Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [442]
ALONG CALIF. 120
The following campgrounds, along Calif. 120 west of the park, are all in the Stanislaus National Forest's Groveland Ranger District, 24545 Calif. 120, Groveland, CA 95321 (☎ 209/962-7825; www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/groveland). They all have vault toilets and can accommodate rigs up to 22 feet long.
ALONG CALIF. 140
Jerseydale Campground, in the Sierra National Forest, 1600 Tollhouse Rd., Clovis, CA 93611-0532 (☎ 559/297-0706; www.fs.fed.us/r5/sierra), is a great base for exploring the area. It also allows you to stay away from the crowds. There are vault toilets and hiking trails, and you can get to the Merced River from a nearby trailhead. From Mariposa, drive about 12 miles northwest on Calif. 49 to Jerseydale Road, which leads to the campground and adjacent Jerseydale Ranger Station.
A good choice for those who want all the amenities of a top-notch commercial campground is the Yosemite–Mariposa KOA, 7 miles northeast of Mariposa at 6323 Calif. 140 (P.O. Box 545), Midpines, CA 95345 (☎ 800/562-9391 for reservations or 209/966-2201; www.koa.com). Located 23 miles from the park entrance, this KOA has pines and oaks shading many of the sites, a catch-and-release fishing pond, pedal boats in the summer, a swimming pool, and a playground. There's also a convenience store and propane sales. A favorite of kids is the train caboose containing video games. There are also a dozen camping cabins (you share the bathhouse with campers), with rates of $52 to $65.
ALONG CALIF. 41
Two Sierra National Forest campgrounds (see contact information under Jerseydale Campground, above) offer pleasant camping, with vault toilets, in a woodsy atmosphere along Calif. 41, southwest of Yosemite. Summerdale Campground is about a mile north of Fish Camp on Calif. 41, on the south fork of the Merced River; it's often full for the weekend by noon Friday. Summit Campground, in the Chowchilla Mountains, about 5 miles west of Fish Camp on a Forest Service Road, is a little campground that's often overlooked.
ALONG CALIF. 120
The Inyo National Forest operates a number of small, attractive campgrounds along Calif. 120 east of the national park. These include Big Bend Campground, with flush toilets, 7 miles west of Lee Vining on Calif. 120. Located on the eastern Sierra along Lee Vining Creek, this campground is sparse but breathtaking. Ellery Lake Campground, which also has flush toilets, is at scenic Ellery Lake, about 9 miles west of Lee Vining on Calif. 120. Junction Campground is near Ellery and Tioga lakes, with easy access to the Tioga Tarns Nature Trail. It has vault toilets and is 10 miles west of Lee Vining along Calif. 120.
The highest (in elevation) drive-in campground in the state, at 10,000 feet, beautiful Saddlebag Lake Campground is along Saddlebag Lake and near Lee Vining Creek. It's a good place to stay a while, or you can head out from here into the wilderness with a backpack. It has flush toilets. From Lee Vining, drive 10 miles west on Calif. 120, then turn north on Saddlebag Lake Road and go about 2 miles to the campground. Another high-elevation campground, Tioga Lake Campground, is a pretty place to camp and has flush toilets. From Lee Vining, drive 10 miles west on Calif. 120.
Information on these U.S. Forest Service campgrounds is available from the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center, on the west shore of Mono Lake (P.O. Box 429, Lee Vining, CA 93541; ☎ 760/ 647-3044), and the Inyo National Forest, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200, Bishop, CA 93514 (☎ 760/873-2485; www.fs. fed.us/r5/inyo).
Where to Stay
Choices abound in and near Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Valley is the hub for lodging, dining, and other services in the