Yosemite advice please

[Rockcrawler]

DW and I are wanting to go to Yosemite from Tx in the next week or so. I have never been there and was hoping for some tips from the well traveled. We wanted to be gone no more than 2 weeks but might stretch it if everything at home goes well. I will be dragging a jeep with me for a toad.

All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Larry

[Rockcrawler]

So nobody has an opinion or advice? Maybe my computer is broken.

[SVTotem]

Computer is working. I am curious to hear too, but it might take a little time for a good response. I suspect you will hear that staying outside the park will be necessary.

[Automobilist]

Got reservations? If not, good luck. Yosemite is the most popular national park in the country, and books up solid, months in advance. You'll definitely be staying outside the valley, which is what it's all about. Do Yosemite in fall or winter when it's not overrun by the masses.

I recommend spending the time in the Gold Rush country, in my opinion the last, best, California left. Take Highway 49 from Oakhurst north as far as it goes. See Mariposa, Calaveras, Sutter Creek, Volcano, the Amador Valley wine country, and the Marshall gold discovery area. Then jump up to Nevada City, etc. Far nicer in summer than Yosemite. Two must visit places are Story Winery in Plymouth and the Sutter Creek Inn, the oldest B&B in California.

[Rockcrawler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Automobilist Got reservations? If not, good luck. Yosemite is the most popular national park in the country, and books up solid, months in advance. You'll definitely be staying outside the valley, which is what it's all about. Do Yosemite in fall or winter when it's not overrun by the masses. I recommend spending the time in the Gold Rush country, in my opinion the last, best, California left. Take Highway 49 from Oakhurst north as far as it goes. See Mariposa, Calaveras, Sutter Creek, Volcano, the Amador Valley wine country, and the Marshall gold discovery area. Then jump up to Nevada City, etc. Far nicer in summer than Yosemite. Two must visit places are Story Winery in Plymouth and the Sutter Creek Inn, the oldest B&B in California.

We might just do this route in September when we are planning to visit relatives in CA.

The Yosemite trip can be changed but not a lot since we are visiting friends in Snow Mtn, CO anyway. We are thinking of doing Estes Park too. 2 weeks is just not enough...might have to retire early???

[RVThere]

Rockcrawler,

My son is working as a chef at the Ahwanhee Hotel in Yosemite right now. The waterfalls are spectacular (he hiked up to the top of Yosemite Falls on Sunday) but some flooding is expected as the temp is warming up and melting the snow in the high country.

There are quite a number of threads dealing with the roads and campgrounds in Yosemite so do your research. Tioga Road is NOT open so coming from Texas your best approach is from Fresno on Rt. 41.

The Valley campgrounds were sold out 5 months ago so your only option is staying outside the park. With traffic, figure on a 1-2 hour ride from your campsite to the Valley.

[Rockcrawler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVThere There are quite a number of threads dealing with the roads and campgrounds in Yosemite so do your research. Tioga Road is NOT open so coming from Texas your best approach is from Fresno on Rt. 41. The Valley campgrounds were sold out 5 months ago so your only option is staying outside the park. With traffic, figure on a 1-2 hour ride from your campsite to the Valley.

Thanks for the tip on hwy 41.

Anyone have a suggestion on a rv park outside the park?

[DAN L]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockcrawler Thanks for the tip on hwy 41. Anyone have a suggestion on a rv park outside the park?

we love the escapees rv park near coarsegold on highway 41 south of yosemite. we stayed there for 3 weeks last summer. if you are not an escapees member you can join while you are there. we did just that.
tell them we sent ya.

Park of the Sierras, Location

you can park free in the chukchansi indian casino (on 41) parking lot near coarsegold, across the road from the escapees park. we stayed there for 3 days while making day trips to yosemite in our toad last summer. the food is very good and reasonably priced at chukchansi. the players club gets you reduced prices on food.

Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino - Players Club

[Rockcrawler]

Thanks Dan L. These are a great help, and the casino may be fun also.

We will be taking our Rubicon, does anyone have a favorite back road they like for sight seeing?

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

If you are old enough get a GoldenAge pass for all Nat'l Parks. If you do the Hwy 41 stay outside of the park. Check around the Oakhurst Ca area for RV parks or Mariposa. If you stay in the Oakhurst area when you enter the park the B ig trees are a right turn and Yosemite Valley to the left. Backup to enter the park can be long so try to plan an early start. We take a cooler with water, soda, and a bottle of wine with us and buy sandwich at the Deli in the Valley. the bike trails are all asphalt and pretty flat except for the hill to Mirror meadow. If you are continuing West from Oakhurst check your maps and the experience going into the valley to determine your exit strategy. You may want to leave Oakhurst and go to Mariposa and take 140 to Merced and hit Hwy 99 toward Modesto/Stockton and hit I 5. Or you may want to enter the park and and take Hwy 108 toward Groveland then Hwy 120 to Sonora where you can take Hwy 49 thru the Gold Country. As you can see on the map Hwy 49 gives you several options to Nevada...88 to Carson City, 50 to Lake Tahoe, or I 80 to Reno. All routes will require some Mountain driving so take your time, use your exhaust brake and don't let anyone set your pace. Probably more info than you wanted, but I've been there and done that.

[Rockcrawler]

Thanks Ronnie, more good info. By the time I get there I will have a pretty good idea of what to expect. The info I am getting on the forum will greatly reduce my learning curve and allow me more time to enjoy the park.

Thanks to all

[golden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockcrawler DW and I are wanting to go to Yosemite from Tx in the next week or so. I have never been there and was hoping for some tips from the well traveled. We wanted to be gone no more than 2 weeks but might stretch it if everything at home goes well. I will be dragging a jeep with me for a toad. All suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Larry

I left from Georgetown a month ago and on the way stopped at Grand Canyon and Yosemite before arriving here on the coast of Oregon.

While at Yosemite, I stayed at Yosemite Pines RV Park, about 50ish miles from the park center. I recommend it although they are VERY overpriced on holidays and not particularly cheap other times.

I only went to Yosemite two days and the other folks before me here on the forum made good recommendations. The first day I took the guided tour which allowed me to decide which areas I wanted to see the next day. Also Tioga Pass was closed and that was too bad. IMO, you need a minimum of a week to see much of the park to get your full value.

It was the week before Memorial Day weekend that we went and the park wasn't too busy. I imagine that has changed by now.

[golden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAN L we love the escapees rv park near coarsegold on highway 41 south of yosemite. we stayed there for 3 weeks last summer. if you are not an escapees member you can join while you are there. we did just that. tell them we sent ya. Park of the Sierras, Location you can park free in the chukchansi indian casino (on 41) parking lot near coarsegold, across the road from the escapees park. we stayed there for 3 days while making day trips to yosemite in our toad last summer. the food is very good and reasonably priced at chukchansi. the players club gets you reduced prices on food. Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino - Players Club

Where were you when I was asking all these questions before leaving for Yosemite???? Oh well, some people have to learn the hard way.

[deandec]

Just saw that folks in Lower Pines Campground had to move to higher ground because of the snow melt continuing.