Make sure to let them know if you’ll be arriving later than 10 a.m. the day of the trip. Tuolumne Meadows To Vogelsang Via Rafferty Creek. Go to any one of the five backcountry offices the day before your start date to get one–and rent a mandatory bear canister ($5 for two weeks, nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bearcanrentals.htm). The climb is pretty mellow. It looks easier to hike to Yosemite Valley in one day than to Tuolomne meadows, since (I believe) it is mostly down hill to Yosemite Valley. Vogelsang Peak is located in the Cathedral Range of Yosemite NP. For a great peak hike, take the trail south to hike Vogelsang Peak. Greetings, My wife and I have Rafferty Creek TH permit for Sept. 1st to hike to Vogelsang HSC. href=”/articles/12517″>YOSEMITE | GRAND CANYON | GREAT SMOKY | OLYMPIC | YELLOWSTONE | DENALI, Entrance Strategy | The Trip | Exit Strategy. We ask all guests to respect the guides’ off-duty hours by not waking or asking anything of them unless there is a true emergency. ), >> Go to the right office Permits for walk-ins are available at any of the five wilderness centers. The soft dirt trail is replaced by granite steps moving directly up the ridgeline as you lose trees and get more of a taste for the Eastern Sierra environment of scare trees and ranges of peaks in the distance. You’ll want to follow the trail past Vogelsang Lake. Our 8 person trip to Vogelsang Hi Sierra Camp was awesome! This is a popular area that provides access to various alpine environments in the Cathedral Range. The Valley shuttle drops off hikers at the trailhead for Mirror Lake, which will junction with Snow Creek. The weak link is my girlfriend's friend, who isn't terribly out of shape but doesn't exercise all that much. Yes, a gas station–where bluegrass bands like The Trespassers jam Pink Floyd covers and the patio looks over Mono Lake. Medium. Hike out past Tuolumne Falls to Tuolumne Meadows on the final day, where a shuttle ($14.50/person) will return you to your car. This post is part of a series about my hike on Yosemite’s High Sierra Loop. The weak link is my girlfriend's friend, who isn't terribly out of shape but doesn't exercise all that much. Start by leaving your car at the Valley floor and hopping on the hikers' shuttle to Tuolumne Meadows and the Rafferty Creek-Vogelsang trailhead. Sleep along the river’s edge each night, spending your last one next to either Le Conte Falls or California Falls. Subimos en 3h 19 min y bajamos en 3h. Yes. Really, who goes to Memphis and skips Graceland? Our Calorie Calculator estimates how many Calories you will burn using Metabolic Equivalent (MET) values from Compendium of Physical Activities. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. Our hike stays left on relatively flat ground that alternates pleasantly between lodgepole forest and meadows. Not registered? The salient reality of this section of trail from Happy Isles Trailhead in Yosemite Valley to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp is that we are going to be climbing 23 of the roughly 26 miles from the Happy Isles Trailhead in Yosemite Valley to where we finally intercept the John Muir Trail in Lyell Canyon. We are experienced backpackers (Glacier, Philmont). When you hit the creek, turn left and head about a mile up an old fisherman’s trail to camp at one of Ansel Adams’s favorite spots: Ringed by Mount Lyell, Rodger Peak, and Electra Peak, it’s where Adams told Georgia O’Keefe he would someday have a mountain named after him. Is it still covered in snow? Whitney further to the south. The permit is for the "Rafferty Creek" trailhead, which allows you to stay at Boothe Lake, the Vogelsang High Sierra Camp backpacker's area, or further south at Vogelsang Lake and beyond. Photos of Vogelsang High Sierra Camp in Yosemite National Park. It offers spectacular views of the area and you can even see Half Dome down in Yosemite Valley. 