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East Yosemite Lodging


Johnny Kampis Stark cliff faces surround valleys in Yosemite National Park. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images )


If you want to get away from the plethora of tourists in Yosemite Valley, consider a visit to the rugged east side of Yosemite National Park, where attractions are sparse but nature is abundant. This section of the California park offers a handful of lodging options, some of which can only be accessed by foot.

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge

This lodge on Tioga Road near the park's east entrance is only open in the summer due to the heavy snowfall in the area. Accommodations in this rustic facility are basic and are frequented by backpackers seeking a base camp for trips high into the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. Tuolumne Meadows Lodge is located at an elevation of 8,775 feet in the largest subalpine meadow in this mountain chain.

Yosemite High Sierra Camps

These camps can only be accessed by foot or horse and are located five to 10 miles apart along a loop trail in the park's high country in the northeast. Hikers get complete breakfast and dinner here in dining tents, saving them the trouble of hauling their meals around in their packs. In addition, visitors can buy box lunches for the following day for an additional cost.

Porcupine Flat Campground

This campground offers 52 campsites at an 8,100-foot elevation on Tioga Road about 75 minutes north of Yosemite Valley. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring and food locker. Porcupine Flat is usually open from July to mid-October, depending on weather conditions, and does not accept reservations. The campground allows RVs with a maximum length of 24 feet and travel trailers up to 20 feet at a limited number of campsites. Facilities, such as grocery stores, showers and dump stations, are not located on site. The nearest are at least 30 minutes away. Pets are not allowed at the campground.

Yosemite Creek Campground

Yosemite Creek Campground is an hour away from the valley on Tioga Road and offers 75 campsites, although like Porcupine Flat none can be reserved. This campground at 7,700 feet is generally only open from July to September, and campsites all include food lockers, picnic tables and fire rings. This area is hard to access for larger vehicles, and RVs and travel trailers are not recommended. Most facilities are located 30 minutes away at Tuolumne Meadows. Pets are allowed at Yosemite Creek and should be kept on a leash.










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