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Little Yosemite Valley Campsite and Half Dome

Mariposa County, California

4.6/5
based on 8 reviews

Details

Distance

13.88 miles

Elevation Gain

4800 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Eddie Jo

Great overnight site with direct access to Half Dome for a next-day hike. Incredible views of Yosemite from the top of Half Dome. Set up camp right next to a peaceful river you can dunk into after a long trek and of course a nice water source. The hike to the valley features two waterfalls and amazing scenery

First things first. You will need to get a wilderness pass by entering the lottery for Half Dome access. If you don't get a pass via lottery just go to the Yosemite Valley visitor center, tell the clerk you are backpacking to Little Yosemite Valley and that you would like to hike up Half Dome. They will likely give you a pass. Next, park your car at Upper Pines and REMEMBER WHERE YOU PARKED. Look for the Happy Isles Trail head and begin your trek towards Little Yosemite Valley (3.8 miles). The initial portion of the trail will usually be populated with day hikers going up to the falls. About a mile and a half in you will find yourself at the top of Vernal Falls. Enjoy the site, but not for too long since you still have a ways to go, the views only get better, and the crowds smaller. Continue for a couple more miles, pass Nevada Falls, and follow the Mist Trail along side the Merced River for another mile and a half until you hit the backpackers campgrounds in Little Yosemite Valley.

The campsite is large and incredibly beautiful with 30-40 first come first serve sites set amidst the trees, alongside Sunrise Creek and just a couple minute walk from the Merced River. Perfect for filtering water and dunking your head after the long hike up Half Dome. Little Yosemite Valley Campgrounds is minimally developed and depends on the cooperation of campers to to keep it clean, safe, and functioning properly.

Everyone staying in LYV Campground needs to take appropriate measures to ensure no bears are attracted by food in the open. Bring a bear canister or use the communal bear lockers. Store only food products in this shared space and don't be shy to remind other backpackers to use the bear locker if they are leaving food or used dishes out.

There are also two large communal campfire rings and a compost toilet for the entire grounds to use. Campers are allowed to burn dead and down wood but are asked to search for pieces smaller than their forearm and never burn trash. There is no potable water at this campground but the Merced River is close by and the water is drinkable once treated by boiling, with a giardia-rated filter or iodine.

After the first night at camp, make your way to Half Dome via the Mist Trail. This hike is absolutely amazing. After about a 3 mile hike you will find yourself at the base of Half Dome where you will see two parallel cables pretty much going vertical. Grab some gloves from a pile left at the base of the dome and head up. Hold on tight! Take it slow if you need to and please be mindful of folks coming back down. Once you reach the top, stay for awhile - the view is like non other from 8800ft.

The way down may be a bit nerve wracking for some since you are indeed looking down. Take it slow. Once you get back to your camp you can stay another night and rest up or just pack up and head back to Upper Pines.

Overall this is a great overnight trip for an intermediate backpacker. Be sure to engage in some strength and conditioning regimen prior to the hike and you will be just fine. Lots of amazing sites and a nice adrenaline rush.

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Features

Camping
Photography
Backpacking
Hiking
Forest
River
Scenic
Waterfall

Little Yosemite Valley Campsite and Half Dome Reviews

I used rock climbing shoes and my normally much-faster friend used hiking boots. I blew her away. The weight of the climbing shoes was worth it for safety. I didn't slip.

This article is overall very helpful. The only thing I would argue with is a 70L backpack. That is absolutely ridiculous for an overnight trip. I have done like 10 days of camping with a 65L. I am doing this trip with a 34L (still carrying all my equipment including sleeping bag, pad, tent, cookware, food and clothing for 2 nights)

This is definitely the way to do Half Dome! After failing to get wilderness permits the day before our hike we went back to the wilderness center around 8 am the day we wanted to go up and were able to get same day cancellation permits. We ended up waking up at 1:30 am to start the hike up to Half Dome from Little Yosemite Valley. We were the only people on the trail and the first people up Half Dome about an hour before sunrise. I know it sounds miserable waking up that early but it was 100% worth it. We beat the crowds and the heat and were able to appreciate the unbelievable stars and sunrise. Would definitely recommend!

Great way to experience Yosemite. Check out the view at Glacier Point before you do Half Dome, it's really cool to see where you're headed before you go there. Recommend making this an extended backcountry trip to get away from the crowds. Hike Half Dome as early as you possibly can.

This route is the most popular backpacking trip in the park, and therefore the permits are hardest to get. Sometimes Half Dome permits are confusing, so here's some clarification: If you're backpacking for one or more nights, you can add the Half Dome permit to your wilderness permit rather than doing the lottery via recreation.gov. You may apply for a wilderness permit reservation 24 weeks (168 days) prior to your trip through fax or phone. First-come, first-serve walk up permits are given out 1 day before your trip starting at 11 am. This means if you want a walk up permit for Friday night, you need to get in line at the Valley Wilderness Center early in the morning on Thursday for the 11 am release. If you'd like a Half Dome permit included in your backpacking trip, be sure to specify when making a reservation, or a first-come, first-serve wilderness permit request. If Half Dome permits are available and Half Dome is reasonably part of your itinerary, you will receive a permit that includes them.

Let it be known that this hike is NO JOKE. It is only for people who are in relatively good shape and can handle hiking 14 miles round trip. My girlfriend and I did this hike in one day instead of backpacking it over two days. We started at around 5:30AM just before sunrise and got back at 7PM, just after sunset. This is a very long, demanding hike. Quite dangerous too. You must bring adequate supplies (at least 1 gallon of water per person, food, headlamp/flashlight, etc) to do this hike. Many people have died on Half Dome. The reason for this is mostly because storms roll in very quickly here and people try to ascend Half Dome anyway, but when it rains, the granite becomes slippery and people have slipped on the cables and fallen to their deaths. My recommendation to everyone that the original post leaves out: BRING GLOVES. Yes, there is a pile of gloves at the base of the cables. Are they good? Not really. I tried some. I found it way better to bring my own. I went with rubber gardening gloves with extra grip on the fingers and they helped immensely. Please, do yourself a favor and research this hike before attempting it. Do not try to do this hike without hiking boots with good grip. If you go prepared, and you get a permit, and you have good weather, this hike is unparalleled. You will feel like you accomplished something huge in your life once you finished it. Be safe out there, and happy trails!

Leave No Trace

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Panorama Trail

Vernal Fall Foot Bridge Trail via Mist and John Muir Trail

Mist Trail to Vernal Falls

Hike to Hidden Falls (aka Tenaya Creek Falls)

Hike to Basket Dome

Snowshoe to Snow Creek