Suggestions for campgrounds in/near Yosemite?

[guybmoto]

My girlfriend and I are heading up that way two weekends from now.

Does anyone have tips or suggestions?

[profdant139]

Tioga Pass will probably be snowed in by then -- there is a storm coming this weekend. So I would go for the old tried and true -- Upper Pines in Yosemite Valley. Bundle up -- it will be cold!

[guybmoto]

Originally Posted by profdant139

Tioga Pass will probably be snowed in by then -- there is a storm coming this weekend. So I would go for the old tried and true -- Upper Pines in Yosemite Valley. Bundle up -- it will be cold!

Thanks. As dry as it's been, I thought there might be a decent shot at Tioga still being open. 395 sure is a lot faster going up. She also hasn't seen anything north of Mammoth.

I checked, and Upper Pines is first come, first served this time of year. I'm not sure how busy it'll be (we'll likely arrive on a Thursday), but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[profdant139]

Well, if she has never seen the east side, I would stay on the east side! In my opinion, it is more spectacular than most of the west side of the Sierra. My wife disagrees with me -- she thinks the east is too dry. But I really like the sweeping views.

If you stay on the east side, many of the campgrounds will be closed due to snow, but several decent RV parks will still be available, I think, such as Mono Vista in Lee Vining.

I am not sure there will be enough snow for snowshoeing or cross country skiing -- but if not, you can hike easily in a few inches of snow. There is so much great hiking up in that area -- Lundy Canyon, Virginia Lakes, Green Creek, and so on. The roads should be plowed, unless we get a bigger storm than is currently predicted.

[guybmoto]

We ended up at Hodgdon Meadow campground, which worked out fine. Less crowded, first come, first served, and very enjoyable.

For Saturday they opened up Tioga Pass, and we went down and stayed in Mammoth for the night before heading back.

It was tough going back to work today.

[profdant139]

I am amazed that Tioga was still open -- that is great! Did you have a chance to stop and look around in the high country -- Tenaya, Olmstead, Tuolumne Meadows? Was there much snow on the higher peaks?

[guybmoto]

Originally Posted by profdant139

I am amazed that Tioga was still open -- that is great! Did you have a chance to stop and look around in the high country -- Tenaya, Olmstead, Tuolumne Meadows? Was there much snow on the higher peaks?

It actually reopened...it was closed earlier in the week. We got a few quickie stops in for photos, but were running out of daylight up there.

This should give you an idea of snow levels. Not bad, actually.

[profdant139]

Great photos -- thanks for posting them!

[guybmoto]

Originally Posted by profdant139

Great photos -- thanks for posting them!

They're just iPhone pano shots. I save the big cameras for work.

[Travels with Yoly]

But I wanted to see a Fun Finder in action

[profdant139]

In response to Yoly's request, and since this is a Yosemite thread, here is my Fun Finder at the overlook at the west end of Yosemite Valley, with Half Dome in the background:

[Travels with Yoly]

Look Ma .... there's one of dem thar Fun Finders .... I'll bet they're havin fun

[guybmoto]

Originally Posted by Travels with Yoly

But I wanted to see a Fun Finder in action

#funfound

[Travels with Yoly]

FunTastic .... two in two days .... they're everywhere, they're everywhere !!

Thanks guys, I knew they were out there somewhere