Backpacking in southern yosemite

[Marmot]

Anybody have any good suggestions on a spot to go backpacking for a night or two around Wawona or somewhere along the glacier point road? Not longer than maybe 15 miles round trip? Thanks! I was considering hiking up to ostrander lake from glacier point road but there's a good chance there is snow there now; so I am probably going to rule that out. Any ideas would be appreciated, thanks.

[Grzldvt]

Chilanualna Falls may be your best bet if you want to stay in the Wawona area. Keep in mind Glacier Point Rd and Tioga Rd are closed for overnight parking, which includes the trail heads.

[AlmostThere]

From Wawona the trailhead is to Chilnualna Falls, from there you can go out to Chilnualna Lakes and beyond.

Any snow on Glacier Pt Road will be gone; good thing for you since most of that southwestern region is between 7-9000 in elevation, so snow on the road would mean snow everywhere. May still be patches in shade, but nothing deep.

As noted, Glacier Pt Rd is closed to overnight parking and there are no busses that go out there now.

You could plan a trip into Yosemite to Chain Lakes from the quartz mountain trailhead instead - permitting would be from the Bass Lake ranger station instead of the park. Still need bear canisters because you're in Yosemite tho.

[Marmot]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I've done the chilnualna falls trail once and think I'll do that one again. The Chain Lakes from the quartz mountain trailhead sounds excellent as well, i'll do that one as well soon. I live at bass lake so I enjoy finding all the hiking trails around here that I can.

[balzaccom]

Bear in mind that the ROAD to Wawona and the Chilnualna Falls trailhead is a lot easier and shorter than those into the Ansel Adams Wilderness and the Chain of lake, Cora Lakes, Fernandez etc. That would give you more time on the trail, and less time in the car, if that matters to you.

On the other hand, the trail up Chilnualna is steep...you'll need that extra time!

We have links to the hikes in both areas on our website.

[oakroscoe]

I haven't done it, but everyone I know that's done Chilnuana has loved it. Its on my list, but so is a ton of other places...If you do, please come back and tell us how it was.

[AlmostThere]

The Quartz Mountain trailhead is nowhere near as long a drive as trailheads into Ansel Adams, and the trail is 1/4 mile long in national forest until you hit the park boundary.

I've also gotten my car in there - the one I call No Clearance Clarence - but would not want to do it when the rain is a'pouring. The dirt road is smooth but still dirt, and probably really deep mud when wet.

[Grzldvt]

Well, now you have me thinking. I have Sunday/Monday off and was going to do some car camping over on the Eastern Side for fall color, hit the Burro/Summit Pass on Sunday and the Dana Plateau on Monday. Now I am lusting for an overnight BP trip. Did Chilanualna Falls in mid June, but only get as far as the top, then hit snow. Didn't get a chance to go beyond... This might be the opportunity. Decisions... Decisions...