Suggestions for camping near Half-Dome

[tyronus]

Hello --- planning to camp near Half-Dome in a few weeks. Permits are all secured, including HD. Will be coming from the Clouds Rest side -- and would prefer not to camp in backpackers campground in Little Yosemite Valley.

Was reading on the park's web site the following restrictions:
"The first camping available is at the Little Yosemite Valley Campground. Camping is not permitted between Yosemite Valley and Little Yosemite Valley. If you would like to camp in a dispersed Wilderness setting, you must be at least two miles past the campground (at or beyond either Moraine Dome or the Half Dome/John Muir Trail junction)."

So I guess the question would be whether there are good sites a little further up the HD trail (towards HD itself, but well prior to where it becomes exposed rock) -- perhaps a nice place or two to scamper from the main trail towards a nice perch on the edge of Yosemite Valley. ??

Anyway -- does this sound possible? If any thoughts on this, would love to hear them - thank you.

[transponster]

You can camp near the junction where the trail from Clouds Rest meets the JMT, near Sunrise Creek. There are a lot of dispersed campsites in this area above the junction, and it is only about 2 miles from the HD subdome.

[Phil]

I agree that it's better to avoid LYV. It's usually very crowded, camping there is like living in apartments without walls next to neighbors that aren't always the most savory people. Staying up-trail of the Half Dome spur is definitely a superior and potentially more private choice. Good call! Right when you come to the trail junction from Cloud's Rest and the JMT, there are few fairly decent sites that I know of, but they're not too far off the trail, so they're obvious. There are also some spots down about 100 or so yards on the left in the rocks as you head past the junction towards LYV that have great views, but they tend to fill up quickly. Option 3 would be to head back up the JMT from the junction a little ways and you'll see a couple that are also obvious, but if you want the best in the area (IMO) once you pass the trail junction down to Echo Valley/Merced Lake, go up the JMT just slightly more, duck in and start poking around to your left along Sunrise Creek. Just like LYV though, there is no shortage of crafty and well conditioned bears along that entire stretch, so be aware and keep it tight. Hope this give you something better to work with.