Unforgettable Adventures: Camping in Yosemite National Park
Vernal Fall, taken from the Mist Trail (Yosemite National Park) / © Outdoorithm
Our family of 6 had been looking forward to this summer trip to Yosemite National Park since we booked it in January. While we day hike in Yosemite Valley almost every winter, we have not had an opportunity to actually camp in Yosemite for several years. There's a beauty and majesty to this park that is hard to find elsewhere, from sheer rock faces to impossibly high waterfalls, meadows and valleys, there are awe-inspiring sights everywhere you turn. We are grateful for any time we get to spend in the park and always look forward to the next trip.
Below you'll find some reflections on our trip as well as practical information on where we camped, what we brought, our vehicle set up, and our favorite activities from this visit to Yosemite.
Where We Camped
We made our way east toward Yosemite National Park from Oakland, entering the park through the Big Oak Flat Entrance. We arrived late afternoon on a Monday and there was no line to get into the park. We timed that intentionally, as Yosemite has seen a record number of visitors and traffic this year.
About 25 miles past the entrance we arrived at North Pines Campground, one of three campgrounds in the area (the other two being Lower Pines immediately across the river and Upper Pines up river). All three can accommodate cars, trailers, and RVs (sites are nonelectric) - just research your specific campsite to make sure your vehicle length will fit.
We were able to reserve North Pines campsite #502, a gorgeous site right where Tenaya Creek meets the Merced River. This site is perfect for families, with both shallow access to water and a front row seat to the beauty of the flowing river. With plenty of tree coverage for shade on warm days and for privacy, this site can’t be beat.
What We Brought: Setting Up Camp
Here’s our camp set up for a family of six (4 kids, aged 14, 12, 10 & 2) on a week-long summer/warm weather trip:
Sleeping
Our older kids slept in our converted Metris Weekender van, retrofitted by Peace Vans in Seattle. It has two sleeping areas and we use these Nemo sleeping bags.
My husband and I plus our toddler slept in our Springbar Traveler tent (a similar option is the Springbar Highline 6 Tent). Its floor-to-ceiling panels offer plenty of light and air flow, and the vertical walls means it’s a comfortable space where you can stand upright and have room for our clothing bags and a portable crib. This was our first time using our Helinox cots, topped with these Nemo Roamer XL sleeping pads and Rumpl blankets instead of sleeping bags. The whole setup was incredibly comfortable and worth the extra packing space for a week-long trip.
Here’s the set up of our Springbar Traveler tent (similar to the Springbar Highline 6 Tent)
Sun + Bug Shelter
We set up our Nemo Victory Screenhouse to have a shaded area to hang out during the day when it was warmer and to keep bugs away.
Washing Up (sink + shower)
For a week-long trip we pull out our entire Joolca set up - this includes the Joolca Hottap hot water and sink kit and the Joolca Ensuite shower privacy shelter with their corresponding Ensuite plumbing. We set up the hot tap between the two so that it can warm the water going to the sink or the shower as needed.
Bathroom
North Pines has their own bathroom with flush toilets; showers are available at Curry Village a short bike ride away. We usually bring our own toilet (we bought this Thetford Porta Potti at the start of COVID and it’s been great). It’s nice having a toilet at your site for late night bathroom runs or with younger kids who can’t go to the bathrooms alone. We set up our Porta Potti inside this Nemo privacy shelter.
Cooking
We brought our gas grill and a single burner for quick cooking (e.g. boiling water for tea or pasta). This time as a splurge we also brought our smaller Ooni gas pizza oven and it was a huge hit with the kids (and adults). Camp dinners for our week in Yosemite included salmon, couscous, and corn on the cob; bratwurst; and homemade pizza. Find more camp meal ideas here.
🏕️ Want to see all our gear recommendations (top, upgrade, and budget picks for each category)? Outdoorithm’s GearMeUp tool has a complete list of our recommended gear, plus a customizable packing list.
How We Travel: Vehicle Set Up
Our standard car set up for most trips is a Space Trailer hitched to our retrofitted Metris Weekender van. We then do add-ons depending on where we’re going and for how long. For this particular Yosemite trip we added two Yakima Exo Gear Warrior storage baskets on the roof of the Space Trailer and for bike storage we used Thule Upride Roof Bike Rack (2) and a Swagman Original 4 Towing Bike Rack bike system. It was a lot but we wanted to bring 5 bikes (3 adult sized, two kids sized), plus this Thule child bike seat.
