HELP - Planning 5 Day Backpacking Trip from Bridalveil Creek

So, I originally got a wilderness permit for the last week of June leaving from Cathedral Lakes TH. I will be backpacking with my 16-year old son and my brother. We are experienced backpackers, but we live on the east coast and this will be our first trip to Yosemite. With my worries that Tioga Rd still being closed, I went ahead and got a 2nd permit yesterday leaving form Bridalveil Creek. All my planning for the last 6 months has only revolved around leaving Cathedral Lakes TH.

I have done some investigating the last 2 days on the area south of Glacier Point Road, and I have a few routes planned leaving from Bridalveil Creek. I have no idea which of the options below would be best, and I don't know where any locations are great for campsites. So, any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Option 1 - 24 Miles
Bridalveil Creek > Deer Camp Junction > Turner Meadow > Buena Vista Lake > Illilouette Basin > Mono Meadow Trail Head.

Option 2 - 30 miles
Bridalveil Creek > Deer Camp Junction > Turner Meadow > Chilnualna Falls> Chilnualna Falls Trailhead > Alder Creek Trail Head – Wawona (Hike Chilnualna Falls Rd) > Alder Creek Junction > Empire Meadows> Bridalveil Creek Campgrounds.

Option 3 - 24 Miles
Bridalveil Creek > Deer Camp Junction > Turner Meadow > Chilnualna Creek Junction > Crescent Lake Junction > Chilnualna Falls > Turner Meadow > Deer Camp > Empire Meadows > Bridalveil Creek Campgrounds.

Option 4 - 24 Miles
Bridalveil Creek > Deer Camp > Empire Meadows > Bridalveil Creek > McGurk Meadow Trail Head > Taft Point > Sentinel Dome.

I started another post last week asking for advice for our original plan leaving form Cathedral Lakes TH. Thanks a million to everyone for all the advise and info from that thread. I am hoping for more great advice with this thread.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2019 06:50AM by rjzepfel.

It's not just snow you'll have to worry about, but also creek crossings. I would worry about crossing Chilnualna Creek at the height of runoff...and that would be required for most of your itineraries.

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What happened to happy isles to sunrise?

I submitted my permit application Monday night with 3 choices. Happy Isles to Sunrise was my first choice, but I didn't get it. I actually got my 3rd choice. Happy Isle still doesn't show full for 6/23, but it may be because there are less than 3 permits available, or the permits haven't been paid for yet.

So, I now basically have 3 options. My original Cathedral Lakes TH, Bridalveil Creek, or hope for a walk up permit.

Do you have any advice or recommendations for a good route leaving from Bridalveil Creek?

Here were my 3 options I put on my permit request:

1st choice: Happy Isles to Sunrise/Merced Lake Pass Thru > Sunrise Lakes > Cathedral Lakes > Loop back to Happy Isles

2nd Choice: Pohono Trail (Glacier Point) > Taft Point > McGurk Meadow > Deer Camp > Ostrander Lake Junction > Bridalveil Creek Campground > McGurk Meadow > Taft Point > Pohono Trail (Glacier Point)

3rd Choice: Bridalveil Creek > Ostrander Lake junction > Deer Camp Junction > Turner Meadow > Chilnualna Creek Junction > Buena Vista Lake > Illilouette Basin > Mono Meadow TH