j]

we're going too

[gsm x2]

Kim,

I've camped in Yosemite Valley a number of times during pretty much all seasons.  I would sum it up as follows.  In Yosemite, the BEST CAMPSITE is THE ONE you can get your name on.  Here's a page that talks about making camping reservations in Yosemite.  http://www.nps.gov/yose/trip/camping.htm
 
It includes the caveat, "Be aware that nearly all reservations for the months of May through September and for some other weekends are filled the first day they become available (often within a few hours)!"
 
So don't plan on being able to be too picky.  With any luck you won't spend much time in the campground anyway....and make sure you use the FREE shuttle to get around....so distances really don't matter any way.
 
Scott

[Fishin BC]

This is just our opinion and by no means a slam to the park.  Saying that here goes...I love Yosemite Valley and will go any change I get.  But we find camping there is the PITS!  We prefer to camp out side the park on the eastern side of the Sierras.  There are some great campgrounds up Tioga Pass and the drive into the park is a day trip into the crowds in the valley, the smoke in the valley from all the campfires, the traffic in the valley...etc.  We then see or hike what we want for the day and return to the peace of our "out of the crowds" campsite.  Just my two cents but there it is.

[calstate360]

We are planning on a trip to Yosemite this summer (along with a million other people), looking for information or suggestions on which campgound to make reservations at..preferably in the valley...?

Hi Kim;
 Since I am the wagonmaster for the NNC Yosemite trip mabe I can answer some questions.
 The park is 5 miles outside the west entrance to Yosemite. It is a full hookup park and you have full use of all park facilities available. Info about the park is here.
 
 http://www.thousandtrails.com/_vti_bin/minisitegen.cgi?preserve=163
 
 Last year the price was $28 per night. They also hava a public campground that includes all the above for a higher fee. Once you start checking you will find that campsites in the Valley are not that easy to come by and can be less than desireable.
 
 Map of the campground is at.
 http://community.webshots.com/user/calstate360
 
 More info at.
 http://www.thousandtrails.com/news/yosemite.htm
 
 Drop down to th NNC forum and you can read all about it.
 
 For those of you who have a hate of Thousand Trails, Guess what, It don't bother me one bit. For $350 a year I have free camping from Wash. to Calif. to Florida, all at no cost, not one dime. Almost all of the parks have sections where you will not see you neighbor through all the trees.
 Plus I have a park 2 miles away that I can spend all day in the hot tub or using any of the rec facilities and then have dinner made for me with the only cost being the meal.
 
 Some of us like to think you can only camp in a tent and rough it. Good for you!!!! I own an RV that's why I always take my sattelite dish. and you know who always asks about it? The people roughing it.
 The above is not ment to offend anyone off in any way I'm just tired of hearing garbage about Thousand Trails.
 
 Sal

[Fishin BC]

Sal, I hope you didn't think I was talking about Thousand Trails.  I was talking about the campgrounds right in the valley in YNP.  The Thousand Trails campground looks wonderful!!

[calstate360]

Sal, I hope you didn't think I was talking about Thousand Trails. I was talking about the campgrounds right in the valley in YNP. The Thousand Trails campground looks wonderful!!

Heck no I was just putting a stop to the bashing before it started!
 If you had been here a while you would have known people have actuallly left because of it. I suppose if they have one bad experience or only have trailer park campgrounds around them there is no reason to like Thousand Trails.
 
 They are not all the same in fact Yosemite is one of my favorites, and I don't even go into the park much anymore. It sounds like you treat camping there the same way I did when I did go in all the time.
 
 No offense was ment towards you and I hope none was taken.
 Sal

[Steve-o-bud]

This is pretty long winded. I've been visiting Yosemite annually for much of my life, (since I was 4 years old) and so has my wife. As a family, we've camped about 4 years in a row in the park.
 
It's extreemley difficult to get campsites in Yosemite Valley, particularly because they closed the Upper and Lower River Campgrounds, following some major floods several years ago. Now, two campgrounds remain in Yosemite Valley, Upper and Lower Pines. These can get very crowded. We've never camped there, but, they are close to the Stables, and you can get to the river pretty easily. Yosemite Park Campgrounds have no public showers, but there are showers available at a couple of other locations in the area.
 
Durring the summer season, it gets to be wall to wall people. And, the Valley daytime tempratures typically are in the low '90's. Activities in the Valley include hiking, great bicycling trails, (no off pavement, and not strenuous and not shared with cars), rafting, horseback riding, two public swimming pools, and then the usuall assortment of shops, etc. When the water falls are going full blast (which they certainly will this spring), Yosemite Valley is gorgeous.
 
We've camped outside the Valley, but in the Park. The closest campground inside the park to the Valley is Crane Flats. It is located about 10 miles, north west of the Valley, and is about 6000 feet elevation. So, the days are considerably cooler than in the Valley. The campround itself is nicely wooded, although there are no rivers/lakes nearby. Each loop shares a restroom, flush toilets, which are generally fairly maintained. There is running water available at this location, but not at the individual campsites. The campsites are decently sized.
 
