I went 11 years ago. It's stunning, a whole different kind of experience than Sequoia, I'd love to go back.

So when do we start the Yosemite swanking thread? I'd absolutely be interested.

Yosemite is sold out for reservations for summer but they have many sites - especialy in Tuoloumne that are not reservable. I love the valley but prefer the Meadows for summer camping. The Valley gets to be such a zoo in Summer but the Meadows close early in the year after snowfall when Tioga Pass closes.

As one who hasn't been to Yosemite since I was like 6 months old, I would LOVE to go... looks gorgeous!

Valley Camping has its charms. For first-timers, which I envision the 2008 swankamping geared to, I think the walking, biking, rafting and sometimes driving proximity to the wonders of the Valley make camping there worthwhile. Lower Pines is an awesome campground, and spots by the river are supremely wonderful.

The bad part is that only 2 sites can be reserved at one time, and competition is fierce once they go on sale. The chances of getting multiple adjoining sites (or even those few swanky river sites) are slim.

White Wolf, about 15 minutes outside the Valley, is a great spot ... much more easygoing, and far less hassles to get campsites. It's a nice location for visiting Tuolomne Meadows as well as the Valley ... but getting to the Valley is a little journey, and camping in White Wolf makes it less likely that newcomers will experience all that the Valley offers.


Timing is everything in a visit to Yosemite. Though all seasons are marvelous, you really want to visit when the waterfalls are flowing nicely.

In early Spring, though some of the best trails are still closed, the Valley's multitudes of tiny falls and cascades make the place look like Rivendell. But the main falls can be flowing too strongly to get close to (and boulder-climbing towards the bases of Lower Yosemite and Bridalveil is one of the most fun activities).

I'd vote for late Spring when the high trails are open and the big falls are friendly. Where's our wiki page for Yosemite? Let's start detail-planning NOW!

An alternative for groups if we'd want to stay in the valley are the oddly named "Housekeeping Cabins". Covered, but with an open-air wall, they're conveniently located, and easily reservable. It would mean sacrificing some of the true-camping feeling (there are central shower facilities) for the combination of location and group togetherness.

we went a number of years back a year (or so) after the huge fires they had. we drove around for awhile and couldnt see any signs of a fire of any sort. then while driving out, we came across the top of a ridge and for as far as the eye could see, black and empty clear to the horizon. it was like someone has nuked the place.

the stunning impact of it was beyond imagination. my wife broke out crying at the sight of it.

Perhaps PanTheMan could get us some advice on that, as his mother is a Yosemite Park Ranger.

I wouldn't spend an hour at HouseKeeping Camp on a bet. It's a disgusting ghetto.

If we are going to go that along that vein, I've no problem with skipping camping altogether - and staying at Yosemite Lodge or in cabins at Curry Village. Housekeeping "Camp" is so far from the experience of camping, that you might as well not.

That's where I stayed when I went 11 years ago. Granted, I was in high school with about 30 other high school friends, so my view was skewed, but I had a great time. Of course, I seemed to treat Yosemite more like a vacation than camping (i.e., if I was awake, I was away from the cabin, if I was at the cabin, I was asleep), so I suppose the actual state of the lodging wasn't of particular concern to me.