Camping in Yosemite for Landscape Photography

[Kabalyero]

Hello fellow photographers.

There is a "last minute" notice for me to go on a business trip to California, and so I thought I'd mix some photography with business by visiting Yosemite after the conference. Unfortunately, its my first time to Yosemite and the US and so I am a bit confused on how to go about with my Yosemite photography. If you guys can help me on some questions (after hopelessly googling), I would very much appreciate your help.

• Will I need a car to go to Yosemite from San Francisco? Or are there commute options (seems like there is none)?
• Will I need a car to go around Yosemite to photograph the important sites or can I just walk from a campsite/hotel to go to the sites?
• I am a bit confused with the sleeping arrangements for campers. I need a permit or reservation of some sort right? In case I bring a car to sleep in but fail to secure a slot/permit in one of the campsites, what should be done in such cases?
• Will three days two nights be sufficient to photograph at least the major spots? or maybe 4 days 3 nights?

Any lead would be very welcome. Cheers.

 

[Leswick II]

Yos park is v. popular and you'll probably be annoyed by the amount of traffic is in Yos Valley.

* Your best bet is to rent a car...certainly most efficient. Other types of transportation, although doable, will require way way more time than you are willing to deal with. I believe there is a shuttle to Yos from Merced, but getting to Merced is another story.

* If you wish to camp, you'll need reservations....(this can be done via phone) and most people make reservations 4-6 months ahead of time. There might be cancellations, but I wouldn't count on that too much. There might be a waiting list for that. There was a Camp office (probably still is) near the village and they may be able to locate a space fort you, but I wouldn't count on that either. Most likely you'll see a panel, when you enter the park, indicating that all campgrounds are full. Can't say that for sure, since you didn't indicate when you'll be there.

* Getting around the Valley is certainly feasible using a shuttle and there are buses that go to various points. You can also drive to different points in your vehicle, if necessary.

However, aside from this sticky situation, you may be able to secure a camping spot at Taramac Flat camp, since part of the camp is set aside for folks w/o reservations. Best time to secure a spot would be early morning, when some folks are departing....so you can take their spot. If this becomes hopeless, I'd suggest you look for a spot/lodging outside the park. Also, your chances are better during the week, since the weekend might be just totally nuts.

I'd add, that you might find it much more peaceful visiting Tuolumne Meadows (area some distance from the Valley) or Glacier Point.

Good luck.

 

[Kabalyero]

Thank you so much Leswick for taking the time to respond, I greatly appreciate the details you shared!I'll be there around September 24-27 as per initial plan.

Sounds like i'll have a hard time camping onsite. Do you think its possible to camp in nearby motels/airbnbs outside yosemite and just drive there daily to explore?

 

[Gary from Seattle]

Hello fellow photographers.

There is a "last minute" notice for me to go on a business trip to California, and so I thought I'd mix some photography with business by visiting Yosemite after the conference. Unfortunately, its my first time to Yosemite and the US and so I am a bit confused on how to go about with my Yosemite photography. If you guys can help me on some questions (after hopelessly googling), I would very much appreciate your help.

• Will I need a car to go to Yosemite from San Francisco? Or are there commute options (seems like there is none)?
• Will I need a car to go around Yosemite to photograph the important sites or can I just walk from a campsite/hotel to go to the sites?
• I am a bit confused with the sleeping arrangements for campers. I need a permit or reservation of some sort right? In case I bring a car to sleep in but fail to secure a slot/permit in one of the campsites, what should be done in such cases?
• Will three days two nights be sufficient to photograph at least the major spots? or maybe 4 days 3 nights?

Any lead would be very welcome. Cheers.

You can read about vehicles/transportation at https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/publictransportation.htm

You might also google YNP traffic, vehicle restrictions, etc.

From what it sounds like once inside the park you should either try to get on a shuttle or may do as well walking. There are trails that parallel the roads in many places. You would just need a map (YNP). The valley is not that big, perhaps 3-4 miles in length.