12. I reached the Vogelsang HSC at 9:53 and continued up to Vogelsang Lake, getting there at 10:1 Join Active Pass to get Backpacker magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. To Tuolumne Meadows to the Northwest via Tuolumne Pass into Rafferty Creek. We will depart Tuolumne Meadows by means of the John Muir Trail but quickly diverge onto the Rafferty Creek Trail. Your first nine miles gain roughly 2,000 feet, passing expansive views of the Cathedral Range en route to Vogelsang High Camp: It’s the highest designated backcountry campsite in the park, but it’s usually packed with one-nighters and families. Vogelsang Pass is is a short approx 1 mile climb up from the lake to an elevation 10,670′. To find the best hike in Yosemite, you could bribe a backcountry ranger with a keg of Sierra Nevada. The permit is for the "Rafferty Creek" trailhead, which allows you to stay at Boothe Lake, the Vogelsang High Sierra Camp backpacker's area, or further south at Vogelsang Lake and beyond. JMT Junction to Yosemite Valley via Vogelsang So from here at the red sign to the Rafferty Creek trail junction is 1.46 miles, then 4.76 miles from there to Vogelsang HSC via Tuolumne Pass, for a total of 6.22 miles, and 26.07 total miles to Yosemite Valley via the Fletcher Creek route. Once you reach the Ireland Creek Junction, you leave the John Muir Trail and turn towards Vogelsang and Ireland Lake. The highlight was the hike to Vogelsang pass, and looking at both sides of pass. Not so. Buy some chocolate at the nearby Curry Village store. Vogelsang is a region of high-altitude lakes and peaks. Gain stunning views of the Cathedral Range and Half Dome’s Summit along the way. Merced Lake was night one on my first ever backpacking trip to Yosemite in 1993. It’s the first trip we took in Yosemite and it’s still one of my favorites. Rather than take the JMT Into Tuolumne, my plan was to cut over to Vogelsang and then walk to the valley via Merced lake. We have lots of detailed guides to help you get the most out of plotaroute.com. We were hoping to get some input on water availability in Rafferty Creek, along the trail to Vogelsang HSC. But he’d only tell you what we already know–that the ultimate trek here starts in the high country, ends in the Valley, and includes a highlight tour of alpine creeks, jagged passes, glass-clear lakes, seldom-seen views, and quiet campsites. Approximately 1 to 1.5 miles from the Wilderness Permit station up the Lyell Canyon trail Rafferty Creek trailhead splits off to the south and starts is 4.5 steady climb to Vogelsang region. It was part of my original plan for my NOBO this year. At this point, you’ll be going off trail to the southwest. Vogelsang is a region of high-altitude lakes and peaks. Your Permit is Ready 3 surefire ways to improve your chances of scoring a much-coveted Yosemite campsite, >> Plan ahead Mark your calendar and call Yosemite’s backcountry office 24 weeks before your start date. Check out nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htmfor a list of links to common starting points. Buy a one-way bus ticket from the Valley up to Glacier Point, then wind past dizzying views of Illilouette Falls, Nevada Falls, and Vernal Falls, before catching the Mist Trail down to the floor. Tuolumne to Vogelsang to Merced Lake, Glen Aulin and Soda Springs and Parsons Lodge is one-hour. Once the trail leaves and heads up toward Ireland Lake and Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, the number people you will encounter drops significantly. 8. a trip of a lifetime. There are no designated campsites here (and very few people), so pick any spot among the enormous boulders. You’re a Tourist, Now Act Like One If it’s your first time to Yosemite, you have to visit the Valley, crowds be damned. Lyell Canyon and Vogelsang Loop Trail - California | AllTrails Hike to Vernal Falls in the morning and Yosemite Falls in the late afternoon light–before spending the evening atop Glacier Point, where you’ll see the views of Half Dome and El Cap that made Ansel famous. You will be heading up the valley along Ireland Creek shortly. Spring would mean snow at 10,000 ft and fall will be quite cold! The busiest stations are Tuolumne and Yosemite Valley; avoid them and up your chances by stopping at one of the less-crowded offices (Tioga, Wawona, or Hetch Hetchy). You'll eventually arrive back at the Lyell Fork and soon find meadows, shade trees and rock bluffs that all call for a break. One of the most stunning views in Yosemite National Park. I planned to start in Tuolumne Meadows, hike down