Tamarack Flat

Summary

Tamarack Flat Campground is an off-the-beaten-path primitive campground located near Yosemite Valley, approximately 20 miles (45 minutes) away. Facilities include tent/van sites, vault toilets, trash/recycling collection, fire rings, picnic tables, food storage lockers and more. Surrounded by numerous recreational activities, including Yosemite's trails, cliffs, roads, and rivers, the campground is a perfect adventure spot for any kind of visitor.

Overview

Tamarack Flat Campground will be available by reservation only in 2022. No first come, first serve sites are available. 

The campground typically opens in mid-June and closes in early October. Opening date for the Tamarack Flat Campground varies depending on the opening of the Tioga Road and related seasonal facility and road work.

Tamarack Flat Campground is located off the Tioga Road just east of Crane Flat. The campground is approximately 20 miles (45 minutes) from Yosemite Valley and is tucked away in the forest 3 miles off Tioga Road. RVs and Trailers are not recommended for this hard to access, primitive campground. At an elevation of 6,300 feet (1,900 m) elevation, the campground is near Tamarack Creek, which is the only water source (must be filtered, treated, or boiled). There is a gas station nearby at Crane Flat. 

For additional park information, call (209)372-0200 or visit www.nps.gov/yose 

Recreation

Yosemite's trails, cliffs, roads and rivers provide endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. Hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, auto touring, and photography are all very popular activities within the park.   

A hiking and backpacking trail leaves from the campground and can be used to hike to areas such as Cascade Creek, El Capitan and other points along the North Rim of Yosemite Valley. 

Yosemite Valley is a 25 mile drive from Tamarack Flat Campground. Many of Yosemite's most popular trails along with the Merced River, bike trails, beaches and picnic areas can be easily accessed in Yosemite Valley.   

Two of Yosemite's three groves of giant sequoias are located in the Crane Flat area (5-10 miles from Tamarack Flat). Tuolumne and Merced Groves of Giant Sequoias, both of which require a 2.5 to 3-mile roundtrip hike to view. The trailheads are accessible year-round, although trails may be snow-covered winter. Both short hikes lead downhill into sheltered areas with flowing water, dogwood, azaleas, and ancient sequoia trees.

Many other hiking opportunities exist at trailheads along the Tioga Road and in Tuolumne Meadows.

For additional park recreation information, visit www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/ 

Facilities

Seasonal facilities include tent/van sites, vault toilets, trash/recycling collection, food storage lockers, fire rings and picnic tables.

Wood and charcoal fires are permitted when the campground is open.

There is no cell phone reception, no internet connectivity, no camp store, no ice or firewood for sale, no laundry facilities, no dump station and no showers.

Natural Features

Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May, and over 75% between November and March. Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May.

Tamarack Flat is situated along a seasonal creek which is it's only source of water. Creek water must be treated and/or boiled before consuming. 

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Nearby Attractions

Just 25 miles away is Yosemite Valley, an awe-inspiring landscape containing many of the famous features for which Yosemite National Park is known. Hiking trails and bike paths are abundant in the valley. Rafting the Merced River is a fun way to cool down on a summer day when water levels are sufficient. Yosemite Valley also offers numerous guided bus tours, educational programs, museums, ranger-led activities, and an art center with workshops.

The Tioga Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes and granite domes. Tuolumne Meadows embodies the high-country of the Sierra Nevada, with its broad sub-alpine meadows and granite peaks. Several trailheads line the road offering hikes to beautiful, secluded areas that can only be accessed and enjoyed by foot.

Beautiful Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, just 23 miles from Crane Flat, is home to spectacular scenery and numerous wilderness trailheads.

Charges & Cancellations

Cancellations more than 48 hours in advance of arrival date will generate a refund, less a $10 transaction fee. Within 48 hours, $10 and the first night's fee are charged. One night reservations do not incur an additional $10 fee, but do not receive a refund. No-shows will be assessed a $20 service fee along with the loss of the first night's fee.