Tuolumne Meadows Campgrounds is closed for the season.

You mean for now or for all winter?

You have to be a tenter or have a darned small RV to get in there.

agesilaus wrote:
You mean for now or for all winter?

You have to be a tenter or have a darned small RV to get in there.

Sorry, as edited, my notification from Yosemite NP says it's closed for the season.

And yeah, you might not even get to Tuolomene as they usually close the Tioga Pass too.

I was there last winter camping in the village with my RV and I met a few veteran winter campers who hike there for tent camping.

A “deal” has been made. The name is back...Ahwahnee Hotel.

I was there last winter camping in the village with my RV and I met a few veteran winter campers who hike there for tent camping.
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Yeah there is a trail up from the valley, indeed there is a ranger station manned up there somewhere in the winter. A pair (or couple) of rangers hike up from the valley. I assume they stock it up in the summer.

I crossed over Tioga Pass going West yesterday (Sat) about noon. The ranger at the booth said:
"This road will be closed at 4 p.m. today. Do not be on it after that" (or something similar).

It was nice and sunny at the time. Guess they were being cautious.

Yep. We stayed at Tuolumne Meadows for a few days just before the snow arrived and then moved to the national forest near Lee Vining for some boondocking. We knew we were going to get a dusting -- not a problem.

We parked the truck right next to the trailer at an angle across the path of the wind, hoping that the truck would shelter the trailer so that it would not shake too much during the 60 mph gusts. It worked -- we slept through most of the storm. This shot was taken just as the sun came up:


Click For Full-Size Image.

profdant139 wrote:
Yep. We stayed at Tuolumne Meadows for a few days just before the snow arrived and then moved to the national forest near Lee Vining for some boondocking. We knew we were going to get a dusting -- not a problem.

We parked the truck right next to the trailer at an angle across the path of the wind, hoping that the truck would shelter the trailer so that it would not shake too much during the 60 mph gusts. It worked -- we slept through most of the storm. This shot was taken just as the sun came up:


Click For Full-Size Image.

Beautiful. To Lee Vining, why not Yosemite Valley where it's really lovely in winter?

What are you pulling with your Tacoma? There is a debate here (or some other forum) saying this, 4runner and Highlander are not appropriate for towing medium sized trailers.

Sam, it's like Yogi Berra said about a popular restaurant: "Nobody goes there anymore because it's too crowded." The Valley is pretty but not silent, unlike the high country of the Eastern Sierra. So we only go to the Valley in the dead of winter! (The campgrounds are nice a quiet when the temps are below freezing.)

And my little trailer (2500 lbs, fully loaded) could be pulled by a mountain bike. The Tacoma is rated for 7000 lb. I like to keep a big cushion of safety, because we go into such rough and steep terrain. The Taco pulls that little rig right through mud and sand and snow, and it is great on mountain descents. Just put it into second gear and sit back as it chugs down the hill at 30 mph.

profdant139 wrote:
Sam, it's like Yogi Berra said about a popular restaurant: "Nobody goes there anymore because it's too crowded." The Valley is pretty but not silent, unlike the high country of the Eastern Sierra. So we only go to the Valley in the dead of winter! (The campgrounds are nice a quiet when the temps are below freezing.)

And my little trailer (2500 lbs, fully loaded) could be pulled by a mountain bike. The Tacoma is rated for 7000 lb. I like to keep a big cushion of safety, because we go into such rough and steep terrain. The Taco pulls that little rig right through mud and sand and snow, and it is great on mountain descents. Just put it into second gear and sit back as it chugs down the hill at 30 mph.

I understand. Last summer will be the last time we'll go there on a busy season. I prefer Tuolumne myself and if I'm camping will never go to the Valley except to buy necessities.

Tioga Pass is the object of my nightmare. But I'm sure your Taco and lighter trailer can handle it with a cinch.

Tioga? We been over it pulling a 35ft fiver with no problems. It isn't a difficult pass.