Tent Camping Outside Yosemite
Yosemite National Park has four entrances that lie on three state highways serving the park, and camping options outside of the park are available near each entrance. National forests virtually surround Yosemite, and all of the nearby campsites lie within Stanislaus National Forest (the north entrance to Yosemite, on western Highway 120), Sierra National Forest (the west and south entrances to Yosemite on Highways 140 and 41) or Inyo National Forest (the east entrance to Yosemite on eastern Highway 120).
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Dimond O
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One of the most secluded and lushly wooded of the campgrounds near Yosemite, Dimond O lies north on Evergreen Drive from western Highway 120, just one mile from Yosemite's north entrance. At an elevation of 4,600 feet, it is near Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (Yosemite Park vehicle admission fee is required to enter Hetch Hetchy), where you can make an easy hike to two waterfalls feeding the reservoir or stay in the camp and wade in the South Fork of the Tuolumne River; or, if you'd rather, catch a brown trout or two. The campground is open from late spring through mid-fall. Not for novice campers, the sites are primitive (no hookups), and the facilities are chemical toilets only (no showers). Water is available from spigots.
Dry Gulch Campground
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At only 1,600-foot elevation, this site, while close to Yosemite's east entrance off Highway 140, is in the foothills and not the Sierra Nevada Range, making it accessible to those visiting from California's Central Valley. Very primitive and small, with only four campsites (all walk-in sites, so you'll have to lug your gear a short way), this is an ideal getaway due to its accessibility and the fact that it is open year-round. Camp alongside the Merced River--the very same that winds through Yosemite Valley--amid oaks and pines, but be prepared for very hot temperatures in the summer (commonly topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit). Water is available from a spigot.
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Dirt Flat
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Located only half a mile from Dry Gulch Campground and also along the Merced River, Dirt Flat offers about the same amenities, including vault toilets, no showers and walk-in campsites (five). The beauty of camping in primitive campgrounds like these is that there are no RV generators ruining the peace and quiet, and they offer considerably more privacy and opportunities to get away from crowds than you'll find in larger campgrounds. You will have to pack in your own water.
Summerdale
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Snug beside Big Creek only a mile and a half outside Yosemite's south entrance (off Highway 41), Summerdale is cooler than the lower campgrounds at an elevation of 5,000 feet, more lushly forested than those outside the west or east entrances and features many of the redwoods for which Yosemite is famous. With 29 campsites, you can usually camp here from June through November, depending on the snowpack for the season. The site offers vault toilets but no showers; piped water is available, though you may have to treat it before drinking.
Big Sandy
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Off Highway 41, outside Yosemite's south entrance, you'll find Big Sandy about six miles southeast of Summerdale and 800 feet higher. Remote and more private, the site lies along the banks of Big Creek as well. You'll find vault toilets and no running water (not even drinking water), so be prepared to fetch your water from the creek and treat it before drinking; or pack in your own. With 18 campsites, Big Sandy is open from May through September, depending on the seasonal snowpack.
Ellery Lake
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Located just outside Yosemite's east entrance on Highway 120, Ellery Lake is more arid, stark and dramatically beautiful than the verdant sites found on the Sierra's western slopes. At an elevation of 9,500 feet, you'll have to be careful not to overexert yourself while catching trout in the pristine lake. Because the terrain is inhospitable to RVs, this is an excellent place for tent camping, despite the lack of shade. Open from June through mid-October, depending on snowpack, you'll find a couple of water spigots and vault toilets but no showers---and that lake is cold.
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References
- Photo Credit camping image by BOOJOO from Fotolia.com
