I’m thinking of heading to Yosemite for 4 or 5 days - weekdays, not weekend - after the Aug 4 Vineman. Do crowds around that time of the year make it terrible time to be there? Any advice on park accomodation?
thanks!
We’re headed there next week, we might just drive by if it’s awful. I’m reading really great things about Kings Canyon just south of there. I’ll let you know how our trip goes.
Very, very crowded. trailbait’s suggestion of Kings Canyon or Sequoia National Parks would be a better choice and almost as nice.
Kings Canyon area might be nearly as crowded, with accommodations all snatched up by now.
If I had 4-5 days I would do this,
Leave the Bay Area very early in the morning, to avoid both the heat and the afternoon traffic into Yosemite,
Drive to Yosemite and spend some hours seeing the Valley, then
Drive through Tuolumne Meadows and over Tioga Pass to Lee Vining, then
Spend a few days exploring all the amazing Eastside trailheads into the Sierras. You can stay in Bridgeport, Lee Vining, Mammoth, Bishop, Independence or wherever. Or camp along the way. Lots of campgrounds. LOTS of affordable motel space in Bishop - no need to reserve anything. The hiking trails over there are truly outstanding and it will feel good after your half ironman race. There are also a ton of wild hot springs that you can drive to from the main highway (395), in the vicinity between Mammoth and Bishop.
p.s. In Yosemite Valley, sometimes there is last minute accommodation available in the tent cabins at Curry Village. As for Valley campgrounds, there is one, first-come, first-served campground called Camp 4. Mostly that is a climbers’ hangout. You have to get there in the morning to snatch a spot, and even then there is no guarantee. I would not recommend camping in Hodgdon Meadow (near the westside Yosemite entrance) or in one of the campgrounds or motels just outside Yosemite on the west side. There is really nothing interesting there. It is better to just go into the park, have a great day and then drive over to the East side where your campground or motel will be in a much more scenic location.
Good suggestions. There is one really nice campground in Kings Canyon that is often less crowded which is known as Cedar Grove. The road to get there is lengthy and slow but very scenic and usually keeps the crowds down. They have a lodge there and extensive camping. The Kings River runs through it for swimming. The John Muir trail is nearby.