We reserved site 25 here for a few days Thursday-Saturday. It was full sun which was a bummer cos we didn't bring a pop up tent. The road down is paved so fine for most vehicles though it is windy and probably difficult for some camper vehicles. Our park ranger on site was a volunteer named Jim who was the absolute BEST. Personable, knowledgeable, interactive, and kept things in order in the friendliest way. No showers, well maintained bathrooms. No water sources (sinks or spigot) so you need to bring all your own water. Trails from the site including an 8 mile one to El Capitain. About a 40 min drive to the valley or 1 hour to Hetch Hetchy. You still need to pay the park entrance fee ($35 or use your parks pass) You're fairly close to noghbors so be prepared for some noise. read more

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Tamarack Flat Campground was the location for our Cousin Bonding Trip. With my last visit to Yosemite back in '91 with my family, I had pretty high expectations on what this trip was going to consist of. The distance from this campsite is pretty far from the main entrance to Yosemite. The drive itself from the gate is about 10-15 minutes, and if you get stuck behind a slow car, you can pretty much double that driving time. The actual camping site sizes are large with a ton of parking spaces and enough space to really spread out. There is also enough space between the campsites so that you don't have to worry about loud neighbors. While everything sounds all good - this campsite lacks alot of trees for shade in the camp sites. In the morning when you have the sun blazing down on your face, it's worse after a night drinking by the fire. You just wake up hot and sweaty - it's not the bizz; it's quite miserable...waking up hot and sweaty. Let's talk bathrooms, because that's really what is important when it comes to being away from home and being clean. So this campsite has OUTHOUSES, yes you read that right! Basically a small outhouse with a huge hole in the ground for number 1 and number 2. These outhouses smell, they are infested with flies ... did I say them smell? They are no running showers, so be sure to pack a lot of baby wipes and anti-bacterial cleaning supplies. We saw a couple baby bears during our stay here so be sure to use the bear cabins for your foods. Everything needs to be locked in so it doesn't attract the bears. read more

Maybe I should list this as one star so that no one else discovers it . . . the best gems need to be dug up . . . I'm glad I dug this one up. It's an old camp on the old Big Oak Flat Road. Quite a bit of room, low price, and not far from the big attractions: 3 miles up the Tioga Road from Crane Flat, then another 3 miles to the camp. Good: Better than average Sierra scenery. No piped water, but a river runs through it, so if you have a water purifier, you're set. The road ends here, but continues as a trail, El Capitan and Yosemite Falls hikers take note. One of the best parts of our trip to Yosemite occurred here: in the northwest corner of the camp is a huge granite table, probably a quarter mile long and 300 feet wide, that daughter and daddy explored a lot - every day. Bad: lots of dust; again, no piped water. Even worse: the road is in terrible condition. It's only three miles from Tioga Road, but it's a relief when you can actually drive 20mph. Narrow, lots of potholes that are usually not filled in, probably the original pavement from 80 years ago. But then, the National Park Service may be keeping it that way intentionally, keep the riff-raff out. Still, the road did wonders to our minivan. So there's a price to pay for a small-to-medium crowd . . . good neighbors . . . beautiful stream . . . a crow calls in the distance . . . relaxing trail . . . chickarees everywhere . . . read more

I love this campground. First come, first serve. Be there early! People come at 7 - 8am to snatch up sites .. especially sat & sun. The sites are big. This place has lots of character. The only water source is a creek - you share with fish, so be kind and don't pollute. Fill out your card and look for empty site post or someone leaving that day - you may need to check with current occupant. Everyone was so nice. Great Yosemite hq - hiking, biking ... read more

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Tamarack Flat Campground is the perfect campsite in Yosemite for those seeking seclusion with no reservations required. We were easily able to find a campsite at 8 AM on a Sunday. Pros: not overly crowded like Yosemite Valley, secluded, easy access to trash bins and bathrooms, food lockers, fire pits, plenty of firewood if you're handy with an ax, nearby hiking trail Cons: far from the valley floor, no cell phone reception, no running water The cons weren't really cons to my group and me. We relished being off the grid and away from people. However, I can foresee the 40 minute drive down to the valley floor being a nuisance to some, especially if you're visiting Yosemite to hike those specific trails. Keep that in mind when considering Tamarack. read more

