Suggestions for a 4-day foray into Yosemite...

Hello all,

New to the community and wanted to ask a pretty broad question. My two friends and I will spend a 4-day weekend (3 nights) in September backpacking Yosemite, and could really use some advice planning. Considering a) we crave solitude and a trail less traveled, b) we seek the "essence" of a backcountry Yosemite experience, and c) we've never been to Yosemite before, but have experience wilderness camping in other national parks, anyone out there have advice on trails, campsites, or must-see destinations within the park? Is hiking the Yosemite portion of the JMT something to consider?

Yosemite is a really popular park, so if you want solitude, your first decision should be to avoid those trailheads that fill up early and often. Check them out here under #2:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm

You might look at some of the areas that are served by "cross country" trailheads out of Tuolumne Meadows, such as Nelson or Budd Lake, Those require some route finding and navigation skills, but you will see far fewer people there.

Or you could try some of the trailheads on the East side, that don't get as much traffic because they are not "in Yosemite." Viriginia Lakes won't have many people past the pass, Walker Lake to Bloody Canyon will be quiet as well...and from there you can hike into the rest of the park

Check out our website for a ton of hikes in Yosemite

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Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

One other thought specific to the current drought...

The current monsoon air flow seems to have freshened up some high-country seasonal streams, but September is a ways off. I'd plan to camp by lakes or, at the very least, main-stem rivers.

The Yosemite portion of the JMT is very worthwhile, but does not exactly qualify as "solitude". I agree with Balzac about the cross country trailheads out of Tuolumne...a great loop is Elizabeth Lake over the cross country pass to the Nelson or Matthes Lakes, and back around to Echo and Cathedral Lakes. Lots of trip reports on this or variations thereof, here, here, and here.