Directions
to Bridalveil Campground and Guidelines for Glacier Point
When you arrive at Yosemite, make
your way up to the Bridalveil Creek
campground. (You may want to print these)
Driving
distance is
18 miles, up a long
steep but gradual incline, and a spectacular rise from the Valley
floor. Allow
at least an hour from
the Falls
parking lot Do make a
stop at the Wawona Tunnel overlook, which is the absolute classic view
of Yosemite
Valley. Some spectacular
shots were taken here by Bill Arnett of SJAA.
Try
to reach camp by
5pm, which means giving
yourself plenty of time
from the
Greater Bay Area
for...you guessed it, traffic; so you'll
be rested and relaxed when you
arrive
rather than uptight
and tense.
When
Jane
& Mojo lived in the Bay Area, they used to leave a
day early, stop halfway in Oakdale
and spend the night.
Over the past years Jayni, Aeddan and I stayed at
Knights Ferry on the cool and refreshing Stanislaus which is just east
of Oakdale
in the Sierra foot hills.
At
the entrance to the camp,
which is after you've taken the Bridalveil Campground turn off from
Glacier Point road, there will be a large message
board
with a map of our
assigned and occupied campsites. It is on the right, just before the
camp host's site.
When you reach the C Loop
Group Campground area that forks to the left,
which is
before the
Horse Camp
bridge, look for the
inside circle of campsites numbered: 81, 83, 85,
89, 93, 94
& 95 in that order counter clockwise, or
possibly regular
outlying
campsites
with official
looking SFAA Yosemite
Parking placards on the parking spaces.
This
is what has been established for the past few years
and it's worked out quite well. Each year, starting on our
assigned Friday, Ranger
Dick Ewart has been gracious enough to reserve the majority of the inner
circle for SFAA campers.
This is a coordinated effort with the camp host and NPS concessonare reservations, so
should there be a non-SFAA camper, please be curtious and patient so
they can be relocated. Pick
out your site, set
up your tent, and reeelax. The brown bear boxes
are for sharing with your neighboring camper. Please put all
food
in the bear boxes...that's
what they are there for; no food in your vehicle.
Alternate Campsite
In the unlikely event that Bridalveil campground is still closed due
to
late snow, our alternate campsite may be Wawona.
Glacier Point Guidelines
Glacier
Point is another
8.5
miles up the road.
Allow adequate time to find your
way and
set up. Electricity is
provided
in the observing area, but you may need a long
extension
cord.
It's a large granite amphitheatre much like Mt. Tam. We set up by 7:30, and it's a good
idea to be there earlier, as we can bring in only two to three vehicles at a time to unload.
Explicitly follow the NPS Ranger rules
for driving in
to unload without
blocking the right of way, then parking in
the lot.
The key is to drive
in and
unload the scopes
briefly, then immediately after unloading, move your vehicle to the
parking lot.
It may seem like a pain, but our campsite is
free and reserved, which is unheard
of anywhere in Yosemite,
and we get to do what we want. A small inconvenience for a
huge reward.