Route opinion, TM to Happy Isles

[atomicmonkey]

July 18, we are leaving Tuolumne Meadows via Rafferty Creek to Merced Lake and on to Happy Isles. About one mile west of Merced Lake is the proverbial fork in the road! To the left takes you along the river and through Little Yosemite Valley. To the right, the trail goes up higher and hooks up with the John Muir Trail and Half Dome before rejoining the left trail about a mile east of Nevada Falls. We are not doing the Half Dome trip.

Are there any suggestions or advice on which route to take? I did the right trail about 15 years ago and it was great and do not mind doing it again, but if the trail to the left is really great, it would be nice to try that. Also, considering the way above average snow pack and swollen streams and rivers, the lower left route might not be a great choice.

Thanks
Mike

[dan]

I think the Merced River is more scenic, but it's more popular and crowded, than the John Muir Trail route.

The higher JMT route is not as popular. It's more in forest. I just love the campground at the JMT/Clouds Rest Trail junction. It's in shade, near a creek, and not crowded (the Little Yosemite Valley campground is a zoo IMHO).

I don't remember problems with river crossings with the Merced River route--it's very popular. The JMT route is along Sunrise Creek and the creek never has much water in it--not enough to be a problem with crossing.

[bill-e-g]

Snow and whatnot won't be an issue on either route then.

The high trail is really nice until you hit the JMT. After that I always ask "Why is the JMT here?"
It should go further in to see some of the Clouds Rest "massif" or it should just be following the Merced
to at least Echo Valley.

The Merced Canyon is always spectacular.

If I could only do one and that was it... Canyon winds hands down.

[atomicmonkey]

Dan and Bill-E-G,
Thank you for your time and opinions! We are leaning heavily on the Merced River (left) route. Less than two weeks to go! Packs are packed and we are all counting the minutes. It is going to be great to get back to Yosemite.
Cheers,
Mike

[TigerFan]

I did this exact hike last summer starting, believe it or not, on July 18th. We camped at Vogelsang, Bernice Lake, Merced and LYV. We did Half Dome. Merced Valley was stunning. Maybe we just got lucky but LYV wasn't bad at all, downright pleasant. We climbed Half Dome in the morning and had the cables to ourselves. Mist Trail down to the Valley was another story -- felt like we were in some neverending line at Disneyworld... UGH.

Vogelsang HSC wasn't open then and I'm guessing it won't be open by then this year either. Merced HSC has just opened days before.

Just be prepared for the mosquitoes. REALLY prepared.