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I'm going to give it to you straight okay. All i will say is all the right people will love this campground if they are experienced and prepareed. it's beautiful. IF you're a BEGINNER or NEWBIE camper, unfamiliar with proper food storage in BEAR COUNTRY, DO NOT even think about coming here. You can't be casual about it, you can't leave food in your car, you can't have snacks in your tent or you will have a rude, fuzzy, grunty, SPOOKY awakening - FROM A BEAR.. bring pots and pans, I saw some girls with a tambourine. They were smart.. IF you are really afraid of HUGE BUGS, MOSQUITOES, and stinky bathrooms, don't even think about coming here. NASTY STENCH IN THE BATHROOM. IF you are looking for a place to let your little kids run free...this is not the place for you. they will get bit by a SNAKE while climbing rocks or goofing off in the bushes, or eaten by a BEAR or MOUNTAIN LION. Don't you watch TV? That could be you! DON'T even try to bring an RV or trailer here. You will get stuck on the road as there are several SHARP TURNS and there is... NO WIFI or phone signal and no way to call for help! Which leads me to: Preparation: 1. bring plenty of your own water. 2. have a really good first aid kit, remember, no wifi or anything to call for help. 3. bring checks, cash for paying for your site. 4. be kind to rangers and neighboring campers and take their advice seriously. the end. any questions, please feel free. don't go unprepared. thank you. read more

DO help us keep or Parks Nice and staffed http://www.nationalparks.org/ Hello From Andrew Blash 2014 CampGround Host. Basics: 20 Minute ride in from Taiga RD ( new Rd do not speed Please 1) No water 2) No Showers 3) Pit toilets 4) No Cell Reception 5) if no Host -----gas station has a pay phone. Make sure you have the park rangers number 6) 6,000 feet 2,000 meters roughly 7) $ 12.00 a night camping fee 8) 35 Minutes to the Valley Floor 9) 20 minutes to the Crane Flat gas station: wood, food, most everything you need there 10) Yes BEARS come here ( Secure your FOOD) Please Go to: NPS Page for everything: .................................http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tamarack.htm ****** First Come First Served campground (HOW TO)**** 1) Never show up at 11PM from Thursday to Sunday in High Summer 99% Chance it is full. and Everyone is Asleep ---no way to barter or do anything 2) Come in the morning or later and then see if people are leaving: you actually have to get of your car to do this well and talk to people! 3) If it is full, see if there is a single person you can get along with or say 2 people of your background or you agree with -- then you need to Grease the Wheel: Offer to pay for the campground, or beer food.....well work! You usually only need one night to find camp in the morning - people come and go all the time. 4) look for the magic, ask think and look. 5) Make sure you have a back up plan 6) Never drive if you are so tired you can't see: sleep in the car away from others 7) Van Campers: leave gear down or food in your locker, camping slips do, go missing and you will lose your campground: A tent, a chair, food in the bear box! --The GOOD STUFF 1) New Road this year. DRIVE SLOW INTO CAMP AND UP THE ROAD OR YOU WILL BE IN A HEAD ON COLLISION 2) From the Rocks In the West of the Camp you can See all the Stars and the WHole valley 3) From there You will encounter Glacial Erratics, polish and neat stone carved by the glaciers. 4) You can see the Clark Range as well from here Hiking 1) El Capitan-- is 9i miles off from this camp: Trailhead is on the South West Side of the camp. - ***You can hike to the Valley 18 miles in one shot--long day but you can pick up the YARTS Bus from the Visitors Center at 5PM this and ask for a courtesy stop at Tamarack 3 miles down the road walk to your camp ***You need Wilderness Permit to Stay on El Capitan, and bring water. Only 9 Miles off...wonderful Starlight -- Whole Milky Way is there to see YARTS BUS LINK: http://yarts.com/ 2) The Devils Dance Floor trailhead: is two miles down the El Capitan trail 3) You can walk to the gas station 5 mile round trip and nice walk. Trailhead is right across from the entrance to Tamarack but you will need to move along the RD so adults are best for this one. 4) There is trailhead at Camp 1) that leads to Tioga RD WATER HOLE The water hole is South West of the Camp--- along the Stream but never bring glass, never leave things for animals use that and glass cuts feet of children the hardest ---Bicycle Riders, Ride only in the mornings and off days if you can: Taiga RD for some is a speedway and no shoulders will you find to hide in when green horn in a 30 foot coach comes on you at 60MPH --Bam! You can take the YARTS bus up if there is space and then you can ride some 24 miles downhill to the Valley: Rocking RIDE! WEATHER 1) can get cold, bring gear: Low temps end of season: 10, 17, 32 degrees Low Celsius -10, -15, -7 2)High Temps: 100, 110 degrees Highs Celsius's 30, 43 This camp is wonderful and easy. Fun!!!! Links for you ------Support Your Parks::: http://www.nationalparks.org/ ------Yosemite page:http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm Neat reads 1) http://www.amazon.com/98-6-Degrees-Keeping-Your-Alive/dp/1586852345 2) http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/camping-hacks-that-are-borderline-geniu read more

