Mono Meadow to Clouds Rest

[jeremg4]

I am planning a three day trip to clouds rest in September. I would like to stay in LYV for the first night but if I can't get a reservation how close can I camp to Nevada Falls coming up from the Mono Meadow Trailhead. Also if anyone has any advice about Mono Meadow versus Glacier Point as a starting point. I am planning on Mono Meadow for no other reason than I should be able to reserve dates fairly easily.

Thanks

[AlmostThere]

Short answer, you can't camp close to Nevada Falls at all, outside of LYV.

Long Answer - there are no legal campsites along the Panorama Trail, or along the Mist Trail. The first legal camping is in LYV.

If you go up Illilouette Creek until you are two miles from the trailhead you can legally camp. That takes you off your route.

Remember that most services begin to shut down in mid-September... if you are going to rely on shuttles, the hiker bus, the tour bus to Glacier Point, or other such things you will want to check out their schedules to see if they are still running, still running on a limited schedule, or not running at all.

[balzaccom]

Also note that the hike from Mono Meadows to the panorama trail is almost completely DOWN hill, not up !