Re: Merced Lake to Curry Village

Looks like my reservation for Sunrise HSC is too early (before they open), so my group is going to have to make the 13+ mile trek out from Merced Lake HSC to the Valley. We will park a car at Curry Village for the drive back (we are starting from Tuolumne.) My questions are... Is this is the best and quickest way out from Merced Lake? Anything specific about that route or an alternate we should be aware of as far as sights to see, better trails to take, etc...? We wanted to keep our days around 10 miles, so this one will be a bit longer day and mileage hiking, but want to be sure we do not miss an opportunity here. We were going to try and time arrival for the Shuttle bus from the Valley to Tuolumne, but seems risky if we don't make it back on time, so we are staging the car.

Merced Lake to Nevada Falls is gradual - long but easy hike - I did it the other way several years ago - You can stop in LYV and go up Half Dome - I believe the Wilderness Permits suffice as permits for climbing Half Dome - Don't know if LYV needs to be specifically stated on the permit though

Consider taking, between Nevada Fall and Happy Isles, the JMT trail instead of the Mist trail.

Even though JMT is 1 mile farther, the high step staircase alongside Vernal Fall on Mist trail can be killer at the end of a trip, especially with a heavy backpack!

Also, why park at Curry? Parking at the Trailhead/Wilderness parking lot would shave a bit of distance off the trip and is intended for Wilderness Permit parkers.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2011 07:43PM by qumqats.

I wonder if our HSC reservation will entitle us to be able to park in that lot for a week?

I will be doing the same hike. the Wilderness office said that you did not need any sort of permit to park in that lot.

Anyone know how many river crossings there are on this trail?

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Mom
Anyone know how many river crossings there are on this trail?

Gephyrophobia?

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The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan

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Mom
Anyone know how many river crossings there are on this trail?

the river crossings have bridges. The creek crossings do not. Right now there are probably more creek crossings - intermittent streams will have water in them.

If you get your feet wet now on the Merced River Trail from Merced Lake to Nevada Falls... you're trying to.

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