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    North Pines Campground

    4.5 (37 reviews)

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    Amazing views + fire pit area
    Anagha J.

    Such a stunning location! We loved our campsite #526. Right along the Merced river. We had enough space for 2 tents. The site includes a picnic table and a fire pit with grill. The restrooms were pretty close by and were fairly maintained (clean enough to make the stay comfortable). Curry village is at walkable distance. Curry village has a restaurant and pizza patio. Their store carries almost all essentials including camping necessities in case you forgot a thing or two. They also sell firewood (for $12) which was said to burn for 4 hours but lasted about 2. No complaints though I think everything was quite reasonably priced and I loved the convenience it added to our stay. We got so lucky to get this reservation for the long weekend! We will definitely try again for reservation at this campground for future visits.

    Nicole C.

    This campground was amazing. I loved the creek and rover that ran through it. There was plenty of hiking trails right by it and we were able to hike right to mirror lake from our campground. I liked how strict the rangers were about bear lockers. They would go through everyone's campsite after the 10 pm curfew to check if people locked up there items correctly. The bear lockers were huge we were able to fit a 77 gallon and a 55 gallon lifetime cooler in it. The campground was right next to curry village so if you want to take a shower head there. I recommend renting bikes if you are able to, to get around the valley easier. There's is absolutely no parking after like 9am. It's packed. We went in august and midday it was pretty hot. Our spot had little shade. I loved the big trees and the dome thy surrounded us while we were there. The bbqs have grills and that was helpful to cook meat on. The camp spots were close together so if you get one try to get a corner spot If you want more privacy. Overall this campground was amazing and I want to return. The squirrels here have no fear and will run in your camp spot and eat anything so be careful. I had Verizon and had no service. Other people with me had AT&T and had no service. Another person had T-Mobile and her phone had service.

    Yosemite North Pines campground -  All images taken from campsite 109, adjacent to Merced River.

    Beautiful pine forest campground right in the middle of Yosemite. Mix of tents, trailers, and RV's. We had site 109 and it's a beauty right on Merced river with views all around. The showers are a bit of a walk over the bridge but clean bathrooms are plentiful in the campground. Quiet and respectful groups of campers. We loved our perfect weather October visit as it's a great time to hike without the crowds. The Mist Trail is a favorite hike a short walk from the camp.

    Leslie A.

    I've camped in Upper Pines a few times so I was excited to finally get a reservation in North Pines. I highly recommend getting a spot by the river, if you can. I reserved site 520 and was surprised at how large it was and it's literally right on the water. Bathrooms here are clean and well maintained. Camp hosts are friendly and they do a good job of patrolling the campground. I feel like North Pines is much quieter than Upper Pines but I would say I like them equally. I'm mostly posting this review to suggest getting site 520 or any of the river front spots. I felt like 520 was twice as large than a lot of the other spots.

    The Merced River in the background.
    Jose A.

    This is the best campground of the Valley campgrounds. Even though it gets crowded during the summer, the fact its on the outer edge of the valley means only campers are around you. I recommend sites 520 or 502 which are larger than the others and right on the river. The free shuttle picks you up right outside the camp entrance so once you get there, your car does not have to move. If your taking kids, I recommend taking bikes as the valley should not be to difficult for kids to ride around. The only problem is the limited availability of sites. Do your homework and make the reservations 6 months in advance. I love going to Yosemite each year and North Pines Campground is my destination of choice.

    Like I mentioned in my review, tie your kids' rafts to rope!
    Erica B.

    I camped here with my family in early August and had the most amazing time. I'm giving it 5 stars because I had the best campsite in the entire North Pines (#506). It was large, shady, as private as you could get in North Pines, and right by the river. We even had a little utility area by our campgroup where a group of us was able to play a friendly game of wiffle ball with some fellow campers. We were directly next to the river, but it was not swimmable. But steps away, the river was calm with a small area of sand and shallow water. This is perfect area for kids to wade around and build sand castles, so don't forget the sand toys. You can bring innertubes for the kids, but also bring long utility string so you can hang on to your kids. The current can pick up if they edge too close to the river. I cannot stress this enough....IF YOU CAN BRING BIKES, PLEASE DO! The entire Yosemite Valley is flat and easliy ridable. My friends and I rode through meadows and passed waterfalls. You can also easily ride to the village store for groceries. Bringing a bike greatly increases the fun, I promise! Also, not sure what user Nan W is used to, but these restrooms are some of the better campsite restrooms I've seen. They had lights at night, which is huge! Attempting to use the restroom with a flashlight is no easy task for a lady!

    Tenaya Creek (running next to the campground)
    M. C.