I'd think camping in the park is highly unlikely without reservations. You should arrange lodging or camping outside the park and probably best take public transportation from one of the locations in the link to the park. Driving in the park is likely to be gridlock during the peak seasons.

 

[stretchman]

I'll be there around September 24-27 as per initial plan.

You're going at a good time and a bad time. Good news is late September won't be that crowded compared to the summer months. Also, it will be cooler during the day. It's a bad time for water falls and a bit too early for any fall colors. Still, Yosemite is always fun to photograph.

Check Camp Curry or the Yosemite Lodge when you arrive as there is a good chance a cabin/room will become available.

I car camp in the valley quite often so if you want to save some money and no rooms become available this is also an option. Have fun!

 

[KENTGA]

For me, three days and two nights will be sufficient. If you rent a car, be sure and go to Glacier Point for photos of the valley. Also, stop just before the tunnel on Wawona Rd (Hwy 41) for more great shots at sunrise or during the afternoon.

Buy Photographers Guide to Yosemite by Michael Frye on Amazon. Best guide book I've read about Yosemite. He tells where to go and when to go to make photos. Here's a link:

https://www.amazon.com/Photographer...otography+Guide&qid=1566580381&s=books&sr=1-3

In San Fran you may want to drive across Golden Gate Bridge and take 1st left to get some photos. Also Baker Beach in the afternoon.

















Photos are from Google Earth. I'm not at the computer with my photos on it.

If you like old prisons, consider taking a boat to Alcatraz and get a good view of San Fran Bay.







Kent

 

[David5833]

You can rent a car in San Francisco and return it there. It will cost about $250 USD for your dates. It will probably take about 3-4 hours to drive each way to and from the Yosemite area. You can use the park's shuttle buses to get around to the most popular sights inside the park. All lodging, whether in a room or cabin or "tent cabin" or campsite inside the park is probably fully reserved for September 24-27. However, most reservations can be cancelled without penalty up to a week before the date, so keep looking on the Yosemite Park websites a few times each day because people make reservations far in advance and there are always cancellations. You can also find hotel/motel rooms outside the park, but this is much less convenient. Most of these are about 30 minutes to 90 minutes away from the entrance to the park by car, and maybe another 30 minutes to Yosemite Valley and the visitors hub of the park. Most are in the $150 to $300 range per night. There are also private campsites in the area if you are planning to bring a tent and camping gear with you. If you find a place on Highway 140 there are buses that will take you into the park and back. Mariposa, Midpines, El Portal, and Groveland are probably your best bets to find reasonable lodging.

Two days and one night should be enough to photograph the best known vistas during the day, but if you want to shoot sunrises and sunsets your opportunities will be more limited.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/143821723@N06/with/46460832575/

 

[pixseal]

Hello fellow photographers.

There is a "last minute" notice for me to go on a business trip to California, and so I thought I'd mix some photography with business by visiting Yosemite after the conference. Unfortunately, its my first time to Yosemite and the US and so I am a bit confused on how to go about with my Yosemite photography. If you guys can help me on some questions (after hopelessly googling), I would very much appreciate your help.

• Will I need a car to go to Yosemite from San Francisco? Or are there commute options (seems like there is none)?

Definitely rent a car and drive to Yosemite.

• Will I need a car to go around Yosemite to photograph the important sites or can I just walk from a campsite/hotel to go to the sites?

Within Yosemite Valley, there is a free shuttle system. You can also ride a bus up to Glacier Point (you'll need to book reservations the day prior).

• I am a bit confused with the sleeping arrangements for campers. I need a permit or reservation of some sort right? In case I bring a car to sleep in but fail to secure a slot/permit in one of the campsites, what should be done in such cases?

All campgrounds within the park have at least some un-reserved sites - however, you may spend hours waiting just to find out none are available. Sleeping in your car (other than within a designated campsite) is prohibited.

