short backpacking trip in Yosemite

[APV]

I am planning a short, three days two nights, backpacking trip in Yosemite with kids in June. Can anybody recommend places to visit and routes to go or where to look for information? Kids are teens. My last backpacking was many years ago, so I feel a bit out of date in regard to backpacking.

[cz74]

Oh gosh 18 years ago summer of 2004 I believe, took the kids and nephews they were in their late teens then, 3-day 2 nights backpacking trip to Yosemite, the staff at REI recommended this route and it turned out to be a hidden gem! Have to dig out my notebook and maps, but from memory and confirmed with Google maps just now roughly our route:

We got to the trailhead around noon

- Start: park your car at "Ten Lakes Trailhead" off hwy 120, about an hour drive from West entrance
- Hike south towards the valley, the trail roughly follows along and crosses the Yosemite Creek, we had to wade through the water at one point, and that was the most exciting part of the experience.
- Pass Yosemite Creek Campground
- We made camp near the creek about 4 hours into the hike, thought better to be near water, but watch out for those Mosquitoes!
- Next day our destination is the top of the Yosemite Falls
- What a view of the entire valley, appreciate how high from our vantage point!
- The kids were having a blast so we hiked to Eagle Peak
- Return hike same route as we came, don't remember where we camped second night.

I wouldn't say the route was easy, twin hiking poles are a must. Bring water filters, water source is plenty. Love to take the grandkids there some day but my back is well past that kind of fun.

[flyinbronco]

You will need reservations to visit Yosemite.

[APV]

Thanks guys. I checked Yosemite park options. Yosemite Creek Campground is closed until July per the website information. Camps in the park area are all reserved ahead of time. I guess I will search for alternative routes.

[Whiterabbit]

Little Yosemite Valley. It's easy, except for getting permits.

Day 1 you hike into the backpackers camp.
Day 2 you get up with the sun and summit Half Dome. In the afternoon you walk across the valley to just before bunnel falls and ride the water slides.
Day 3 you walk out.

I've done this as early as and earlier than 14 years old. I was scrawny back then. I still am, but could do it well as a youth.

Good luck planning Yosemite with a month of runway these days tho

[sfe187]

Half Dome?

[Darto]

Half dome: The 2nd half there is no water. After passing little Yosemite campgrounds, there is only one more water source. On the right hand side of trail and very easy to miss, a tiny spring.

Key to Yosemite: mosquito dope! And moleskin and hydrocortisone if you aren't used to walking long hours (blisters). Sun glasses and sunscreen (because of the high altitude sun). And as always, toilet paper, just in case.

[RNE228]

Not Yosemite, but I like backpacking to Emigrant Lake, behind Kirkwood ski resort. Part of Mokelumne Wilderness Areas. Great hike for kids; was my first backpacking trip back in '75. Was my son's second trip.

There's a bunch of cool backpacking in that Highway-88/Kirkwood/Carson Pass area.

[Whiterabbit]

This looks excellent for my 7 and 10 year old. Maybe next year.

Also, looks maybe excellent for me. Solid backpacker, but never winter camped (like, on snow).

Does this look like a good trek for adults to make in December to teach themselves snowshoeing and snow backpacking?

[DolphinFan]

Stay just outside the park. take a day trip into the park.

I like the Saddleback campground off Hwy 120. Lake Ellery is another great place to camp and backpack.

[Keith4him]

I am planning a short, three days two nights, backpacking trip in Yosemite with kids in June. Can anybody recommend places to visit and routes to go or where to look for information? Kids are teens. My last backpacking was many years ago, so I feel a bit out of date in regard to backpacking.

Clouds Rest, the North Dome Trail, if really ambitious Valley floor to the top of Yosemite Falls

[Alan Block]

Toualumne meadows to Young Lakes. It’s north of TM on the west side of Mt Conness, about 6 flat miles each way. TM south to Vogelsang pass and Cathedral lakes. Valley floor up the vernal and Nevada falls trail to Little Yosemite Valley / Bunnel rapids. 9 miles with a lot of vertical. Or Merced lake, another 4 miles.

[Tarmy]

Clouds Rest, the North Dome Trail, if really ambitious Valley floor to the top of Yosemite Falls

This. Clouds Rest is the best view and way way less people. We have been on every dome and hiked almost all of that place over the last 40 years…

I think if you get your wilderness permit for back country you do not need a permit for Half Dome…plus getting there first thing in the morning you will miss all the day hikers and crowds. We got to the top about 9am last time and basically had the place to ourselves and got down before the cables got crowded. We had our 15yo son with us and we didn’t want to take any chances with idiots on the way up or down the cables.

Here is a pic of him on the way down.
3B707B99-59D4-419C-A471-F7AFB85B1E89.jpg

[Whiterabbit]

Hrm. When I was 14 I WAS the idiot on the cables! With 3 more idiots right behind me flying down the outside. Back during the 1200 a day no permit days. Those were good times.