Yosemite National Park, covering 1,200 square miles of mountainous landscape in Sierra Nevada, California, is open to visitors 365 days of the year. Yosemite features waterfalls, deep valleys, giant sequoias and all the outdoor activities you need for an action-packed vacation. Camping is a popular option if you want to spend a few days exploring the surroundings. Yosemite National Park has 13 camping grounds to choose from.
Facilities
Yosemite camping grounds generally have tap water for drinking, although some sites only provide creek water, which you need to boil for drinking. Creek water sites have vault toilets, not regular restrooms. Showers are generally not available and only found at Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp. Yosemite doesn't have hook-ups but there are RV sites at most campgrounds. Find dump stations at Upper Pines Campground, near Wawona Campground and near Tuolumne Meadows Campground in the summer only.
Types
You can no longer camp unrestricted in Yosemite but there are backcountry campgrounds if you want to escape into the wilderness. You need a wilderness permit to stay at the primitive sites at Little Yosemite Valley and near the High Sierra Camps. For quiet, RV-free campgrounds try Tamarack Flat Campground or Yosemite Creek Campground. Each of these sites has a fire ring, picnic table and food locker, and is close to a vault toilet. If you have a trailer, Yosemite has 10 camping grounds that accommodate RVs up to 40 feet long and trailers up to 35 feet long.
When to Visit
Summer is warm to hot with an average temperature of 87 degrees F. While the weather is good, the crowds descend and the waterfalls can be dry. Yosemite Valley and Wawona remain accessible by car in the winter but the Tioga Road is closed. The climate is snowy and cold with an average temperature of 53 degrees F. Most of Yosemite campgrounds are only open from July through early September, but Yosemite Valley's Upper Pines Campground and Camp 4 are open all year.
Reservations
Of Yosemite's 13 campgrounds, seven are operated on a reservation system. These campgrounds are extremely popular and you need a reservation from April through September. Reservations are available in blocks of one month at a time, up to five months in advance, released on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. Most summer spaces are taken the first day they become available. Also get up early if you want a first-come, first-served campground as they usually fill by noon in summer.
Food Storage
Be vigilant with your food when camping in Yosemite, home to hundreds of American black bears with big appetites. In campgrounds you must store all your food in the food lockers provided and keep them latched and locked at all times. Dispose of trash in a bear-proof dumpster and never leave waste food out. If you have an RV you can store food inside it as long as you keep the windows and doors closed. These food storage regulations have the force and effect of federal law.
Hiking
One of the best ways to explore Yosemite is by foot. A variety of day hikes takes you around the Yosemite Valley, including the moderate Valley Floor Loop which follows the Valley's first wagon roads. For a more strenuous hike take the Panorama Trailhead for sweeping views over the entire Valley. For waterfalls, try the easy Bridalveil Fall trek or the short walk to view the Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. For views of Half Dome, Glacier Point and Royal Arches take the easy Cook's Meadow Loop.
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