Backpacking for 2 nights in mid-October

[JBMHiker]

Some friends and I are planning a backpacking trip in the Tioga Road area for two nights in mid-October. We are all experienced hikers, but this is our first time backpacking in Yosemite. I was curious if anyone could suggest some trails that meet the following:

- Maximum of 15 miles
- Maximum of 2000 ft elevation gain
- campfires allowed (below 9300 at campsites)
- Loop trail preferred

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[AlmostThere]

You're starting from Tioga Road, so elevation will be 9000 and above automatically for at least part of your trip. The no fire zone is actually above 9600. You are allowed to use only established fire rings anyway so that's easy, look for established fire rings and look on your map to see if it's a legal one.

You could try for a Sunrise trailhead to Cathedral trailhead trip and do a short car shuttle. Camping at Sunrise HSC backpacker campsites would guarantee you bear boxes and fire rings. Sounds like you are looking at two days, that would be manageable and scenic with potential for a side trip to Clouds Rest if you wanted to. There are also campsites at the intersection of the Clouds Rest trail and the JMT. Could go from Sunrise to CR, back out to the trail and go on through Cathedral Lakes and out.

You might want to check on permitting, tho. Those are very popular trailheads.

[JBMHiker]

Thanks for the advice AlmostThere. Sunrise --> Cathedral looks like a great hike. Once we park, is there a shuttle that would be able to take us to the other trailhead? We only have one car, so we wouldn't be able to do it otherwise.

I'm a little concerned about the popularity of those trails...are they that bad in October? Is there a possibility of the campsite areas being filled up?

[bill-e-g]

Be aware that you CANNOT park your car OVERNIGHT
on Tioga Road after Oct. 15. Same is true for Glacier Pt. road.

[AlmostThere]

You are going into the park after the shuttles stop running, but before the trailhead quotas cease to be a factor. The stores and snack bars will all be shut down. You're also running a risk (probably slight) of snow blocking the road. There have been a few times Tioga closed in October due to snowfall. that's why they don't allow you to park up there overnight. (Thanks, bill, i forgot about that.)
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm

Might want to be prepared for low temps (20-30F) btw. That's fall edging into winter weather, and some nights it's freezing at night at elevation in July.

[JBMHiker]

Our trip is October 9-11, so it looks like we just barely made the cutoff for leaving our car overnight. We will definitely be prepared for cold weather. Thanks for the tips!

Since we won't be able to car-shuttle, any other suggestions?

[AlmostThere]

Hitch hike, or walk back to the car. I don't think the trailheads are terribly far apart. Have to look at a map.

[JBMHiker]

Looks like we've settled on Sunrise > Cathedral > back down to Clouds. Thanks for the advice.

Cheers!