YOSEMITE/JUNE LAKE/MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN
Last Minute Trip to Yosemite, June Lake & Mammoth Mountain
In late summer we had plans to spend time with dear friends down in Carlsbad, but had to change course last minute leaving us with a couple days open.
BOOKING A CAMPSITE
We jumped on recreation.gov to see if anything was available. We were pretty open…looked at Hume Lake (it was full), Mammoth (full), Yosemite just for kicks (it was, of course, full). Kyle loves the Eastern Sierras, so we were searching mostly in that area. We ended up finding a campsite at June Lake for three nights. We’re not exactly sure how we got a spot at June last minute (as in the day before we wanted to arrive). Our guess is someone had just canceled their booking and we were on the site at the right time to snag it. This is the challenge with California campsites—there are so many incredible places to camp, but it is difficult to get the more popular sites last minute and especially in peak seasons and on weekends. A last minute summertime weekend trip takes more luck than anything else.
At 12pm on a Wednesday in the second week of August we decided to leave for June Lake by way of Yosemite and by 3:30pm that same afternoon we were packed up and on the road. This is one of the things we love most about having the van: it is easy to keep trip ready. We got our clothes sorted, our fridge and pantry stocked and were on our way.
We knew we wanted to stop in Yosemite on the way to June Lake. Yes, Yosemite in the summer is a bit crazy, but I actually love it. I love seeing all the different people and hearing so many languages. I know this is oozing with sentimentality, but for a moment it seems like we are able to step away from our differences, conflicts, the way we consciously and unconsciously exploit resources, and simply appreciate the grandeur of such a magnificent place. When surrounded by the awe-inspiring magnitude of Yosemite, our problems and arguments seem smaller and quieter. Yosemite is bustling in the summer, and yet, it feels peaceful and grounded as a community of people different from one another take it all in with mutual respect and regard.
BOONDOCKING AT THE GOAT MEADOW TRAILHEAD
We had seen on social media the time-lapses of people waiting hours in line to get through the entrance gates at Yosemite. To avoid this, we wanted to arrive at the park as early in the morning as possible. Yosemite is a good 5+ hours from our home. With the van we knew we could spend the night at the Goat Meadow Trailhead & Snow Play located 1.5 miles south of Yosemite’s South Entrance Gate. The Goat Meadow Trailhead is basically a large parking lot that allows for overnight parking. There are no services (no vault toilet, water, etc.), so you need to be prepared to boondock. We rolled in about 10pm to the trailhead and spent the night. There were several other camper vans and RVs doing the same thing. At about 7am the next morning we were up and through the southern entrance with zero wait. There are bathrooms just past the entrance gate and the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza has food and other essentials.
SUMMERDALE CAMPGROUND
Side: If you can book a site early enough, Summerdale Campground is also a great spot located just south (1.7 miles) from the south entrance. It has vault toilets and access to water. It is still another 45 minutes to the valley floor from Summerdale, but a nice option if you want a camping option outside of the national park.
Tunnel View, Yosemite National Park. Our kids look unimpressed, but we never get tired of this view.
VIEW OF YOSEMITE FALLS FROM THE MERCED RIVER
Arriving early into Yosemite meant we had the day to explore and were able to snag a parking spot. In the summer, most key parking lots are full by 9am each day. We opted to park our van for the day at the Visitor Center at Yosemite Village and made our way over to the beachfront on the Merced River across from Housekeeping Camp. We had a picturesque view of Yosemite Falls and enjoyed the morning playing in the Merced with little-to-no people. With the historic snowfall during the winter of 2023, there was still a lot of water for mid-August. As the morning turned into lunchtime, we thoroughly enjoyed eating a picnic lunch while watching people standup paddleboarding, rafting and tubing down the Merced. At the time we purchased our van, I didn’t realize how much I would come to appreciate the small refrigerator, freezer and food prep counter. We have had countless picnic meals made easier by the cold food storage available in the van. It is one of the features I like most.
LOWER AND UPPPER YOSEMITE FALLS
After the morning playing along the Merced and a nap for Indy, we walked over to Lower Yosemite Falls. There were definitely more people up at the falls than anywhere else we had been all day. The trail up to the Lower Falls is easy and mostly paved. We had no problem navigating our stroller on the trail.
