Page 1 of 1

Campground Question

PostPosted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 7:20 pm
by Erich1B
I've just retuend from a trip to Yosemite. My wife and I plan to return next August.

Several people we spoke with mentioned that they had hiked up to a campground from the Happy Isles trailhead via the John Muir trail that was located near upper Nevada Falls, spent the night, and then hiked up to Half Dome.

Can someone tell me the name of the campsite, and when I would need to make reservations? Also, if I understood correctly, the camping permit also served as a permit to go to the top of Half Dome?

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks..............Erich

Re: Campground Question

PostPosted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 7:31 pm
by cjoz
Erich1B wrote:I've just retuend from a trip to Yosemite. My wife and I plan to return next August.

Several people we spoke with mentioned that they had hiked up to a campground from the Happy Isles trailhead via the John Muir trail that was located near upper Nevada Falls, spent the night, and then hiked up to Half Dome.

Can someone tell me the name of the campsite, and when I would need to make reservations? Also, if I understood correctly, the camping permit also served as a permit to go to the top of Half Dome?

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks..............Erich


It's Little Yosemite Valley. It's a backpacker's campground. Has some "established" sites but not a campground in the traditional sense. You need a wilderness permit to access it. If you are staying there the first night and hiking from the valley, you need a permit from Happy Isles to LYV.

Re: Campground Question

PostPosted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:05 am
by Erich1B
cjoz wrote:
Erich1B wrote:I've just retuend from a trip to Yosemite. My wife and I plan to return next August.

Several people we spoke with mentioned that they had hiked up to a campground from the Happy Isles trailhead via the John Muir trail that was located near upper Nevada Falls, spent the night, and then hiked up to Half Dome.

Can someone tell me the name of the campsite, and when I would need to make reservations? Also, if I understood correctly, the camping permit also served as a permit to go to the top of Half Dome?

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks..............Erich


It's Little Yosemite Valley. It's a backpacker's campground. Has some "established" sites but not a campground in the traditional sense. You need a wilderness permit to access it. If you are staying there the first night and hiking from the valley, you need a permit from Happy Isles to LYV.


Thank you, that's what I thought. I couldn't remember the name of the site. How far in advance can someone get a wilderness permit?

Does the wilderness permit allow you to climb Half Dome or would I need a Half Dome weekend permit if it was a Friday, Satruday, or Sunday?

PostPosted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:10 am
by hotrod4x5
You need the permit for HD as well. How soon should you get your Happy Isles to Little Yosemite Valley wilderness permit? ASAP
Go here to find if your dates are free:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm

Re: Campground Question

PostPosted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:13 am
by Vlado
Erich1B wrote:Thank you, that's what I thought. I couldn't remember the name of the site. How far in advance can someone get a wilderness permit?

24 weeks in advance. I obtained my wilderness permit (for a trip starting on 7/27) on Feb. 9th.
There is a small number of first-come-first-serve wilderness permits available at the park, but you'll have to wait in line since the dawn hours ;-), and it is not guaranteed you will get one...

Erich1B wrote:Does the wilderness permit allow you to climb Half Dome or would I need a Half Dome weekend permit if it was a Friday, Satruday, or Sunday?

Yes - the wilderness permit allows you to climb Half Dome without obtaining the special weekend permit. You will have to request a Half Dome permit when you are picking up your wilderness permit.

PostPosted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:30 am
by Erich1B
Thanks everyone. After posting, I found the information that I needed on nps.gov (Yosemite).

I loved Yosemite, and will look forward to another visit August 2011.

Yosemite took my breath away. I took over 2000 pictures, and am convinced that as long as you hold your camera at eye level and point it slightly upward, you can't take a bad picture at Yosemite.

Erich