Yosemite Forum

Hello,

Could you please recommend an overnight backpacking route in yosemite area for October? I was thinking of Hetch Hetchy area but I don't know if the area is ideal for October for a newbie. Is there a place to park a car overnght in Hetch Hetchy area?

Here is what I'm tyring to do.

1. drive from sf to yostemite, get wilderness permit and park my car somewhere
2 . hike 4-6 miles and overnight camp somewhere in the wild
3. hike 4-6 miles next day to my car and come back home.

thank you

The Hetch Hetchy entrance station is open 8am-5pm, so make sure you get there before 5 or camp outside the park the night before. Their phone # is 209-379-1922. There is a backpacker's campground and trailhead parking. The facilities are bare-bones.

For updates see
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildcond.htm

You can hike to one of the lakes north of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir--look at a map.

Expect freezing temperatures. Check the weather forecast before you go.

HH is actually open from 8-7pm.

The facilties include a backpackers campground with restroom(s).

For a newbie go to Rancheria. It is newbie kinda of trip.
After you cross the second set of bridges at Tilltil Creek you will
ascend a couple hundred feet and then it will flatten out.
At that point you will see a sign for Racheria campground.
Ignore that and head due South and you'll see the creek and
cascades. Make you way down the "cliff" and camp there.
After setting up get back on the trail and hike up to the bridge over
Rancheria or explore the river upstream.

When you get to the gate the Ranger will give you a car permit
and wilderness permit. They will tell you where to park, etc.
You cannot park overnight at the dam so you have to hike the
road from your car. Take the road on the west side. (it's a loop).

Have fun

One more thing. Wapama and Rancheria aren't flowing with much vigor right now.
Wapama is only flowing now just because we had the storm go thru.

I highly recommend that you revisit your trip in Late May/Early June to
see just how different it is.

Enjoy