Rafferty Creek, through the Volgelsang area, over Volgelsang Pass and down Lewis Creek. The first 5 1/2 miles up Lyell Canyon is along the John Muir trail, and is a relatively popular backpacking area on the way between Yosemite and Mt. © 2021 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Day Miles Day Miles Elev Trail Jct or Landmark; Su / 1: 0.0: 0.0: 4035: Happy Isles Trailhead Merced Lake to Vogelsang via Fletcher Creek Starting Elevation: 7150 ft. (2179 m) Ending Elevation: 10100 ft. (3078 m) Approximate Mileage: 7.8 miles (12.5 km) When you’re at the bottom, there’s no place to go but up! Because world-class climbers Yvon Chouinard, Royal Robbins, and Lynn Hill all did. Rise at dawn to catch the day’s first rays hitting the sheer walls on both sides of the creek, then pack up and follow the drainage roughly 2.5 miles to a well-marked three-way junction. Although not as picturesque as Lyell Canyon, Rafferty Creek Canyon is quite beautiful. This is a steady uphill hike into high alpine meadows. >> Season Watch the Yosemite park weather page (nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm), and after the third consecutively hot weekend in spring (75°F-plus in the high country, usually middle of May), head into the Valley and witness cascades roaring off sheer granite walls. The Yosemite Creek Campground trailhead is for all destinations southbound on the trail along Yosemite Creek. Five Alarm Fronts and Leatherworks. This is the most direct route North to Tuolumne Meadows. Once the trail leaves and heads up toward Ireland Lake and Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, the number people you will encounter drops significantly. This trail intersects with the John Muir Trail on the floor of Lyell Canyon at the Rafferty Creek trail junction 2.07 miles South of the store, post office, and grill facilities at Tuolumne Meadows. The fix: Start early, park at Curry Village parking lot, and take the bus to the waterfall trailheads. For a great peak hike, take the trail south to hike Vogelsang Peak. Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley Trail is a 27.2 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The Valley store stocks everything from HB offset brass nuts for climbing to bug spray and iodine. When selecting an Activity setting, select the speed you would normally travel at on flat ground. Established over 120 years ago, Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular and visited parks in the country, and for good reason. Visitors can get ot Evelyn Lake via the Rafferty Creek trail to vogelsang High Camp and then follow trail to the East, or they can climb up out of Lyell canyon on the Ireland Lake trail near Potters Peak and over into evelyn lake (typically on their way to Vogelsang High Camp). Your finale? (Otherwise, they’ll cancel your spot. White Wolf, $14 a night per site; nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wwcamp.htm). This post is part of a series about my hike on Yosemite’s High Sierra Loop. thanks regards, William Like the title says, I'm planning to backpack for 3 days going from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite valley via Rafferty Creek. Custom Fire Department Leather Work Number of activity options and is best used from June until October their stuff in! Up and over Red Peak Pass was the primary goal. Yes the 3 mile hike from Lyell Canyon up to the junction trail to Ireland lake is BRUTAL with a heavy pack, it is also just 3 miles. The righthand branch takes you up Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp in 5.7 miles. He did; you can see the pyramid-shaped, 11,760-foot peak to the east. Note: I made a return trip to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp with my father in August 2010.. With its iconic scenery and mountains, including Half Dome and El Capitan, there are really no other National or State parks like it. Medium. Browse from &HotelNumbers Vogelsang Hotels with candid photos, genuine reviews, location maps & more. >> Try something new Sample Yosemite’s world-class rock climbing with Yosemite Mountaineering School (209-372-8344; yosemitepark.com/activities_mountaineeringschool.aspx). >> Clean up The showers in Curry Village (866-875-8456) cost $2 (towels not provided). Hoping to keep our pack weight down and filter water along the way as it looks like the trail is fairly close to the creek and crosses the creek at a couple points. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. Lyell Canyon. Given the rate of snow melt, it is probably already just patches left. We could take in a good part of Tuolumne Meadows by looking down Rafferty Creek valley, which we came up on. Merced Lake to Vogelsang via Fletcher Creek Starting Elevation: 7150 ft. (2179 m) Ending Elevation: 10100 ft. (3078 m) Approximate Mileage: 7.8 miles (12.5 km) When you’re at the bottom, there’s no place to go but up! >> Best dayhike: Panorama Trail Everyone knows about this eight-mile route, which traces the upper northeast ridge of Yosemite Valley and drops 3,200 feet–but few actually take the time to hike it. Vogelsang to Cathedral (33.3 miles): This route, which can be accessed from either Cathedral Lakes or Rafferty Creek, is a classic section of the famous High Sierra Loop and passes by Merced Lake, Sunrise High Sierra Camps and the Vogelsang. Eat dinner out on the peninsula, where the sun dyes the water a deep orange-red. Yes. Head up to 11,699 feet over Red Peak Pass and camp at Lower Ottoway Lake. Outside the Valley, try White Wolf Campground, with 74 spots. This … Spring would mean snow at 10,000 ft and fall will be quite cold! Famous naturalist John Muir was instrumental in establishing Yosemite as a National Park, which lead the way … Vogelsang to Cathedral (33.3 miles): This route, which can be accessed from either Cathedral Lakes or Rafferty Creek, is a classic section of the famous High Sierra Loop and passes by Merced Lake, Sunrise High Sierra Camps and the Vogelsang. Day four is a pleasant change of pace: a consistent, 10-mile descent past Lower Merced Pass Lake toward Glacier Point, where the land is in various states of regrowth–saplings mixed with toasted lodgepole piles–after repeated years of wildfire. What snow was near Tuolumne Pass should be gone. You’ll want to follow the trail past Vogelsang Lake. At your campsite along Illilouette Creek, you’ll start seeing more people; snag a quiet site above the Mono Meadow trail junction. Mileage Disparity 13.8mi The Stats Acres 747,956 Miles of trail 800 Website nps.gov/yose Phone (209) 372-0200 2007 visitation 3.6 million (total), 76,576 (backcountry). Wake up early and hike five miles to Glacier Point for unobstructed views of Yosemite Valley. Charlie Pankey ~ Sierra Rec Magazine Publisher. Like the title says, I'm planning to backpack for 3 days going from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite valley via Rafferty Creek. Missed the window? It would be close to 10 miles to Emeric lake, but the last 4 miles or so would be flat and downhill. But packed parking lots and dazed tourons make the endeavor a logistical headache. Re: Rafferty Creek to Merced Lake: Fletcher v Lewis by AlmostThere » Tue Jun 18, 2019 7:47 pm There is a map of the no camping zone around the HSC in the Superintendent's Compendium, a most useful publication in PDF form on the Yosemite NPS website. Everything you’ve likely seen of Yosemite Valley–Half Dome, El Cap, Bridalveil Falls–is just a small part of this 1,200-square-mile park, where 13,000-foot peaks scratch the skyline, enormous glacial erratics litter the landscape, and ink-blue rivers roar through silvery canyons. Whitney further to the south. Follow signs for Yosemite Valley, taking a left on Big Oak Flat at Crane Junction, following signs to Yosemite Valley. From Lee Vining, CA Travel west on 120 over Tioga Pass to the park entrance. The trail through the canyon is also the trail to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, so there were quite a few other people day hiking and backpacking. For a truly epic day, branch off at Little Yosemite Valley for an ascent of Half Dome–which will add seven miles, 2,600 feet of climbing, and a knee-crunching 4,842-foot descent. Alternatively, our plan (if we can get the camps) is to hike to Vogelsang, then Vogelsang to Merced, and then Merced to Yosemite Valley. It would be close to 10 miles to Emeric lake, but the last 4 miles or so would be flat and downhill. Think Yosemite is all gleaming granite? 