Camp IV in Yosemite

June 14, 2010 7:20 AM

I am heading to Yosemite tomorrow. Any idea how early I need to be in line @ camp 4 to secure a spot? Are their public campsites outside Yosemite if I cannot get a spot?

I will be staying just outside the park tonight, so I will be with 30 minutes of camp4 in the morning. I've heard the line to get a spot can be crazy in June, even on a weekday. Is this true? Has anybody been there recently and have a report on the situation?

If Camp IV does not happen, are there any places right outside the park that offer public camping? Has anyone just gone out and camped in the BLM land around the park?

posted by ShootTheMoon to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (6 answers total)

There are some National Forest campsites outside the NW entrance that I know of. The one I stayed in did not have water or even a pit toilet though. There are probably others but I suspect the ones with actual facilities fill up almost as fast as Yosemite Valley sites.
posted by R343L at 7:42 AM on June 14, 2010

What the climbers do is that they leave at 7 pm from SF, get to Yosemite Valley by 2 am or so, squat (and accepted process, just be quiet and courteous and don't take up much room on someone's campsite) and then get in line for a spot at 5am.
posted by zia at 7:50 AM on June 14, 2010

Alternatively, you can probably find space up at Tuolomne, and I find that more beautiful/peaceful anyhow. Just get there early (10 am?)
posted by zia at 7:51 AM on June 14, 2010

If you're there early in the morning you should be able to get a weekday walk-in somewhere in the park (Crane Flats, Tuolumne) - they reserve up to half of the sites as first-come, first-served. I totally second staying up at Tuolumne, but it also depends on what you're looking to do during your stay. zia's explanation for the squatting/5 am line is accurate - and unless you're a climber and interested in the whole cultural experience of Camp IV it may not be really where you want to stay anyhow (just speculating on what you are interested in, but if you're there with kids it is probably not what you want to do).
posted by handful of rain at 10:47 AM on June 14, 2010

Is Tuolomne open? My reservations for next week were canceled because of snow. I don't believe any of the High Sierra campsites are open right now.
posted by incessant at 11:20 AM on June 14, 2010

Good point - the official website says they are only taking reservations for July 1 and beyond, although Tioga road is open. Cool image of the current conditions.
posted by handful of rain at 12:43 PM on June 14, 2010