Re: Trailhead parking

I'm experiencing a little confusion regarding parking in the general Lembert Dome area. As I understand it Lembert Dome parking lot is the one closest to Soda Springs, Wilderness Center parking lot is south of Tioga Road directly opposite Lembert Dome, and Dog Lake parking lot is halfway between the Wilderness Center and the Toulumne Lodge parking lot.

The park website for Trailhead quota info says to use Wilderness Center parking or Dog Lake parking for Lyell Canyon, and to use Lembert Dome parking for Glen Aulin. Somewhere else I read that overnight parking is not permitted at Lembert Dome parking lot? Anybody know the straight skinny on this?

Also, I'm not clear on overnight parking regarding Cathedral Lakes trailhead. In June we saw lots of cars parked there along Tioga Road at 10AM but don't know if those were just day hikers. Is it just as well to use the Wilderness or Dog Lake lots and take the shuttle to Cathedral trailhead for overnight trips?

Jim

Jim,
You can park almost anywhere overnight on the road to the Stables in Tuolumne Meadows. Probably they do not want you to park overnight
at the Lembert Dome "lot" so that dayhikers can use it. I prefer to park
right at the stables and take the trail from there to Glen Aulin.
(don't tell too many people though ) Usually the road is packed w/cars
and once you hit the stables there are loads of places to park.

For Cathedral, Tioga Road is the place to park. I wouldn't use the shuttle since now you are at their mercy.

Just make sure you get a parking permit when you get your wilderness permit.

I've never ever needed a parking permit for Yosemite.
Ok, maybe in the Valley. Never anywhere else.

bill-e-g wrote:

> I've never ever needed a parking permit for Yosemite.
> Ok, maybe in the Valley. Never anywhere else.

In my experience it was recommended before I parked overnight. There are rules on how long a car can be parked without a permit. I would imply that the only means of knowing a car belongs to a permitted overnight wilderness visitor is to have the parking permit (I was issued one last year) displayed.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=193143

Quote

36 CFR § 2.22 – PROPERTY
(a)(2) The following describes areas where property may be left unattended for periods longer
than 24 hours, and the conditions under which property may be left:
• Visitors on permitted overnight trips into or through wilderness areas may leave their vehicles
unattended for the period specified by their wilderness permit.
• Visitors with overnight accommodation in lodges or campgrounds may leave their vehicles
unattended for the period of their stay. Permits must be displayed.

Post Edited (09-11-08 09:57)

Guess it behooves us to request a parking permit for all overnighters.

Another item I spotted on the PDF of regulations was no camping within 4 miles of any trailhead. That does not affect me in any way but it's one I was not aware of.

Jim

tomdisco wrote:

> Guess it behooves us to request a parking permit for all
> overnighters.
>
> Another item I spotted on the PDF of regulations was no camping
> within 4 miles of any trailhead. That does not affect me in
> any way but it's one I was not aware of.

That's only trailheads in five specific high-use areas. It only has to be one mile from a public road away from those areas. For example, you could camp just a mile away from the Sunrise Lakes (Tenaya Lake) Trailhead.

Thank you for the clarification.

Jim

v_p_w,

Actually, it would appear the no overnight backpack camping area is rather extensive according to the National Geographic Trials Illustrated Maps. South of TM it extends to within 1/4 mile around the north side of Lower Cathedral Lake, south of Unicorn Peak, south of Elizabeth Lake, and down Lyell Canyon within 1/2 mile of the Evelyn Lake trail. With the exception of the specific backpacker's camps it circles Sunrise Camp, Merced Lake, and Vogelsang/Fletcher Lake. On the north side of TM it extends to within 1/4 mile of Glen Aulin and across all the way up to Skelton Lakes down through Granite Lakes and Gaylor Lakes. To the east it includes Mammoth Peak, Mt. Dana, Mt Gibbs, and all the way to Mono Pass, Parker Pass, and Helen Lake area.

Again, this would not affect any of my plans but I'm a bit surprised how extensive this no camping area seems to be, especially down toward Parker Pass which is 5.2 miles from Tioga Road. Is that really a high use area?

Jim

I forgot, of course you need a permit at Hetch Hetchy overnight.
But they give you that straight-away.

I'm just saying what my experience has been. I parked at the stables twice
this year w/o a car permit. I parked at Elizabeth Lake TH twice this year
and once last year w/o a permit. White Wolf, Ten Lakes, ... I could go
on and on and on... no car permit required..
even parked overnight at Tuolumne Grove in Oct.... no car permit.
But... sure, ask if you need one, better safe than sorry.
In Kings Canyon they gave me a car permit. Like I said, I think I only
was ever given on for the Happy Isles TH.

Have fun

bill-e-g wrote:

> I forgot, of course you need a permit at Hetch Hetchy
> overnight.
> But they give you that straight-away.

Yeah - but it's not yours to keep. :-(

> I'm just saying what my experience has been. I parked at the
> stables twice
> this year w/o a car permit. I parked at Elizabeth Lake TH
> twice this year
> and once last year w/o a permit. White Wolf, Ten Lakes, ... I
> could go
> on and on and on... no car permit required..
> even parked overnight at Tuolumne Grove in Oct.... no car
> permit.
> But... sure, ask if you need one, better safe than sorry.
> In Kings Canyon they gave me a car permit. Like I said, I
> think I only
> was ever given on for the Happy Isles TH.
>
> Have fun

The request is there. I did notice that they didn't make an exception for the 24 hour unattended property for food stored in food lockers. I do recall a request to label food with a date of return, so I think enforcement is based more on the practical nature of the bear boxes used by backpackers.

Gaylor, Granite, Parker Pass/Mono Pass are all closed to overnight camping
to "protect water quality". (although once you are outside the park... you
can.. thus the quota for backpacking, etc.)
None of these areas are high use. But if you could camp there they
certainly would be. Also, at Mono Pass there are pioneer cabins. Very interesting.
A really nice dayhike is to go Mono Pass, check out the cabins, then go to
Parker Pass... then Parker Pass Lake->Helen Lake->Spillway Lake->out.

Stick by what the National Geo map has for no camping and you are safe.
It is the same map that they use at the Wilderness Centers.
That being said, they have not been enforcing the no camping at Lower Cathedral...



Post Edited (09-14-08 09:25)

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