    Other than being in Yosemite (yay!), this campground was very 'just OK' for me. We had site 310, so we were smack in the middle. The campsites were *packed* with RVs; we were the only tent-only campers I saw. So: lots of generators, although people observed the limited generator hours. It was packed with people, too. This is NOT a commune-with-nature campground, more like a stay-cheaper-than-in-the-village campground. And for what it is, it is just fine. At night, it was so, so smoky. I know people like to burn stuff cause it is fun...and then they get in their climate-controlled RVs, leaving us tent people to breathe their stinky smoke. Please bring and burn dry wood, people, if you really must burn... Bathrooms were basic and not filthy, but only cold water with the type of faucet you have to hold to keep on. Bring soap and towels each time you go. No showers; flush toilets; one-ply tissue. The campground is bound by Tenaya Creek on the one side and the Merced River on the other, and I agree with others that the waterside sites are the best. Really pretty. The stable is next to the campground, and the smell is very very strong in the mornings. I don't find the smell of horse poop so bad, so I didn't care too much. But just a heads up. Bring bikes for to-and-fro to the Village. It isn't that far away, but if you have to make several trips a day, bikes are just great to have. Oh, and...use your bear locker for everything. For reals, there are bears.

    Bambi next to our tent!
    Erin K.

    The best are the spots next to the river near the entrance, starting at 101 and going to around 109. These seem to be the least crowded. You really can't go wrong with this campsite though!! Bathrooms are relatively clean and have toilet paper FYI. The campsite is walking distance or a quick shuttle ride to all the main trailheads in the Valley.

    Bear behind our campsite!
    Basil S.

    We had a grea time here in the valley at this campsite. If you are thinking about hiking Vernal Falls or Half Dome, I would choose this campground. Our location happened to be quite spacious and the people were considerate with the quiet hours. This may be unnerving for some, but a deer and a bear, yes a bear, walked right behind our campsite around 6pm! I was thrilled and loved it, but for some, that might deter them. I hope to hike Half Dome next year and will be aiming for this campground for that hike.

    Jon And Priscila F.

    Just spent 4th of July weekend here and loved it! We lucked out in February and scored a great campsite - right alongside the Merced River and in front of the bathrooms (which were very clean btw). The campsite is spacious and the view is simply amazing. Rangers do come often but they are helpful. The location is amazing and the whole family had a blast! We would love to make this a family tradition - however, in the future, we will avoid heavy holiday weekends because it is simply impossible to get anywhere in The Valley due to heavy traffic!

    Young Bear in the Berry bushes by North Pines.
    Sandyann G.

    What can I say? It's in Yosemite. It's right along the Merced with sandy beach areas for swimming in the summer. Only drawback is the stables are right next to the campground so it can get very aromatic. Oh yeah, the backpackers camp is right here as well with all the berry bushes. Bear sightings are routine. Have your camera at the ready!

    Our trailer from site 101

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    16 years ago

    Yah...now that Oprah's camped in Yosemite, I hope more people would support our parks!!

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    Ask the Community - North Pines Campground

    Review Highlights - North Pines Campground

    The campsite is right along two rivers, which in August, 1 still had ample water in it, the other was dried up.

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    Yosemite National Park - A fiery red Checkerspot butterfly (I think it's a Variable Checkerspot) along the Swinging Bridge Trail!

    Yosemite National Park

    4.6(1.4k reviews)
    1.1 mi

    One of my most favorite places on earth. Beautiful day or…read morenight, summer or winter. The most breathtaking views, waterfalls, cliffs. Best way to see it is by bicycle ( lots of places to rent here). Be sure to utilize the free and frequent park shuttles as day trippers clog the streets and parking ( the one downside)...ok, getting camping reservations is difficult too, even when totally prepared, but it's a testament to how breathtaking Yosemite is. First timers have no idea what awaits them at Tunnel View- so make sure to pull off (and hope to find parking!!) and let your jaw drop!! Also make sure to attend at least one Park Ranger talk as well as Yosemite Conservancy lectures--very informative and interesting. Spend as much time as possible here, and educate yourself prior as to what is around the Valley to maximize your stay.

