California - Camping at Yosemite/Grand Canyon -what do we need?

Besides a tent;)

Camping for a night at the Grand Canyon and 2 nights at Yosemite at the end of the month. Sites booked, and we really do want the 'camping' experience despite lodgings being more convenient. We are young, easy going guys but wondering outside the proposed tent and sleeping bags, what else should we being along...? If we needs mats, coolbox, blankets etc then maybe we should rent this stuff... although being pushed for time at these places, I guess we would have to do so in LA where we are basing ourselves for this trip. Would there be camping rental shops in LA?

How much equipment you need for camping depends on a number of factors, including where you are staying (next to the park offices or miles out in the wilderness), how/where/when you plan to eat, and what style of camping you prefer. Give me more information and I'll tailor my advice.

If you choose to rent or buy equipment locally I can recommend REI, www.rei.com. They are a Mecca for outdoors enthusiasts, with several stores around LA. They are primarily in the business of retail but they do rent a variety of equipment, too.

Another place that rents camping equipment in Los Angeles is Adventure 16 (http://adventure16.com/), with locations near LAX (Pico & Sepulveda) or in the San Fernando Valley (Reseda & I-101).

Let's see...
You might need:

A tent
Sleeping bags
A day pack for hiking
A cooler for food storage
A camp stove

Since you are staying in established campgrounds, you likely will not need a bear proof cask (required for Yosemite backpackers); but you should make sure any cooler borrowed or rented will fit in the campground's bear boxes...and make sure that *ALL* food, snacks, drinks or perfumed soaps, lotions, or other strong smelling items are stored in the box and not left in your car or tent.

Thanks, ill look into these places. Starting to think our Jeep Cherokee rental might not be big enough for all of this stuff, plus our luggage & 4 adults. Maybe we should rent a Ford Explorer which is in the same category(standard SUV) -any thoughts?

Just one night at GC? It's a long ways between the two parks, and there's lots of good scenery in between. I hope you're not rushing to do it in one day. By Yosemite I assume you mean Yosemite Valley. Be sure to see other parts of the park, including Tuolumne Meadows and Wawona/Redwood grove. Be prepared for crowds, even in campgrounds (you may want to bring ear plus in case there are some noise campers near your spot).

You've never been camping before? There are tons of books on camping, and you can ask at any equipment store. Camping in these two parks is not different, in terms of equipment, than camping elsewhere. I used a backpacker's tent for years; must less bulky than a big family tent. In Yosemite, at least, you should follow rangers' advice on storing food, etc. away from your tent, due to bears. We've stayed in the tent cabins at Camp Curry and everyone must keep food and anything else with a scent in a central locker area, not even in one's car.

North Rim or South Rim of the GC? North Rim is 1,000' higher so can get a bit cooler. Be sure you're prepared for the possibility of rain. And bring mosquito repellent! If you don't want to buy or rent a stove, wash dishes, etc. you could eat in restaurants, including casual ones, in each park.

Thanks SoCal... we are staying at Crane Flats in Yosemite and Mather Campsite at Grand Canyon South. Have Las Vegas in between the 2 parks, but yes our time, particulary at the Grand Canyon is short. Planning on bringing two backpacker tents (4 guys), sleeping bags and maybe picking up some cheap mats. Gas is not essential, we are so pushed for time eating out or eating simple will suffice.

It looks like you're talking about doing "cold camping" -- avoiding cooking at camp. That definitely cuts down the amount of gear you've got to carry around. You'll be able to skip the stove, fuel, pots and pans, and cleaning supplies. You'll also save the time of preparing, cooking, and cleaning up.

I usually do cold camping when when I visit Yosemite, especially as inside the park there are so many places to buy meals. You'll find a small convenience store just down the road from Crane Flat campground, a grill line and a small grocery store in Tuolumne Meadows, and several restaurants and two groceries in Yosemite Valley.

I can't speak from experience about food near Grand Canyon's Mather campground. I've only visited the park's North Rim. But I would expect that with all the visitation the South Rim gets there's probably a food court built there by now. :rolleyes:

If you do go with the plan of cold camping I still recommend that you buy an inexpensive cooler. You will want it for carrying cold drinks and possibly also some camp food like sandwiches or leftovers.

As for your rental car: a Jeep Cherokee is small for 4 people and gear. Did you mean a Jeep Grand Cherokee? That would fit 4 better, though if you're carrying luggage for a week-and-a-half trip it might not all fit.

It looks like you're talking about doing "cold camping" -- avoiding cooking at camp. That definitely cuts down the amount of gear you've got to carry around. You'll be able to skip the stove, fuel, pots and pans, and cleaning supplies. You'll also save the time of preparing, cooking, and cleaning up.

I usually do cold camping when when I visit Yosemite, especially as inside the park there are so many places to buy meals. You'll find a small convenience store just down the road from Crane Flat campground, a grill line and a small grocery store in Tuolumne Meadows, and several restaurants and two groceries in Yosemite Valley.

I can't speak from experience about food near Grand Canyon's Mather campground. I've only visited the park's North Rim. But I would expect that with all the visitation the South Rim gets there's probably a food court built there by now. :rolleyes:

If you do go with the plan of cold camping I still recommend that you buy an inexpensive cooler. You will want it for carrying cold drinks and possibly also some camp food like sandwiches or leftovers.

As for your rental car: a Jeep Cherokee is small for 4 people and gear. Did you mean a Jeep Grand Cherokee? That would fit 4 better, though if you're carrying luggage for a week-and-a-half trip it might not all fit.

Thanks for your detailed response.

Yes it is a Grand Cherokee firstly, and we have the option of a Chevy Blazer upon collection if we feel this does not offer enough a luggage space.

Cold camping is the theme, gas etc will be so much effort for such short stays. Will try and get hold of a cooler box but tents, sleeping bags and mats is about it equipment wise.

Glad to hear there is a store near crane flats, that is where I was worried about. As for the Grand Canyon, I agree that as it is the Grand Canyon village there should be plenty of options.

Thanks

To reiterate what was stated previously, in Yosemite no food should be left in any form in a vehicle overnight, because bears routinely break into vehicles, although there hasn't been as much publicity as in past years (you may want to search the Internet). Lockers are provided at campsites.

There is no similar problem at Grand Canyon.