Camping in Yosemite National Park
One of the crown jewels of the National Park System, Yosemite National Park is a must-see for campers, backpackers, or anyone who appreciates the outdoors. Yosemite National Park is located in the central Sierra Nevada of California and is 150 miles east of San Francisco and just a six-hour drive from Los Angeles. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia forests, and biological diversity. The 750,000-acre, 1,200-square-mile park contains thousands of lakes and ponds, 1,600 miles of streams, 800 miles of hiking trails, and 350 miles of roads. Two federally designated Wild and Scenic rivers, the Merced and the Tuolumne, rise within the limits of Yosemite and flow west into California’s Central Valley. Annual park visits exceed 3.5 million, with most visitor use concentrated in the seven-square-mile area of Yosemite Valley.
things to do
Yosemite offers a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, horseback riding, bird watching, water activities, stargazing, and rock climbing. The spectacular scenery is also very popular with artists and photographers. Hiking trails range from low-impact trails around Yosemite Valley to strenuous climbs alongside some of the most impressive waterfalls you’ll ever see. The best known hike in Yosemite is climbing to the top of the famous Half Dome. It’s about 15 miles (round trip) and you gain almost 5,000 feet in altitude on your way up. As you make your way to the top, you’ll have magnificent views of Vernal and Nevada Falls, and once you reach the top, an incredible view of the valley below. The last 400 feet of the climb require the use of a cable to negotiate the steep ascent. Plan this hike to take the entire day (10-12 hours) and for many the next two days to recover.
If you’re not quite ready to hike Yosemite yet, you can take a two-hour bus tour conducted by the National Park Service or enjoy the 12 miles of bike trails that wind around the Valley. There are several short and relatively easy trails where you can see and feel the spray from some of the highest waterfalls in North America. You can also spend time at the ranger stations learning about the history and wildlife, and even enjoy ice cream at the general store.
The winter months also have many activities for the whole family. Badger Pass Ski Area has downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. For the more adventurous, there are ski touring tours with the Yosemite Mountaineering School. Rental equipment is also available.
Accommodation
Yosemite also offers a variety of lodging options. The campgrounds are exceptional with electricity at some sites for RV or trailer campers. There are shuttle buses that run throughout the valley so it is very easy to go from the camping areas to the town or other places. For a little more structure, you can stay in canvas tents at Curry Village. And if you prefer the comforts of home, there are a number of lodges and hotels in the Park. Getting a campsite can be challenging, as most reservations are filled the first day they are available. Camp reservations are available in blocks of one month at a time, up to five months in advance, on the 15th of each month at 7 am Pacific Time. You can go to http://www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777 or 518-885-3639 from outside the US or Canada.