    We had an amazing time walking around Yosemite National Park…read more If it's your first time visiting and traveling with kids, I recommend that you park at the Yosemite Village Parking where the Welcome Center is located at and try getting there before 8am. Yosemite Village has plenty of parking and can get food, drinks and use bathroom facilities. There's also an information center that will provide you with free map of the area or answer any questions you may have. We recommend trying the breakfast and deli sandwiches at Degnan's Kitchen. They also have Peet's coffee. You can also buy groceries or souvenirs at the Village Store next door to Degnan's Kitchen. You can catch the Yosemite Valley free shuttle service to take you to many of the scenic locations if you don't feel like doing the long hike to each location. From Yosemite Village, we walked to point #1 on the map: Lower Yosemite Fall and the Cook's Meadow Loop, the waterfalls you see in my pictures. This location is kid and stroller friendly. The walk takes about 30 minutes. We look forward to visiting Yosemite in 2027. A must visit!! Happy Yelping :)

    Photos
    Yosemite National Park - ***AMAZING PLACE***

    ***AMAZING PLACE***

    Yosemite National Park - Sweat lodge

    Sweat lodge

    Yosemite National Park - Our Half Dome hike started at 4:45 AM

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    Our Half Dome hike started at 4:45 AM

    Lower Pines at Yosemite National Park

    Lower Pines at Yosemite National Park

    4.4(23 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Came here camping and while Yosemite was amazing (as expected) the ranger who was here was a…read morecomplete ahole, we checked into our campsite and parked our cars, he comes over and starts lecturing us about how we didn't hang our parking passes up, we literally JUST parked, he walked over before we even had our trunks open. We were just there trying to have a good time so we just say sorry and put the parking passes up. We had quite a bit of stuff to unload so I was wondering if it would be okay to drive the car up onto the campsite (since we saw other people with their RVs and trailers parked onto the campsite) but since the range was such a ahole I didn't want to get in trouble so I went to go ask him, he tells me no and I say thanks and I walk away, as I'm walking away I hear him say "DUHHHHH" and start laughing with the other ranger, clearly making fun of me that I'm stupid or whatever so I turn around and I say "what, it was just a question you don't need to be rude about it, I just didn't want to get in trouble since you were so worked up about the parking passes" he just stayed silent and stopped laughing. Honestly this was a horrible experience to start off what was otherwise a great weekend, it's too bad this dick had to have an attitude. Aside from that the experience was not bad, a lot more bugs than other campsites I've been to but hey it's nature lol, lots of great hiking trails and scenery around the campsite area as well

    First time camping ever and this campsite was far beyond my expectations!…read more I need to add that the weather was awful for camping with rain and snow so most of the campsites were empty and flooded. We were the only group to sleep in tents while the other campsites had recreational vehicles for shelter. Despite the horrible weather conditions, our campsite did not flood or pool as expected. Campground site- A driveway, picnic table, bear proof storage container, and fire pit are included at every site. The bear proof storage container is easy to use and was in good condition. Make sure to bring your own firewood! Bathrooms- I was very impressed with the facilities provided at the campground. The bathrooms were clean! Flushing toilets, toilet paper, sinks, and air dryers (very useful to dry wet clothes!) are all present. There is even a power outlet! Just outside the bathrooms are a filtered water station (which tastes DELICIOUS) and unfiltered water for washing dishes. Rangers- The rangers were helpful in giving us advice for hiking and camping. They were very pleasant and funny. In addition they were very resourceful. Location- When the sky cleared up, you can stare up at half dome and north dome from your campsite! It made a beautiful panorama!

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    Lower Pines at Yosemite National Park
    Lower Pines at Yosemite National Park
    Lower Pines at Yosemite National Park

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    Camp 4

    Camp 4

    4.1(60 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Winter time first come first serve is a great option. (3/15-3/18/26) Only being two campers we paid…read more$40 for two nights/3 days day, versus other locations being upwards of $35 a night. It is a very open campground, you share a campsite with upwards of five other people. There are regulations that no more to six people per layout, although we did run into people, simply trying to fit wherever there was an empty bear locker (4 lockers per site). Ranger eventually confronted some campers at my site for joining late and making it too crowded. Pretty close proximity to many of the hikes, and easy access to the Yosemite Valley shuttle. My car stayed parked the entire time being there, though I did notice the parking lot fills up with people I assume are just day hikers. Bathrooms were pretty well maintained You can run into some rowdy crowds at night, but kind of expected for this type of campsite. I just brought earmuffs and fell asleep easy after a long day of hiking. I think my only complaint is that there are only two picnic benches per campsite. We had three groups of two before the extra joiners. We just cooked on top of the bar locker for one night/or shared, depending on how friendly you're feeling.

    I love this site because it's a book-a-week-in-advance option for a last minute trip but it also…read moreputs you right in the center of the valley. A great launching point for walking around everywhere. Check-in was easy and we got our assigned campsite #34. We had 3 other campers on our site with us that showed up later in the day. The view of the gorge walls was beautiful from our site. The bathroom amenities are great here too. Also there were a lot of practicing rock climbers on the nearby rocks. I will definitely be staying here again.