As others have suggested, call ahead and ask for a cancelled campground reservation. The same goes for lodging within the park - it's expensive, but you'll save many hours over staying outside of the park. The only company offering lodging within the park: https://www.travelyosemite.com. Check this web site between 1 and 3 weeks prior to your arrival - your dates are currently all booked, but cancellations do happen.

• Will three days two nights be sufficient to photograph at least the major spots? or maybe 4 days 3 nights?

4 days is enough time within Yosemite Valley, however, the valley is only 1% of the park (over 3000 sq km). I suggest that you also visit the Mariposa Grove and Tuolumne Meadows.

Any lead would be very welcome. Cheers.

There are accommodations outside of the park (both camping and lodging). Driving from SF, the towns closest to Yosemite would be:

• Highway 120: Groveland and Buck Meadows
• Highway 140: Mariposa, Midpines and El Portal

Note that from the closest town (El Portal), it is a 30 km drive into Yosemite Valley (steep and twisty road). Unless you arrive really early, you may encounter a long wait at the contact station.

Late September still draws crowds on the weekends, but not as much as on the weekends and in mid-summer. Plan on NOT driving within Yosemite Valley - walking offers much more scenery.

In late September the aspens on the eastern side of the Sierras are starting to turn fall color. Drive over Tioga Pass to the town of Lee Vining (120 km each way) and head north to Lundy Canyon. If you're planning on camping in this area, note that nighttime temps can get down to freezing.

 

[Craig Gillette]

Hello fellow photographers.

There is a "last minute" notice for me to go on a business trip to California, and so I thought I'd mix some photography with business by visiting Yosemite after the conference. Unfortunately, its my first time to Yosemite and the US and so I am a bit confused on how to go about with my Yosemite photography. If you guys can help me on some questions (after hopelessly googling), I would very much appreciate your help.

• Will I need a car to go to Yosemite from San Francisco? Or are there commute options (seems like there is none)?
• Will I need a car to go around Yosemite to photograph the important sites or can I just walk from a campsite/hotel to go to the sites?
• I am a bit confused with the sleeping arrangements for campers. I need a permit or reservation of some sort right? In case I bring a car to sleep in but fail to secure a slot/permit in one of the campsites, what should be done in such cases?
• Will three days two nights be sufficient to photograph at least the major spots? or maybe 4 days 3 nights?

Any lead would be very welcome. Cheers.

I'll try to keep this in order of the questions.

There are no convenient transit options to go from the Bay Area to Yosemite. there are "tours" but they don't fit good photo times and you are on the bus with a lot of others on their schedule. Renting a car would be my suggestion.

A car is the most flexible and convenient way to get around. There is a shuttle system in the eastern portion of the valley and some very limited bus transportation to and from the valley or to Glacier Point. The east end of the valley does have some camping and lodging, shuttle and to a great extent, if you are a good walker, plenty of walking access as well.

Most camping in the Park is on a reservation basis. There is some unreserved first come first served available, as noted, I've never tried that and can't give any positive assurance you'd find a convenient spot.

Aside from the sites in the east end of the valley and at Tuolumne Meadows, there are no handy eating facilities near the campsites. Other than the valley sites, the campgrounds are a fair distance from the valley, with a drive time approaching an hour or more to get to the valley.

Car camping, that is, sleeping in your car at a roadside pullout, trailhead, etc., is not allowed. I have no idea how closely they watch that. My guess is they watch it closely. Yosemite is extremely popular and relatively close to the highly populated portions of Northern California and it would be swarmed under if casual wide spot "camping" took hold.

Rules change in the surrounding National Forest areas. Facilities remain limited.

I think it would be fairly inconvenient to attempt to just wing it "camping." Spots might be available and weather shouldn't be too bad. Rains possible that time of year. Dealing with food and eating would be troublesome. Depends on how much you can live off prepared foods or not requiring cooking, etc. there are some food storage/bear precautions, the National Forest areas may have similar or different rules from the Park but it's a complication to some extent. In bear areas, they've learned what to look for and recognize coolers, etc., and can and do open cars to get to them.

