dirtbagliz wrote:"In 2010, entrance fees will be waived on...August 14-15"
That's from the NPS website, and we'll be there Aug. 13-15! Does this affect the crowd level in a really bad way, or is it about as manageable as other summer weekends?
More specifically, we want to get first-come first-served backpacking permits for 3 for Sunrise Lakes>Cloud's Rest>Yosemite Valley. I know that one is popular. Please let me know if I am making some huge planning mistakes, this will be my first visit ever!
Free weekends impact crowd level
A LOT! I was there end of September once, thinking it was off-season, but it was some free weekend (I think the anniversary of something for the National Park Service). The place was
PACKED! Avoid at all costs! Of course, this applies to the front-country. I don't think backpacking will be impacted by a few weekend days, unless you're trying for a wilderness permit entrance on those exact days. Being a day earlier should help. People don't arrive
before the freebie dates in greater numbers to pay the higher entrance fees.