For shorter trips year-round, we instead bring our iKamper pop up roof tent on top of our Space Trailer. This tent sets up in minutes and has made it feasible to head out on a Friday after work in the winter months when you pull up to a campground after dark and want a quick set up. If we decide to bring bikes on shorter trips, it’s usually just the kids’ bikes.
What We Did: Exploring Yosemite
There are so many options for ways to recreate in Yosemite National Park, and there are beautiful views pretty much everywhere you look. We opted to stick Yosemite Valley to reduce travel (i.e. traffic). Here's how we spent our time:
View of Nevada Fall from John Muir Trail
Hikes
View from the top of Vernal Fall.
The loop to Vernal and Nevada Falls
Yosemite Falls: We biked to Yosemite Village and then hiked/walked to lower Yosemite Falls. This is an easy, paved hike/walk. The grandparents came with us (they camped at Lower Pines that same week) and it was no problem for them. It can get crowded but the views of the waterfall are beautiful. Our kids always like to boulder at the base of the waterfall. Afterward we stopped at Yosemite Village and had lunch at the Village Grill (burgers, fries, grilled cheese). Go on the early side to get a table.
Vernal and Nevada Falls: We biked to the Mist Trail/John Muir Trail Trailhead and hiked a loop over the Vernal Falls Footbridge, up the John Muir Trail, and then back down the Mist Trail: This is about 7 miles round trip, though
we went past Nevada Fall, following the Merced River upstream to find a more secluded spot where the river was calmer and we could hang out and eat the sandwiches we’d packed. We then backtracked a little and started down the Mist Trail. We took the Mist Trail down to Vernal Falls, following it along the Merced River all the way back to the trailhead. Our kids (ages 14, 12, 10, and the 2 year old in a carrier) were all able to do the hike, with more breaks on the steeper parts. They are pretty used to hiking and backpacking though so gauge your own child’s abilities. [Note: the Mist Trail was closed for the first part of the day this summer and will be closed full weekdays this fall due to trail work. Make sure to check the Yosemite website for trail updates.] After the hike we biked to Curry Village for ice cream🍦
Water
Rafting down the Merced River (Note: keep an eye on water levels; when we were there flotation devices were required for everyone, which is honestly always a good idea)
Wading and playing in the creek by our campsite
Other Activities
Biked around Yosemite Valley (Yosemite Village has a grocery store with ice and there’s a smaller store in Curry Village as well for necessities, plus dining)
Went on walks, looked at plants and wildlife
Hung out on our hammock
Read books (we love this Nature Anatomy book by Julia Rothman)
Played UNO (and discussed whose version of UNO rules were ‘the’ rules. That conversation is 'to be continued' 🧐)
Card games - we like these multi-purpose Basecamp playing cards with conversation starters
🏕️ Check out this blog post for more activities to do around camp with your kids!
Remembering Our 'Why': Reflections on Our Trip
Ultimately, taking our family camping - whether it's for one night, or three, or five, whether it's car camping or backpacking - is about rest, renewal, and rootedness. We created Outdoorithm to provide families with the tools and information that make camping more accessible and enjoyable because as much as we love (truly) day hikes and casual time in nature, there is something about being away overnight that allows you to disconnect from your schedule and obligations and reconnect in deeper ways with yourself, your loved ones, and with nature itself.
Camping by its very nature requires us to create new rhythms - new ways to cook, new sleep patterns, new ways of being present to what is happening immediately in front of us. Nature demands awareness, which then creates opportunities for us to experience awe. It might be the light of the setting sun hitting Half Dome or the power of the water gushing down towards a waterfall; on this particular trip we had the amazing privilege of seeing two bears. 🐻🐻 This was not our first time seeing bears in the wild but let me tell you, there is never a scenario where you see an animal of that size and power and don't experience awe. We are instantly reminded of how small and vulnerable we are, and are filled with gratitude at being able to witness (safely and from afar) such a powerful force of nature.
These experiences of awe, big and small, can really shift our perception of ourselves and what is ultimately important to us, and we take this with us back into our everyday lives. Camping has helped our kids become more self-aware, empowered, and grounded, and we know it has reshaped us in those ways, too.
Whether you’re an experienced camper or new to this adventure, we'd love to help you get outdoors. Check out our tools and resources, and always feel free to reach out directly. We’d love to hear from you!
Happy camping!
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