Yosemite Forum

Plannng a 4 day three night backpacking trip in Late July or early August. We plan to do the following

Day 1-Tuolomne to just below Vogelsang.

Day 2 Below Vogelsang to just east of Lake Merced

Day 3 Back up an alternate trail to just north of Vogelsang

Day 4 Back to Toulomne

any advice ideas experiences are apreciated.

Tuolumne to Vogelsang is a reasonable first day. On the way up, be sure to stop and look behind you at the views of Lyell Canyon and beyond. Vogelsang could be cold, but often has beautiful sunsets.

Vogelsang down to Lake Merced is easy, except for blisters if you're boots aren't right. For me, it''s a little crowded and noisy with lots of screaming kids running around the HSC.

Going back up is tough--it's 3000' up from Lake Merced to Vogelsang. The eastern trail (of the two to Vogelsang) is more scenic and less-used. Lots of waterfalls along the way.

Thank you for the info.Question..we do not want to stay atany of the high sierra camps so can you suggest good camp sites for each of the three nights. On enear Vogelsang one near Merced and then one for the way back to Toulomne?

There's campsites for backpackers at Vogelsang and Merced Lake.

You don't need one between Vogelsang and Tuolumne as you can hike back down in a half day.

You can camp anywhere you want, as long as it's so many feet away from the trail or water. Off-hand I don't remember a large campground between Vogelsang and Merced Lake, but I'm sure there's small, informal campsites.

We plan to camp just east of Merced and then head back towards Toulomne the next day but not all the way if we dont want to stay in Vogelsang High Sierra Camp do you have any good locations as you head back towards Toulomne.

Dan also do you know the trailhead name to list on the application. We will be heading down the Rafferty Creek trail.

It should say something like Tuolumne Meadows (campground, store, visitor center, wilderness permit center, ranger station). It might say Lyell Fork trailhead.

It's not Cathederal Creek Trailhead, which is a mile or two to the west.

If you're starting from Yosemite Valley (it doesn't sound like it), it's Happy Isles.