I'd really suggest trying to find lodging. Mariposa is farther out than the El Portal area lodges but can be less expensive. The closer in areas, or in park lodging, is pricey and likely you'd be watching for cancellations at this point.

I'd think a minimum of three days, two nights but you can rush through it faster, of curse. But close to a day in the Glacier Point area or a very full afternoon. Sentinel Dome and Taft Point, then towards Glacier Point for sunset. There is a snack facility at Glacier Point IIRC, limited hours? Give a full day to traversing the Sierra via the Tioga Road, up to and through Tuolumne Meadows to Tioga Pass, perhaps all the way to Lee Vining and Mono Lake, and easily a full day exploring the valley.

Among other resources, the Yosemite Guide is handy. The one covering your expected time to visit is not out yet. You could look at the current ones and last years for the period. Specific facilities operating h0urs, etc., might not be fully applicable. You can get light snow in the high country and I'm not sure when the Tuolumne Meadows facilities close out for the season. I would not expect extended road closures in late September. If really, really late in September, you might find the high country aspen changing color and that can be pretty spectacular in the area near Mono Lake going north over Conway Summit or up Lundy Canyon, etc.

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www.nps.gov

 

[Craig Gillette]

Beat me by that much.. I type slowly.

 

[Leswick II]

You are welcome. Considering your time in Calif, students would be back in school....but don't jump up and down yet, lots of retired folk are truly in tune to this and they hit the road after the 1st week of Sept. Weekends are the worse....your chances are better during the week. Furthermore, the nearby communities do offer lodging, but with the proximity to Yos, those prices can be and often are manipulated.

If I were you, I'd find a place 50-60- even 100 miles away. If you intend to camp, you should be able to find one outside the park....call ahead,check and reserve. The last place ("near") I camped was at Acorn Rec Area....roughly about the time you'd be there.....and only about 20-25% of the campground filled up. This place may not be super convenient.....I'd look for closer one and with showers :>). Usually the camps go for $20-35 per night....urr, unless prices went up in the recent couple of years. Also, perhaps there are any BLM camps nearby ?

As indicated T. Meadows is around 8000' elevation or higher, so naturally nights can get quite chilly if not fridgid at the end of Sept. Some camps can be completely shut down.....just found out that White Wolf, that offers canvas-covered cabins, will be shut after Sept 4th....for the season. Sooo, that might reflect some other closures/services at higher elevations....you best bet is check with reservations. And, as previously stated, your best bet is to stay outside the park (on West side) and drive in.....if you can't find anything near the Valley. The weather might be v. iffy around Tioga Pass/T. Meadows and snow closure could take place any time in Sept....so if one is on the E. side....it could be 100+ extra miles to get back to SF. Just saying.

 

[skysurfer5]

Odds are that both Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road will be open well past the end of September: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/seasonal.htm

Campgrounds usually have openings in late September, but it's not guaranteed. The Yosemite Valley campgrounds and the Wawona Campground will be warmer than Tamarack since they are at a lower elevation (about 4000 ft in both locations). There is also camping (and lots of lodging) available in El Portal, which is just outside the park near the Hwy 140 entrance.

 

[Leswick II]

Odds are that both Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road will be open well past the end of September: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/seasonal.htm

Campgrounds usually have openings in late September, but it's not guaranteed. The Yosemite Valley campgrounds and the Wawona Campground will be warmer than Tamarack since they are at a lower elevation (about 4000 ft in both locations). There is also camping (and lots of lodging) available in El Portal, which is just outside the park near the Hwy 140 entrance.

Although the road could be open, and sometimes is quite late....like Nov (?), but what I was pointing out that services, food establishments, campgrounds will be shut down. It could be a game changer, tho on the other hand visuals will remain..... As I indicated, best to check with reservations whether specific place will still be in operation.