Yosemite - advice on best campsites
Feb 3rd, 2009 | 07:24 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8
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Yosemite - advice on best campsites
Hello all,
I will be going to Yosemite for the first time this year, and I want to book the best campsite/sites. I have read all the Fodors details about each one, but from those of you that have actually been there and seen it, which are the best? Which should I book?
THANKS!
I will be going to Yosemite for the first time this year, and I want to book the best campsite/sites. I have read all the Fodors details about each one, but from those of you that have actually been there and seen it, which are the best? Which should I book?
THANKS!
Feb 4th, 2009 | 05:37 PM
#2
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 695
Likes: 0
If you are talking about the Valley, one of the Pines campgrounds would be your best bet. Lower Pines and North Pines are right on the Merced River and if you get a riverside spot, you will have fewer neighbors. Upper Pines is closer to Happy Isles where the trails to Half Dome and Nevada Falls begin.
All the campgrounds in the Valley are crammed with people. There is not much space between sites so there is little privacy.
The campgrounds in the high country are generally smaller (except Tuolumne Meadows) and better spaced out. Our favorite is Yosemite Creek. Wawona also has some nice sites and is more pleasant than the Valley campgrounds. However, if your emphasis is Yosemite Valley, then you are better off staying there.
Most locals tend to avoid the Valley in mid to late summer and concentrate on the high country instead.
All the campgrounds in the Valley are crammed with people. There is not much space between sites so there is little privacy.
The campgrounds in the high country are generally smaller (except Tuolumne Meadows) and better spaced out. Our favorite is Yosemite Creek. Wawona also has some nice sites and is more pleasant than the Valley campgrounds. However, if your emphasis is Yosemite Valley, then you are better off staying there.
Most locals tend to avoid the Valley in mid to late summer and concentrate on the high country instead.
Feb 6th, 2009 | 01:43 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,651
Likes: 3
Generally speaking, these days, you take what you can get.
Pre-flood, my favorite campsite was Lower Pines, hands down. It is surrounded more by the Merced and less by driving surfaces, and close to one of my favorite sunbathing spots. You also had the best luck in seeing a bear. I still like Lower Pines, but since the size of the campground was cut in half after the flood, it's difficult getting a spot there.
North Pines: Meh -- too close to the horse/mule stables, meaning if you're in the down wind, hold your nose.
Upper Pines: the only camping ground that permits dogs. My friend has brought her dogs every once in a while, and I'm not sure why anyone would bring a dog because you can't just leave them in the campground, but can't take them on the trails either. So it means that someone has to hang around and watch the dogs, unless you're in an RV. I leave my dogs at home, thank goodness, since I am fairly sure one of my dogs would be stupid enough to want to play with a bear. She thinks dogs on t.v. are real too.
As for specific spots, in Upper Pines, we prefer sites 50 and 52, because they are big, flat, and close to the Hosts who are usually in site 53. Also, it's sufficiently close to the bathroom to get to it in the middle of the night and sufficiently far away to avoid hearing bathroom noise.
Two places for you to look are the reservations site (which has a drawing of the campsites and toilet locations) at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campground.htm
and also a neat little website with actual photos of each campsite is located at yosemitecampsites.com
Pre-flood, my favorite campsite was Lower Pines, hands down. It is surrounded more by the Merced and less by driving surfaces, and close to one of my favorite sunbathing spots. You also had the best luck in seeing a bear. I still like Lower Pines, but since the size of the campground was cut in half after the flood, it's difficult getting a spot there.
North Pines: Meh -- too close to the horse/mule stables, meaning if you're in the down wind, hold your nose.
Upper Pines: the only camping ground that permits dogs. My friend has brought her dogs every once in a while, and I'm not sure why anyone would bring a dog because you can't just leave them in the campground, but can't take them on the trails either. So it means that someone has to hang around and watch the dogs, unless you're in an RV. I leave my dogs at home, thank goodness, since I am fairly sure one of my dogs would be stupid enough to want to play with a bear. She thinks dogs on t.v. are real too.
As for specific spots, in Upper Pines, we prefer sites 50 and 52, because they are big, flat, and close to the Hosts who are usually in site 53. Also, it's sufficiently close to the bathroom to get to it in the middle of the night and sufficiently far away to avoid hearing bathroom noise.
Two places for you to look are the reservations site (which has a drawing of the campsites and toilet locations) at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campground.htm
and also a neat little website with actual photos of each campsite is located at yosemitecampsites.com