It was pretty nice being able to drive 20 minute or so, and be in the Valley, but also being able to camp in a quieter, more secluded area. Also, because of it being somewhat West in relationship to the Valley, you pretty much avoid the late afternoon thunderstorms which frequent the eastern portions of the park.
 
If you like a bit higher elevations, about another 15 miles or so due east of Crane Flats is White Wolf. They don't take reservations, and the toilets are not flush. But, you are in some great high country area. There is a small store,and restaurant, and housekeeping tent cabins are available. Caution, the Eastern Sierra high country often has late afternoon thunderstorms.
 
Beyond this, about 50 miles from Yosemite Valley, is Tuollome Meadows. This is great high country area about 9000 feet elevation, with alpine meadows and granite rock croppings all around. Not sure about reservations... again, the caution of late afternoon thundershowers applies.
 
At the other end of the park, is Wawona, located roughly 45 minutes to one hour drive from Yosemite Valley. The terrain is more typicall of the Western Sierras, nicely wooded, about 4000 feet elevation (same as Yosemite Valley). The campround is on the bank of the South Fork Merced River. Last year, our campsite was right on the river bank, I could look out the bunkend, and see the river going past. If you like swimming holes in an icy cold Sierra River, this is great. Especially, because as in Yosemite Valley, the summer time temps can be pretty warm.
 
In the Wawona area is Chillniuana (sp) Falls with some good hikes, and about 10 minutes from the Mariposa Grove of the Giant Sequoias, which is a must visit location. Also at Wawona is the Historic Pioneer Village, the historic Wawona Hotel (one of the oldest operating hotels in California), and a 9 hole, relativley short golf course, which is rated by Sunset Magazine as one of the best scenic golf courses in the nation. I've played it many times, and it is gorgeous. We've had to play around the deer in the fairway!
 
Midway between Wawona and Yosemite Valley, is Bridalveil Creek campground. No reservations are accepted. The area is gorgeous. The restrooms are non-flush. I've never camped there, it is somewhat off the beatan path, on the way to Glacier Point, which is another, must visit.
 
Pulling the popup into Yosemite is not too bad. We've been towing with an Isuza Trooper, with V-6. Low on power, but the handling is pretty good, and we don't have too much trouble maintaining the 35 mph speed limit in place through most of the park. Some of the roads are curvey, but not too narrow.
 
If you have any questions about the park etc., e-mail us. We love the place, and are always willing to share our thoughts.

[kimrb266]

We've camped outside the Valley, but in the Park. The closest campground inside the park to the Valley is Crane Flats. It is located about 10 miles, north west of the Valley, and is about 6000 feet elevation. So, the days are considerably cooler than in the Valley. The campround itself is nicely wooded, although there are no rivers/lakes nearby. Each loop shares a restroom, flush toilets, which are generally fairly maintained. There is running water available at this location, but not at the individual campsites. The campsites are decently sized.
 
It was pretty nice being able to drive 20 minute or so, and be in the Valley, but also being able to camp in a quieter, more secluded area. Also, because of it being somewhat West in relationship to the Valley, you pretty much avoid the late afternoon thunderstorms which frequent the eastern portions of the park.
 
.

Thanks for the info,  we like the Crane flats location and may work well for us.  With 3 little ones I want to avoid spending a lot of time driving.  We will do some checking and e-mail you with some questions..thanks again.

[kimrb266]

 I went to the NPS web site on 2-15-05, first day June/July camping is avail, and was able to reserve a spot in late June in Crane Flats.  By days end there wasn't any avail in the valley.
 
Yosemitesites.com is an easy to use web site that makes it easy to know whats avail.

[mamadrum]

 I went to the NPS web site on 2-15-05, first day June/July camping is avail, and was able to reserve a spot in late June in Crane Flats.

Hi Kim-

We're thinking about camping in Yosemite this summer.  How was your experience?  Did you like Crane Flats?

--aaron

[teleskiermom]

I know a lot about the different campgrounds. Do you want to be in the heart of things or 1/2 way between areas? I lived ten years in the valley.

[kimrb266]

I went to the NPS web site on 2-15-05, first day June/July camping is avail, and was able to reserve a spot in late June in Crane Flats. By days end there wasn't any avail in the valley.
 
Yosemitesites.com is an easy to use web site that makes it easy to know whats avail.

We never got to Yosemite last summer, one week before our trip the NPS called and cancelled our reservation.  Crabe Flat opened late due to all the snow last year.  
 
We are planning to try again this year.

[kimrb266]

Hi Kim-
 
We're thinking about camping in Yosemite this summer. How was your experience? Did you like Crane Flats?
 
--aaron

Sorry Arron I quoted the wrong post.