Camp in Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley lies cradled between granite walls that rise 3,000 feet in near-vertical sweeps of rock—El Capitan's massive face, Half Dome's distinctive profile, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Fall and the Royal Arches all compressed into a seven-mile valley that concentrates more geological spectacle than entire mountain ranges elsewhere. Ansel Adams's photographs made this the world's most famous national park scenery; John Muir's advocacy preserved it when it might have been dammed and developed. Camping here means waking to these walls, watching alpenglow paint the granite, and sleeping in the presence of scale that recalibrates everything. The valley floor provides access to the most famous features. El Capitan, the world's largest exposed granite monolith, dominates the valley's northern side, its sheer face drawing climbers who spend days inching up routes that observers can trace with binoculars from below. The Dawn Wall ascent by Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson in 2015 put free climbing on mainstream radar; watching tiny figures on the massive face provides perspective on both human determination and geological scale. Yosemite Falls, dropping 2,425 feet in three cascades, ranks among the world's tallest waterfalls—though this superlative means little when you're standing at the base feeling the mist and the roar of spring snowmelt thundering down. Half Dome requires more commitment than casual viewing. The hike to its summit covers 14-16 miles round trip with nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain, the final 400 feet ascending cables bolted into the granite that allow hikers to pull themselves up terrain that would otherwise require technical climbing. Permits, required for the cable section, book out immediately when released—a lottery system distributes daily allocations to the lucky fraction of applicants. Those who complete the hike stand on one of the world's most recognizable summits, the valley spread below, the High Sierra extending beyond. The Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls offers a more accessible waterfall experience, though "accessible" is relative—the trail climbs 1,000 feet in a mile of granite steps that become slick with spray from Vernal Fall, hence the name. The views from the top of Nevada Fall, where the Merced River plunges 594 feet, reward the effort. Continuing to Little Yosemite Valley and Half Dome is possible for the ambitious; stopping at the falls provides satisfaction without the full-day commitment. The camping experience places you inside the scenery rather than viewing it through car windows. Camp 4, the legendary climber's campground, has housed generations of rock climbing pioneers, its walk-in sites still available to early arrivals. The larger campgrounds—Upper and Lower Pines, North Pines—provide more conventional camping within the valley, their sites in forest settings with valley walls visible through the trees. Reservations open five months in advance and sell out immediately for peak season; planning ahead or flexibility with dates provides the only path to camping in the valley. The Tuolumne Meadows, accessible via Tioga Road (seasonal, typically May through November), reveal Yosemite's high country—alpine meadows at 8,600 feet, granite domes suitable for hiking rather than technical climbing, a different character than the valley's vertical drama. The drive along Tioga Road itself provides one of California's finest scenic routes, climbing through forest zones to the alpine environment above tree line. The crowds represent Yosemite's central challenge. Over four million visitors annually concentrate primarily in the seven-mile valley during summer months, creating traffic jams, parking shortages, and populations density that can feel more urban than wilderness. The shuttle system removes some pressure, but the fundamental math remains: too many people for the space available during peak season. Solutions include visiting in shoulder seasons (April-May, September-October), staying in the park rather than day-tripping, exploring outside the valley itself, and accepting that sharing this beauty comes with sharing the space. The practical considerations include the reservation system that now requires advance booking for day visits during peak season. Accommodations within the park range from tent cabins at Curry Village to the historic Ahwahnee Hotel; all book far in advance. Gateway towns—Mariposa, El Portal, Groveland—provide alternatives outside the park. Food within the valley is functional rather than culinary; packing provisions or dining outside the park offers better options. Yosemite delivers the nature experience that inspired the national park concept itself—scenery so overwhelming that 19th-century visitors insisted it be preserved. Camping within that scenery, waking to granite walls catching morning light, provides immersion that day visits cannot match.