Looking for recommendations on where to stay near Yosemite

[scott916]

I meant elevation gain.

Do Cathedral Lakes to Sunrise Lakes and out (or the other way around). About 11 miles, and you take the shuttle back to your car. This is up in Tuolumne.

If you want to dayhike Half Dome, be sure to reserve your permit if you plan on doing it Fri/Sat/Sun. They should be reservable early-ish next year.

Good thing they're doing a permit system this year. Way too many people attempt the cables at a time and last time I went, it was extremely dangerous. Middle-aged fat women who had NO business being up there were clogging up the cables on the way down bawling their eyes out from fear.

At least this way it won't be as dangerous.

 

[DanDaManJC]

interesting, so they're doing permits for the cables now huh? ive gone a couple times now too and each time did a day-hike of half dome. each time got me pretty tired and hungry, but it was super scenic and a great workout

 

[BoomerD]

The permits for Half Dome are a great idea. WAY too many people seem to think it's a casual walk...and people die there (or on the hike to Half Dome) almost every year.

http://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemite-valley/half-dome/half-dome.htm

http://www.backpacker.com/october_0...es_mist_trail_half_dome_ca/destinations/12629

 

[Drako]

The permits for Half Dome are a great idea. WAY too many people seem to think it's a casual walk...and people die there (or on the hike to Half Dome) almost every year.

Struth. I nearly died a couple years ago just hiking up and down Yosemite Falls Trail .

I couldn't walk for two days after because a fell a couple times on the hike down, and twisted my knee. It's hell getting old

 

[Sukhoi]

Planning a trip there next Summer. I was able to get two days at "The Lodge at the Falls" which is actually in the Valley, and have two more days reserved at the Tenaya Lodge off of 41 near the Southern entrance to the Park (and near the Mariposa Grove). We will be flying into/out of and staying in San Francisco as well.

For anyone who has been there, does that seem like an okay plan? What will the drive from Tenaya lodge be like to places like Glacier Point and the Valley?

That's a pretty good plan. I wouldn't downgrade any farther on your in-valley lodging unless you're ready for sleeping in a zoo. The cabins at Curry Village are dirty and rundown, and the canvas tents are louder and crappier. Then Housekeeping Camp is even worse. Staying out near El Portal is a good idea IMHO.

Make sure you go to Glacier Point. Also off that road I suggest Taft Point. It's a pretty neat area, similar view to Glacier Point, and has way fewer people since it's on a short trail.

 

[scott916]

That's a pretty good plan. I wouldn't downgrade any farther on your in-valley lodging unless you're ready for sleeping in a zoo. The cabins at Curry Village are dirty and rundown, and the canvas tents are louder and crappier. Then Housekeeping Camp is even worse. Staying out near El Portal is a good idea IMHO.

Make sure you go to Glacier Point. Also off that road I suggest Taft Point. It's a pretty neat area, similar view to Glacier Point, and has way fewer people since it's on a short trail.

Yup, Taft Point is AMAZING.

 

[Sukhoi]

Yup, Taft Point is AMAZING.

Haha I just noticed your avatar! Have a bottle in the fridge myself.

 

[zinfamous]

bump!

i'm heading into yosemite this friday, and almost all camping spots are booked. I'm going to call a ranger station in a bit to chat them up and see if we can work something out.

that being said, any recs on the surrounding campgrounds to check out, assuming all inside yosemite is booked?

Tent camping, non-RV.

 

[GoSharks]

bump!

i'm heading into yosemite this friday, and almost all camping spots are booked. I'm going to call a ranger station in a bit to chat them up and see if we can work something out.

that being said, any recs on the surrounding campgrounds to check out, assuming all inside yosemite is booked?

Tent camping, non-RV.

East side on 120 (outside the park)has some nice campgrounds just off the road. Keep checking the website for cancellations - they do show up.

There will be nothing that you can work out with the rangers. You cannot camp just on the side of the road; you must be in a campground. Sleeping in your car in a parking area is not legal, and there will be an excellent chance that you will be fined and asked to move.

 

[BoomerD]

You DON'T want to piss off the rangers. Any ticket you get (including traffic tickets) goes to Federal court...
http://www.caed.uscourts.gov/caed/StaticOther/page_472.htm

There are lots of campgrounds outside of Yosemite.

http://jrabold.net/yosemite/campn.shtml

 

[zinfamous]

You DON'T want to piss off the rangers. Any ticket you get (including traffic tickets) goes to Federal court...
http://www.caed.uscourts.gov/caed/StaticOther/page_472.htm

There are lots of campgrounds outside of Yosemite.

http://jrabold.net/yosemite/campn.shtml

danke.

that's the kind of map i was looking for. My googlefu was very un-fu last night.

 

[zinfamous]

East side on 120 (outside the park)has some nice campgrounds just off the road. Keep checking the website for cancellations - they do show up.

There will be nothing that you can work out with the rangers. You cannot camp just on the side of the road; you must be in a campground. Sleeping in your car in a parking area is not legal, and there will be an excellent chance that you will be fined and asked to move.

looks like I'll be staying in Dry Gulch campground, just off of 140 outside Yosemite proper, I believe.

I'll be researching the rest of the night, but I expect we'll try to hit up a trail to the big waterfall, maybe this Taft point, the drive...whatever.

trying to maximize the time in our area. It looks like we'll be somewhat close to the Yosemite school. Is this area too far from Mammoth lakes, Glacier point areas?

 

[BoomerD]

Mammoth is a long drive from your campground. (about 100 miles from El Portal to Mammoth Lakes) Probably a couple of hours minimum each way. With park speeds being pretty slow, figure 2-1/2 to 3 hours minimum each way)

 

[Sukhoi]

Uh Mammoth and Glacier Point are completely different areas lol. Glacier Point is in Yosemite. It's the road to Taft Point.

 

[zinfamous]

ah yes, looking at the map again, I see that I meant Mono lake...and that isn't even very close, I suppose, hehe.

all this talk of mammoth lake in a Yosemite thread confused the piss out of me.

 

[BoomerD]

ah yes, looking at the map again, I see that I meant Mono lake...and that isn't even very close, I suppose, hehe.

all this talk of mammoth lake in a Yosemite thread confused the piss out of me.

Mono Lake isn't in Yosemite either...but Mono and Mammoth Lakes are all pretty close together...and worth the trip.

 

[GoSharks]

I'll be researching the rest of the night, but I expect we'll try to hit up a trail to the big waterfall, maybe this Taft point, the drive...whatever.

I would considering doing the Mist Trail instead of Yosemite Falls. Yosemite falls is currently dry.

 

[Sukhoi]

I would considering doing the Mist Trail instead of Yosemite Falls. Yosemite falls is currently dry.

Seconded. If you want to hike farther take the mist trail all the way up to Nevada Fall and then come down on the John Muir trail. Or do it the other way around...John Muir trail is 1 mi longer to that point but obviously more flat.

 

[scott916]

The Mist Trail is astoundingly beautiful. Take the JMT on the way back if your knees are even slightly bad, the Mist Trail is like a huge staircase in parts, and it's pretty rough if you have bad knees.

Taft Point and Glacier Point are on the same road, and fuckin mandatory if you're in the valley. Glacier point for the sheer beauty, Taft Point to scare the shit out of you at the fissures.

 

[thegimp03]

I've stayed at Tenaya Lodge a couple times before. It was fine back then...like 15 years ago. I've also stayed at Ahwahnee before, that gets pretty pricey.