California - Backpacking Yosemite

A friend of mine is getting married October 17 in Alamo, and a few friends were talking about a trip to Yosemite afterwards. Three nights, leaving Sunday and returning Wednesday.

Can anyone suggest good routes for that time of year and length of trip? Also, should I expect to need a permit that time of year? I'm assuming I need to bring the cold weather bag and be prepared for snow.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Yosemite's high country (Tioga Pass, Touloumne Meadows, Glacier Point, etc) will probably be snowed in by mid-October especially if El Nino forecast for this winter actually happens. The valley floor may also have snow by then. The first major storm usually hits around the first 2 weeks of October. I would have a Plan B in case it's snowing when you planned to visit Yosemite.

Since the number of campgrounds and hotels is reduced from the summer, I would guess that reservations are still tight so don't delay. The good point is it won't be very crowded. You may be lucky and have clear, sunny weather!

The driving route is pretty simple from the Bay Area...pretty much a straight shot east on freeways and CA-120. Any online mapping program will give you the route.

Suggest posting on www.tripadvisor.com in the Yosemite forum. A lot of locals and frequent visitors contribute there.

IMHO, while Yoesemite Valley is lovely in Oct., if you want more than some Valley hiking perhaps you should be thinking about Big Sur. The weather is likelyto be a LOT better. And, it sure is pretty, too.

A friend of mine is getting married October 17 in Alamo, and a few friends were talking about a trip to Yosemite afterwards. Three nights, leaving Sunday and returning Wednesday.

While I *have* gone hiking in Yosemite in October to mild days and frosty nights, I've got to say that it's rolling the dice as to whether you will get nice weather or not at that time of year...

I'd have a lower altitude fall-back plan if the high country is already snowy. You might consider THIS HIKE (http://www.bigbasin.org/backpacking.html) in the Santa Cruz redwoods that should be stunning at that time of year...

Can anyone suggest good routes for that time of year and length of trip? Also, should I expect to need a permit that time of year? I'm assuming I need to bring the cold weather bag and be prepared for snow.


I'd think of taking the Mist trail up to Little Yosemite Valley, establishing it as a base camp and day hiking the next day either to Merced Lake or if they are feeling really ambitious, climbing Cloud's Rest behind Half Dome. Yes, I'd definitely take warm clothes, a winter sleeping bag, and other cold weather gear. Yes, you'll need a wilderness permit for overnight camping outside of established car campgrounds. Also, you'll need a bear secure food container (http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bearcanrentals.htm)that you can rent from various places in the park.