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I almost hate to reveal this secret by writing a review but it was such a great find I had to share it with fellow Yelpers. We took a chance by coming to Yosemite on a Friday night in the middle of July without a camping reservation (umm... crazy!) We had one for Saturday night in Tuolumne Meadows and figured we could "make it work". ;-) My fiance accurately predicted that Tamarack Flat campground might be our best option to find a tent spot since it is a 2.5 mile drive off the main road on an unpaved surface. There are a lot of potholes, so drive carefully! RV's and trailers can't make the trip which helps keep the crowds out. We arrived just after 7 pm and I would say that there were at least 10 or so sites still available and almost all of them did fill up. This is a clean and pretty campground, many sites are really private and the "bathrooms" are well-kept. I would have given Tamarack Flat a 4 star rating since there aren't flushable toilets or running water but after camping on Saturday night at the "RV/Trailer park" in Tuolumne Meadows.... Tamarack seemed like an oasis and deserves a 5 star rating. read more

I guess if this is your only option then you might want to stay here. You can have the site I won't be taking. Bring lot's of water and plan on using nature's facilities. Pro's: In Yosemite, $10.00 per night (two stars) Con's: Dry, Dusty, No Potable Water, and Vault Toilets that will strip your esophagus bare on one accidental inhale and leave a burn faster than hydrofluoric acid. Unless you have really good shocks and a medium size vehicle don't attempt the three plus mile rutted paved (barely) narrow road. Oh yeah, I do have to mention the other nice thing and that was the very friendly NPS employee who was there tending to the toilets...I think I saw him put on a gas mask just before he went in one by the entrance. I hope he made it back out. read more

one of my favorites of the yosemite campgrounds. this place is beautiful and has many secluded campsites that make your camping experience more private. We camped at the very end of the campground where there was nothing but forest after that, so it was perfect. we were going to camp in my favorite campgrounds (bridalveil creek) but it still wasnt open when we went up there so we were forced to find a new campground. this was a pleasant surprise for us. the only downside is that the road is tore up. we have a truck with off roading capabilities so it didnt matter to us but I am sure it will be horrible for people with cars. there is no cell service as well, but what do you expect when you are at yosemite outside the valley? read more

So this campground used to be like a secret place .....this year we did the same routine like every other year ...so we showed up after driving about seven eightish hours overnight and we could not find a campground for hours I was in a panic !! For at least 3hours .. we went with 4 different famalies and we were all separated in different campgrounds the next day we packed our stuff and move to three campsites that were together ...we left the following morning to explore the park and came back in the night to find a lady digging thru one of our coolers and she had set up camp we were upset I had payed for that site for five nights so she claimed that there was no Envelope on the site we let her stay the night but told her that she needed to move the next day ....seems like everyone knows about this place it's pretty much luck if you find a campsite here from now on .......I arrived on a Wednesday morning 8 am to be exact also there was a plague of bees and a lot of this tiny mosquitos... I recommend to not leave any valuable things at the campsite ...the will go missing sadly ... read more

Hi all you real campers. Jean and I are from England and over 30 years we have camped many time at Tamarack Flats. The last time was about 5 years ago, when with great regret the site became a very noisy and partying venue for all those lovely people who live in San Fran. Too much noise and no sleep especially at weekends. Possibly now the NPS has improved the situation. I will add that the party people really had a shock, because the local bears decided to attack during the night. They cleared the tables, dismantled a few cars and SUV vehicles and sent many screaming ladies, and guys for that matter, scrambling away in their vehicles, heading for home. In the morning the site had cleared by at least 50%. During the attack and as I lay in my tent with my wife, who was asleep thank god, I could hear the bears breathing and growling outside and I remember being so scared I couldn't even peep through my zipped tent door. My heart was thumping at about 160 beats per minute. Fantastic experience however, (after the event) and the good guys won and got fed at the same time. So all you would be campers and party goers, remember the guys in the bushes would like to join you, don't leave anything on the tables or in your car, as you may regret it. Always use the bear boxes provided and please remember, this campsite, as good as it is, is very attractive to bears because people are careless with food. Camping here is remote and you are really on your own if things go wrong. Remember also, never look a bear straight in the eye. Happy camping, Colin and Jean read more

We pitched a tent at Tamarack campground for a total of 2 nights. It's a decent camp site with no water and no showers. Half the road to the camp ground is unpaved. Not a bad campsite for not having a reservation during Labor Day weekend read more

We loved this campground! It was secluded from the madness of the Yosemite crowds. The road is a little rough, and trailers are not advised. Bring a shovel, as the vaulted "toilets" are not advised either. This is a great place to camp if you don't mind roughing it a bit. It is in a great location, between the valley floor and Tuolumne Meadows. read more