I missed the last two opportunities to get reservations in Yosemite Valley this year. I really want to take the boys. Anybody got any hints on getting a space? I was on the computer at 7am on the 15th and still got nothing.
Yosemite Reservations
- Thread starter workingdog
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yes, they go fast. even the park service recognizes this - : 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, usually within seconds or minutes after 7 am! For your best chance of getting a reservation, be sure your clock is set accurately and start the first few steps of the reservation process at Federal recreation, camping and tour reservation information - Recreation.gov before 7 am Pacific time."
or if you like to gamble, you can use the 1st come/1st serve camprounds:No Reserve Camping
either way, it will be easier if you plan to arrive early to midweek. Good Luck!
There are also camprounds outside of the park on both sides. you could camp out of the park and make day trips in. Last time I was there, I camped near Mono Lake. This also made it easy to see Mono, and visit Bodie, something your kids might really dig on.
or if you like to gamble, you can use the 1st come/1st serve camprounds:No Reserve Camping
either way, it will be easier if you plan to arrive early to midweek. Good Luck!
There are also camprounds outside of the park on both sides. you could camp out of the park and make day trips in. Last time I was there, I camped near Mono Lake. This also made it easy to see Mono, and visit Bodie, something your kids might really dig on.
Last four times I went to Yosemite I didn't get reservations and tried for the 1st come 1st served and each time I got a space. The trick is going up when kids are still in school AND it's a Thurs. I like the idea of camping at Mono and just taking the 120 in. The 395 is an awesome drive up anyway. Check road conditions though because the 120 is almost always closed cept for summer due to snow. This year may be ok because it's been a s***ty year for snow.
I was there 02.18th of this year and there were plenty of spots available at the upper Pines campground..
First time in Yosemite during the winter..
I must say the lack of crowds you see over the summer was a great welcome.. !!
Lots of boy-scouts on the campgrounds too...
There was n snow in the valley but plenty at higher elevations.....
First time in Yosemite during the winter..
I must say the lack of crowds you see over the summer was a great welcome.. !!
Lots of boy-scouts on the campgrounds too...
There was n snow in the valley but plenty at higher elevations.....
X2... I've basically seen this same advice from others.
PS, set your clocks to a NIST standard clock. The official US time (NIST & USNO) There are even programs designed to set your computer clock and keep it in sync with the official NIST time standard. On my Linux boxes I have ntpd setup to keep the time accurate.
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I know the first come first serve are easier, but my boys are young and they really enjoying being on the valley floor. It's not really camping, but there will be time for that when they get older. Right now, they love riding their bikes around the campground, making new friends, going for pizza.
I'll try setting my clock right and see if I can get lucky.
I'll try setting my clock right and see if I can get lucky.
sure it's camping! and with kids, it is a whole lot easier. I grew up going to state campgrounds, and brought my kids to them while they were growing up. Try to make time to go to Bodie. I know Santa Rosa isn't a million miles or anything, but it is still a long haul (especially with/for kids). What boys wouldn't want to see a real wild west ghost town? I may a little biased, as I have always enjoyed seeing it.
oh, and if you do, there is a back road in that takes a little longer, but most people don't use, makes it kinda fun. feels more desolate.
Bodie is pretty cool. I enjoyed it as a kid.
I go backpacking whenever I go to Yosemite so it's fairly easy to get a reservation that route. You also automatically get Half Dome permits if the trail you're taking passes close by to Half Dome. If I car camp it, I go during the off peak season to avoid the crowds.
I hate to say it, but when I was a kid we used to be able to drive into Yosemite mid-week during the summer and pick out a campsite. You'd hardly see anybody during the week and we had the run of the park. Back then, they still had the firefall at night, where they'd push burning coals off the top of Glacier Point and it would look like a waterfall of fire. Pretty cool stuff for a kid. It's a shame that good stuff never lasts. 
Check out this article about this Yosemite water falls..
I didn't get to see it, but sure looking forward to see it in the future..
Every February Yosemite waterfall turns to lava - Yahoo! News
I didn't get to see it, but sure looking forward to see it in the future..
Every February Yosemite waterfall turns to lava - Yahoo! News
We've lucked out and gotten campsites first-come first-served, as well, especially at Tuolumne Meadows..
Options:
-Tent Cabins within the park. More expensive, but comfy. BUT, you can't cook in that area...
-BLM: Wild and Scenic Merced River area has camping (and the river), just west of the 140 entrance. Nothing fancy and occasionally people "live" there.
East of the park, off 120/395 there are many options, though it's a bit of a drive.
Bodie is great, definitely try to check it out. You can get room/cabins in Bridgeport, or camp nearby. Actually, on the road to Bodie, you can take side roads and camp most places if the park is not visible from your site. Virginia lakes has camping, too. Burcham flat road/Walker River, too. A million places.
Options:
-Tent Cabins within the park. More expensive, but comfy. BUT, you can't cook in that area...
-BLM: Wild and Scenic Merced River area has camping (and the river), just west of the 140 entrance. Nothing fancy and occasionally people "live" there.
East of the park, off 120/395 there are many options, though it's a bit of a drive.
Bodie is great, definitely try to check it out. You can get room/cabins in Bridgeport, or camp nearby. Actually, on the road to Bodie, you can take side roads and camp most places if the park is not visible from your site. Virginia lakes has camping, too. Burcham flat road/Walker River, too. A million places.
Are you only looking at campground reservations or are you willing to pay a little extra? Curry Village and Housekeeping camp, have last minute cancellations, even on the busiest weekends sometimes you'll get lucky. Just keep calling the week before and be flexible. Not camping in the truest sense, but it sounds perfect for what you're looking for.
Manuchao,
It looks like you were there a week too early for Horsetail. My brother went up the week after to catch it. It was pretty cloudy and the falls weren't flowing well, but he managed to capture a few pictures. It sounded just like what was described in the article, a Disneyland with all the photographers lined up to capture the same image. And yet I still want to see it too.
Manuchao,
It looks like you were there a week too early for Horsetail. My brother went up the week after to catch it. It was pretty cloudy and the falls weren't flowing well, but he managed to capture a few pictures. It sounded just like what was described in the article, a Disneyland with all the photographers lined up to capture the same image. And yet I still want to see it too.
I'd try first-come first served, you may get lucky. Otherwise there are other places to camp. The road over Tioga Pass is crazy, and Bodie is fully worth it, even if it would take the better part of a day to get from Yose to Bodie and back.