    Photos
    Camp 4
    Camp 4 - View from the parking lot of camp4

    View from the parking lot of camp4

    Camp 4

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    Yosemite Falls - Mar 8, 2026

    Yosemite Falls

    4.7(191 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    Upper Yosemite Falls trail was definitely the hardest hike I've done. It was about 7.2 miles…read moreroundtrip, took exactly 7 hours starting at 10:40am and finally making it down at 5:40pm (5 hours going up, 2 going down), and was 2,700 ft of elevation gain. The terrain is mostly rocks and goes up most of the way, so it's an insane leg workout that left me sore for a couple days after. Going up was exhausting, but there's plenty of spots to sit down and take breaks. About halfway through, we stopped and ate snacks. Going down felt more difficult on my knees, but it was a lot faster. It also started to rain so we had to be careful about slipping. The views were absolutely beautiful and worth it every step of the way. I constantly stopped and took photos and admired it all. Once you get up to the top, you can get really close to upper yosemite falls on a narrow path along some rocks. If you're afraid of heights, you might be a bit scared. It was super chilly when we got up there. Almost everyone we encountered on the trail was super friendly, and it was fun to see familiar faces when we got up to the top and overhear people exclaiming how proud they are of themselves. Going in May when the weather was still cold (about 40° when we were here) was definitely helpful. I don't know if I would have been able to do it if it were hot outside. I get lightheaded pretty easily and there were times I felt like I was going to pass out, but I did it!! Definitely take breaks, don't rush yourself, drink plenty of water, and bring snacks. Make sure you have hiking boots!!! If I didn't have hiking boots I probably wouldn't have been able to do it.

    Went mid-March valley floor hardly any traffic early 8 am. Got busy after 10am. Rode bikes Yosemite…read morevalley loop El Capitan, Half Dome, Horsetail, Bridal veil, and Vernal falls. Tried singletrack that paralleled then the crowds at Yosemite village slowed our pace to a crawl. A family of four walking side by side blocking the path completely. Even oncoming hikers gave them dirty looks. Selfish people have zero consideration or self awareness. If you go biking, go early to avoid crowds.

    Photos
    Yosemite Falls - The view from the top Yosemite Falls YNP June 2023

    The view from the top Yosemite Falls YNP June 2023

    Yosemite Falls - Phenomenal view of Yosemite Falls from Cook's Meadow below! Early June 2025

    Phenomenal view of Yosemite Falls from Cook's Meadow below! Early June 2025

    Yosemite Falls - Trail Information

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    Trail Information

    Cloud's Rest - The spine

    Cloud's Rest

    4.8(55 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    We came from Tenaya lake and it was my favorite hike in Yosemite. The trail and the rock…read moreformations were utterly stunning. Summit allows you to have an amazing view of Half Dome. Please come and create your own adventure.

    My first hike in Yosemite, and it happened to be this one...I didn't know what I was getting myself…read moreinto. Cloud's Rest is a strenuous and challenging hike that will exhaust you for a couple days or more! This hike isn't for beginners, if you want to attempt this, you will have to actually enjoy hiking. Cloud's Rest takes around 6-8 hours to complete and is a 14 miles hike with an elevation gain of 2,700 ft. Parking - We arrived around 9:30 AM and found parking at the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead. The earlier you arrive, the better, to avoid crowds and get a good spot to park. There is one pit toilet at the trailhead and would be my first stop after arriving because you're going to be consuming plenty of water during this hike, including many more bathroom breaks in nature. Don't be afraid to take plenty of breaks during the hike, rest stops are great to enjoy some snacks and water. After crossing the wooden bridge, follow the signs pointed towards Cloud's Rest and you'll be right on your way! What I like about this hike is the changes in scenery throughout the hike. It was like a different hike every couple of miles! The first part takes you through a forest-like scenery and then the incline switchbacks, which were extremely tiring and difficult. After conquering that part, the trail takes you through a well-deserved flat area with a nice view of a lake. The final stretch includes a steep, straight incline and then finally the granite steps, which requires a bit of climbing to reach the summit. The views are spectacular at the summit, you will be able to see Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley. We arrived at the top around 1 PM and took a lunch break as well as many pictures. The descent was just as challenging as the ascent, if not more, because you're already pretty tired. Take your time and pace yourself, I think we took ever longer breaks on the way down. Overall, if you're looking for a challenging hike in Yosemite, Cloud's Rest is that hike! Great views at the summit and changing sceneries makes this hike a great one to reflect back on and tell stories.

