Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [441]
Campgrounds in the White Wolf area include Porcupine Flat, which has lots of shade, shrubs, and trees, although facilities are pretty much limited to pit toilets. It's near Yosemite Creek; you may find a spot here if you're in a pinch. Pets are not permitted. It's along Tioga Road, 16 miles west of Tuolumne Meadows and 38 miles east of Yosemite Valley. The White Wolf Campground, secluded in a forest, is a generally delightful campground where you might want to spend several days. It has flush toilets and offers easy access to nearby hiking, with trails that lead to several lakes, including Grant Lake and Lukens Lake. There's a dirt road to Harden Lake, and beyond that, a trail to Smith Peak, which overlooks the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. On the down side, mosquitoes make their presence felt here in summer. From Big Oak Flat Road, head east on Tioga Road for 15 miles to White Wolf Road and turn left. The road dead-ends at the campground.
Among Yosemite's other campgrounds are Tuolumne Meadows, the biggest campground in the park and, amazingly, often the least crowded. Its location in the high country makes this a good spot from which to head off with a backpack. It's also near the Tuolumne River, making it a good choice for anglers. In addition to its standard RV and tent sites, the campground has 25 walk-in spaces for backpackers and 8 group sites that can accommodate up to 30 people each. There are flush toilets, and showers nearby at Tuolumne Lodge (for a fee). From Big Oak Flat Road, drive about 45 miles east on Tioga Road.
Wawona Campground, which requires reservations from May through September and is first-come, first-served the rest of the year, has flush toilets and can accommodate pack animals; call park offices for information. There's not much seclusion here, but the location, shaded beneath towering trees, is beautiful. The campground is near the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees and close to the Merced River, which offers some of the better fishing in the park. It's about 1 mile north of Wawona. The Yosemite Creek Campground, along Yosemite Creek, has pit toilets and little else, but it may have sites available when the park's other campgrounds are full. From Big Oak Flat Road, head east on Tioga Road about 30 miles, turn right on the access road, and go another 5 miles.
OUTSIDE THE PARK
Yosemite sits amid national forests that offer comparable campgrounds to the ones in the park, although often less developed and less crowded. There are also private campgrounds, which usually provide level sites, complete RV hookups, hot showers, coin-operated laundries, convenience stores, and other amenities.
Lumsden Campground is along the Tuolumne River, on a scenic stretch between the Hetch Hetchy and Don Pedro reservoirs. It offers fishing in a primitive setting, and it can get unbelievably hot in the summer. From Groveland, take Calif. 120 about 9 miles east to Ferretti Road, turn left and drive about 1 mile to Lumsden Road, where you turn right and travel about 5 miles on a steep, narrow dirt road to the campground. Lumsden Bridge Campground is about 1½ miles past Lumsden Campground (on Lumsden Rd.). Set in a pine and oak forest along the Tuolumne River, it is a favorite of rafters because it's close to some of the Tuolumne River's best (and most scenic) stretches of white water. The South Fork Campground, also along Lumsden Road, near Lumsden and Lumsden Bridge campgrounds, is a pretty spot near the Tuolumne River. Trailers and vehicles with low ground clearance are not recommended for any of the above three campgrounds.
The Pines Campground is about 9 miles east of Groveland on Calif. 120, and although it's in a mixed conifer forest, it can get hot in the summer. Drinking water is available only in the summer. Lost Claim Campground, about 12 miles