Tamarack Flat Campground
The Quick Take
Tamarack Flat is Yosemite's best-kept secret for campers who want to actually feel like they're in the wilderness, not a parking lot with trees. Tucked three miles down a narrow dirt road off Tioga Road, this campground filters out the RV crowd and casual drive-in campers by design. There's no running water, no flush toilets, no camp store -- just forest, a creek, and bear lockers. At over six thousand feet, you're sleeping in a quiet pocket of lodgepole pine while the masses battle for spots in Yosemite Valley. The trade-off is real: you're 45 minutes from the Valley floor, and you'll need to haul in every drop of drinking water. But at just twenty-four bucks a night in one of the most visited parks on Earth, this is where experienced campers go to breathe. Choose Tamarack Flat if you value peace over convenience and don't mind roughing it a little.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 52 sites are reservable.
Book at Yosemite LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
21 ADA-accessible campsites. The following campsites are suitable for wheelchairs and include picnic tables with extended tops. The closest restrooms to these campsites are also wheelchair accessible. These campsites are limited to people with disabilities. Sites 21, 22, 23, 24, and 38 Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Rules to Know
- Fires:<b>Fires:</b> Wood and charcoal fires are permitted when fire restrictions are not in effect.
- Bear Safety:<b>You are required to store food properly in order to protect Yosemite's bears.</b> Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/bears.htm">bears</a>, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bears.htm">proper food storage</a>, and <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/lockers.htm">food lockers</a>.
- Occupancy:<b>People per site:</b> A maximum of six people (including children) are allowed per campsite.
Pro Tips
Bring at least two gallons of water per person per day -- Tamarack Creek is nearby but requires filtering or boiling, and the nearest potable water is back at Crane Flat. Fill up before you make the turnoff.
The three-mile access road is unpaved, narrow, and has tight switchbacks. If you're in a low-clearance sedan, take it slow. This road is exactly why the campground stays quiet -- embrace it. Leave the trailer at home.
Use Tamarack Flat as a base for the El Capitan trail, which starts right from the campground and drops you at a stunning Valley rim viewpoint without the crowds. It's roughly seven miles round trip and you'll likely have the trail mostly to yourself on weekday mornings.
Photos
NPS Photo
NPS Photo
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
The Tamarack Flat access road is located off the Tioga Road 4 miles east of Crane Flat. From Yosemite Valley take the Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Road 20 miles (approximately 45 minutes). From Hwy. 120 west/Big Oak Flat Road, take the Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Road 11.5 miles (25 minutes). From Hwy. 120 east/Tioga Pass, the Tamarack Campground turnoff road is located approximately 42 miles west (70 minutes). Once you turn off the Tioga Road, you’ll travel 3 narrow, windy miles to access the campground.
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