Kelty Meadow Campground, Sierra National Forest, Near (?!) Yosemite
July 22nd, 2009
Check out the in-campground wildlife!
Good (we’re talking about the campground here):
- Only nine campsites.
- Pretty Good Privacy (although, honestly, encryption was lacking)
- A lot of shade and trees.
- Near at least one fun, short hike.
Bad (also the campground):
- No dog fights (I should probably do a write-up on my Big Sur campground…).
- No cops coming after drunks from Fontana.
- So much shade that my solar hot water heater had no chance.
- NOT VERY CLOSE TO YOSEMITE!!! — problematic in that I chose the site due to its (apparent) proximity to the park. Bad call. Hour and forty-five to the valley, including a half-hour drive to get to the campsite from Hwy. 49, a four-wheeled slog that I’ll be having nightmares about for weeks.
I probably won’t have nightmares about the drive. But it was a pain, especially when the sun was setting and therefore in your eyes. And the campground is way too far away from Yosemite to use it as a homebase for a park visit. It’d be a good place to stay if you’re from the Bay Area or something and just want an overnighter in a woodsy place near an easy hike, though. Which doesn’t describe my use of it: ah well.
bkd
Can’t see the pic
LOL — silly. You can’t see YouTube videos from work…! 😉 But just think how much better it will be when you see it from home after hours and hours of anticipation.
I am looking to climb half dome in September, and don’t think I’ll be able to get to Yosemite in time to get a first come, first serve site. I was thinking of reserving a site here, because it seems like it was a close choice, however this is making me think twice. Do you have any suggestions of other places to stay that would make it easier to get to Yosemite at 5 am without a hefty drive?
Depending on how early you get there, the ranger stations in the park do a good job of pointing you to a campground with some open space. That’s what I’d have done if I had any idea what I was doing. But if you’re going to be too late for that — I think there’s a hotel in the valley and it might be better to pay for that then wake up at 2:45.