    Photos
    Cloud's Rest
    Cloud's Rest
    Cloud's Rest

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    Glacier Point Road

    Glacier Point Road

    4.3(3 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    i hiked from badger pass ski area to glacier point on 3/28 and posted a vlog on yoütübe including…read moretips and info so you can be prepared! search "Nikko Gandia Travels." wilderness permit issued at badger pass ranger station (200 ft. to the right of main ski lodge) or a-frame. self registration on porch when open. make sure to keep up with the road closure/construction updates! fresh powder so the snowshoes were needed. camped near ostrander rocks.

    This is the road to some of the most popular attractions in Yosemite Park, but only open half the…read moreyear, closed in the winter due to snow. We were driving from the Bay Area to Yosemite, 4 hours including a potty break in Mariposa, to Yosemite Valley, and then another hour going by dried up Bridalveil falls, and then the tunnel view, to Glacier Point. Glacier Point Road is some 22 miles long, and intersects Highway 41 between Yosemite Valley and Wawona, on the way to Fresno. It's not only a winding mountain road, but takes you from the 4500 foot elevation of the Yosemite Valley, to 7700 foot Glacier Point. As we go up the road, we pass a sign saying 'road closed 7pm', on Sunday November 1, 2015. No overnight parking allowed after October 15. The first part of the road is relatively straight roadway with 35 mph speed limits, through dense forests on both sides of the road, going up the mountain. Last April when the road opened, we saw a heavy duty construction grader, with chains on all four giant tires, each taller than a man, towing snow removal equipment. Badger Pass skiing resort is here, and once the road is covered with snow, cross country skiers will be able to ski on the road. There are very short turn outs on the sides of the road, for pulling over for faster cars to pass. Inevitably if I drive at the 35 mph speed limit, some guy in a hurry comes on my tail. This time its somebody in a pickup, probably local, as he is the only occupant. I speed up to 50 mph, but he clings right up to me, even when I slow down for a car in front of me. Long distances of solid double lines -no passing. The recently paved smooth asphalt road going uphill reaches a peak, and degrades into cracked surface with potholes and jagged edges. At the 16 mile mark, I pull over to the small parking lot at Sentinel Dome, the tallest location on the road, where we do both the Sentinel Dome and Taft Point hikes in 3 hours. At 4:30 pm we drive down the remaining 6 miles to Glacier Point, to enjoy the sunset. Speed limit drops to 15mph as we go down through some hairpin loops in a darkened forest, when all of a sudden, Half Dome rises on the horizon, prior to Glacier Point. We leave at 5:15 for the 1 hour trip back to Yosemite Valley. This part of the Glacier Point road has a 15mph speed limit, with hairpin 180 degree turns, and steep cross traverse roadways in a deep forest. One guy going way too fast approaches us, going way over the center line on the hairpin turn. We were going real slow, and just missed a head on collision. The road becomes dark, and there is nothing like driving on a dark winding mountain road. Amazingly enough cars are still driving up the road to Glacier Point in the darkness! Full moon at Glacier Point? I'm going the speed limit, when some joker comes up right behind me, lights in my rear view mirror, saying go faster. I'm not about to go 50 mph in a 35 mph zone in the dark. Last April I saw a coyote on the road, and the last thing I want to do is hit a bear or deer at dusk, and damage my car. I pull over at the Sentinel dome parking lot, to let the speedster past. Inevitably another car comes onto my tail, and actually passes me on the road in one of the few straight aways, only to pull over at the next turn out to enjoy the setting sun on the horizon, emitting a purple glow. About half way down the road, another car comes onto my tail,.I find a turnout, and let him pass, and then comes a whole series of cars, all going 10-15 mph over the 35 mph speed limit, like it is the Indianapolis 500! Dusk becomes complete darkness. Fortunately the road has a newly painted center line, and two bike lane solid white lines on the edges of the road. Another car comes onto my tail. but this time, I can't utilize the turn outs, as it is too dark, and I have no way to estimate the length of the turnouts. And there are snow poles on the side of the road, to delineate the roadway when covered with snow. The guy follows me at the speed limit for what seems like half an hour, down to the end of Glacier point road, past the tunnel view, onto the Valley loop, where the road becomes two lanes in one direction. At least he never blew his horn. It's 6:15 pm, on this first day of standard time, and is completely dark, when we arrive at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, after the hour drive from Glacier Point. The following day, it rains hard the entire day. Glacier Point is closed with snow and ice, at least temporarily, and perhaps for the season, until next April, or June if El Nino materializes.

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    Glacier Point Road
    Glacier Point Road
    Glacier Point Road

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    North Pines Campground - campgrounds - Updated June 2026

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