3 Day 42 mile loop from Tenaya Lake to Clouds Rest, Sunrise Creek, Half Dome, Echo Valley, Merced Lake, Echo Valley, Vogelsang Pass, Rafferty Creek, Tuolumne Meadows. Your comment has been flagged for review due to possible spam. Yosemite Loop Day 3: Tuolumne Meadows, Vogelsang, Merced Lake and Little Yosemite Valley ... Camp rather than Glen Aulin so I turn towards Lyell Canyon and in a shockingly short time leave the JMT/PCT for the Rafferty Creek trail and start climbing. For southeastern access, head to the Chiquito Lake trailhead. General Notes: Our goal this day is to go 6.5 miles to either Boothe Lake (9,845′) or Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (10,130′) for the night. After heading back down to the High Elevation Trail, continue south toward Isberg Peak. Here’s where you can catch the classics all at once: El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Nevada Falls. By the time I was actually standing waiting in line for my wilderness permit, I had Plan A-H ready, with Plan I as “start somewhere, end in valley.” Follow a river’s journey from Alpine Lake to Yosemite Valley. Register for free. Continue your descent on the steep but little-used Four-Mile Trail, then walk up along the Valley floor back to Curry Village and your car. Start by leaving your car at the Valley floor and hopping on the hikers’ shuttle to Tuolumne Meadows and the Rafferty Creek-Vogelsang trailhead. Need change? 3 Day 42 mile loop from Tenaya Lake to Clouds Rest, Sunrise Creek, Half Dome, Echo Valley, Merced Lake, Echo Valley, Vogelsang Pass, Rafferty Creek, Tuolumne Meadows. This is a popular area that provides access to various alpine environments in the Cathedral Range. To access the northeastern side of the park, use the Virginia Lakes trailhead. 14. From the High Sierra Camp, the trail drops to Tuolumne Pass and then into the valley of Rafferty Creek before eventually meeting the Tuolumne River; here, you’ll find the trail you started on. Overview. Five Alarm Fronts and Leatherworks. In addition, it offers a commanding view of the Merced drainage to the west and a sweeping view of the Clark Range. The Trip Following Ansel Adams’s path to inspiration Catch Yosemite’s classic granite vistas and greatest secrets on this 60-mile loop. To the east is Vogelsang Pass. The first 5 1/2 miles up Lyell Canyon is along the John Muir trail, and is a relatively popular backpacking area on the way between Yosemite and Mt. I really wanted to go to the Vogelsang area, and because I only had one weekend left in Yosemite, I schemed a way to get myself there. Route map for 'Tuolumne Meadows To Vogelsang Via Rafferty Creek' - a 11.31km walking route near YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, US. To Tuolumne Meadows to the Northwest via Tuolumne Pass into Rafferty Creek. It offers spectacular views of the area and you can even see Half Dome down in Yosemite Valley. There are thousands of boulders in the park seemingly begging to be conquered–just be sure to check for periodic “closed” signs that signal rock falls and wildlife restoration areas. Vogelsang Lake is Located approx 7 miles out of Tuolumne Meadows on the rafferty creek trailhead and sits at 10,324′. Answer 1 of 16: We are a family of 5 from Minnesota planning our first visit to Yosemite (parents, 3 teenage boys). Is it still covered in snow? Plotted with the plotaroute.com route planner. So save your beer money for a post-hike pint at the Awahanee Hotel and follow this plan. (And note the lack of trees to stop the wind, if it's a windy night). 4 Day Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley Via Vogelsang (including Half Dome) – 35 miles. Yosemite High Sierra Camps: Vogelsang to Merced Lake to the Valley..."Unforgettable!" My younger brother is back packing Rafferty creek to little yosemite valley and was wondering if theirs water in the creek at this time of year or if he'll have to pump water at the lakes, also their is a split in the trail you can go up vogelsang peak or stay along the river and were wondering if anyone had any recommendations on which trail to take. One word of warning: At elevations around 10,000 feet, altitude sickness is not uncommon, especially for novice backpackers. Please Sign In to leave a comment. No matter how many times you think you’ve seen it–on posters, in calendars, on your friends’ refrigerators–real-time Yosemite is still utterly jaw-dropping: giant, russet-red sequoias, resounding 2,400-foot waterfalls, 3,300-foot granite walls, and more photo ops than you can get at the summer Olympics. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. I made another banzai speed run up to the Eastern Sierra last weekend, this time to spend two nights at reknowned Vogelsang High Sierra Camp.This was my first visit to one of Yosemite’s high country camps, and I loved it. Why? There are views of Rafferty, Fletcher, and Vogelsang Peaks. Follow signs for Yosemite Valley. The righthand branch takes you up Rafferty Creek to Vogelsang High Sierra Camp in 5.7 miles. Make reservations up to six months in advance online or by phone. The highlight was the hike to Vogelsang pass, and looking at both sides of pass. >> Pre-trip breakfast Leave the Bay Area at dawn and stop in Groveland at the Mountain Sage (18653 Main Street, 209-962-4686) for a cup of fair-trade coffee and a breakfast burrito. You will be heading up the valley along Ireland Creek shortly. >> Getting There Yosemite is about three and a half hours from the San Francisco area. a trip of a lifetime. The park holds 40 percent of their quota for walk-ins. Just got back from trip up Rafferty, over Vogelsang Pass, down to the high trail and up Hutchings and Lyell Fork. The small glacial cirque is walled in to the north and south by Fletcher Peak (almost 11,000') and Vogelsang Peak, respectively. Optional you can scramble to the top of Vogelsang peak from the high sierra camp (could not do it on our trip because of the snow) definitly nicer to start with john muir/Lyell canyon trail and finish through Rafferty Creek trail General Notes: Plotted with the plotaroute.com route planner. Vogelsang Peak is a peak in the Cathedral Range of Yosemite National Park, located in northeastern Mariposa County, California.Though Mount Florence is higher, at 12,567 feet (3,830 m), at 11,498 feet (3,505 m) the summit rises higher than most of the surrounding peaks, and offers sweeping panoramic views in every direction. Summit Half Dome on the last day of the trip before hiking to Yosemite Valley. >> Gear Shop Forgot something? Also, how difficult is the hike up Rafferty Creek to the Vogelsang area. Go in September for bug- and crowd-free beauty. (approx 10 miles) Day 2: Vogelsang High Sierra Camp – Vogelsang Pass – Vogelsang High Sierra Camp – Rafferty Creek – Tuolomne Meadows (approx 10 miles) Map: Yosemite High Country Backpacking the John Muir Trail in 2012. At this point, you’ll be going off trail to the southwest. nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/trailheads.htm. nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildpermits.htm, nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/trailheads.htm, Hike This, Not That: 15 Epic Alternatives to Crowded Trails, The New Life List: 9 Adventures to Check Off in 2019, The Best Hiking Trails in Kings Canyon National Park. This is the most direct route North to Tuolumne Meadows. >> Pig out Head to the east side of the park on CA 120 and hit the Whoa Nellie Deli at the Tioga Gas Mart (760-647-1088; thesierraweb.com/tiogagasmart/deli.html). The views to the west are absolutely stunning. The Compendium idenitifes the relative energy cost of undertaking various activities compared with doing nothing. In another half mile, you come to a trail junction. From there I’d go along the ridge on the Isberg Pass Trail over to Red Peak Pass Trail. They run clinics for rubes and masters, and even lead trips up El Capitan. Here's a selection: We also have a number of video tutorials, an FAQ section and friendly forums where you can get more help and advice. >> Start hiking outside the park Since Yosemite restricts backcountry numbers by trailheads, not campsites or zones, you can always start farther away (outside park boundaries, if needed) and hike to your destination. Park at wilderness center or Dog Lake parking. Trailhead: Rafferty Creek. - See 138 traveller reviews, 99 candid photos, and great deals for Yosemite High Sierra Camps at Tripadvisor.

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