THE AHWAHNEE HOTEL
We have never stayed at the Ahwahnee Hotel, but Kyle and I have always enjoyed the outdoor area on the backside of the hotel. It’s a great place for kids to run around and provides beautiful views of Half Dome. There are also several open/public spaces within the hotel to sit and relax (often with a fireplace close by for the colder months). The Ahwahnee Bar has drinks, coffee, and grab & go items + waiter service options. The Ahwahnee Dining Room (reservations recommended) was under renovations on this trip. We ate lunch there (sans kids) and few years ago for Kyle’s birthday. It is a beautiful space and worth getting a reservation for if you are looking for a more upscale dining experience. Upscale dining is not what we are looking for in this season of life with our girls. Even so, whenever we go to Yosemite, we make it a point to go by the Ahwahnee.
After playing at the Ahwahnee, we headed back to Yosemite Village to eat dinner at the grill. Since we were not camping in Yosemite and only there for the day, we knew we did not want to take the time to cook out of the van. The girls quickly busied themselves with sticks and a dirt pile (it’s like there is a universal gravitational pull for kids to sticks and dirt). Indy dusted with dirt is a sign of a good, full day in Yosemite.
This parking lot at Yosemite Village was next to full a few minutes after we arrived in the morning. Now we’re closing it down as we head to June Lake to camp for the next three nights. Thanks for a fun day, Yosemite!
Gorgeous sunset while driving the Tioga Pass (Hwy 120) to June Lake.
CAMPING AT OH RIDGE CAMPGROUND, SITE 111 (OWL LOOP), JUNE LAKE
We had a beautiful campsite in the Owl Loop of Oh Ridge Campground. There was access to potable water (no hookups) and clean bathrooms. What we love about Oh Ridge is how close it is to the lake. The campground also feels remote, but you can drive 5 minutes and be in the town of June Lake with access to a market, coffee shop, laundry mat, and many other amenities.
ENJOYING JUNE LAKE
After breakfast our first morning, we took the 10 minute trail down from our campsite to June Lake. We were there early enough to watch swimmers completing their morning workouts and standup paddle boarders enjoying the calm. As it neared lunchtime, more groups were setting up umbrellas and towels along the lakefront, but it never felt even remotely crowded. Kyle and the girls braved the cold water (and kept telling me it felt refreshing the longer you stayed in), but I was content to sit (and doze) from my towel.
JUNE LAKE AT SUNSET
We did our typical after dinner walk and had the lake to ourselves. The setting sun made the surrounding blues and greens ethereal.
Oh Ridge Campground showing off!
SCENIC GONDOLA RIDE AT MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN
On our second full day, we did a day trip over to Mammoth. The girls enjoy the gondola to the top at Mammoth Mountain (out of Main Lodge). An adult scenic single roundtrip ticket up to the top is typically over $30 (kids 12 and under do ride free with each paying adult). With our Ikon (Ski/Snowboard) Pass, we are able to ride for free. I’m not sure I would shell out the money for tickets if they were not included with our Ikon Pass. While the views are stunning at the top (360 views of the Eastern Sierras), our kids are not of the age where they can fully appreciate it. At 11,053 feet, there is only so long they want to be outside in the wind. Once at the top, the indoors Interpretive Center is worth checking out. The knowledgeable staff are always eager to answer questions. There’s lots of information about the mountain ranges, the formation of the ski area, and several kid-friendly hands-on displays of animals native to the area (with a mold of their scat to accompany them). There is also an area with clay for kids to mold various animal tracks.
DINNER IN THE RAIN
After our day in Mammoth, a late afternoon rainstorm rolled in creating our most memorable (and my favorite) meal of the trip. Dinner was nothing fancy—just turkey grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup—but I loved being huddled tightly together under the umbrella smelling the rain as it landed on the dirt and rocks around us, and hearing thunder in the distance. As Indy sat in my lap slurping her soup, I knew this was a special moment. Before grabbing this photo, I paused, smelled the rain and our dinner mixing together with each drop and bite, and thought: “I want to hold onto this memory.” In a blink Indy will no longer crawl into my lap whenever I am in a seated position. My girls will stop fighting over who is sitting closest to Mom. My clothes will collect less and less stains from the girls’ hands constantly touching me. My hair will be less knotted from it being played with each time I hold them. This all is and will continue to pass so quickly. For a brief season we get to give the girls “roots before they have their wings.” As we adventure in our van, the hope is that we are consciously and subconsciously rooting the girls to the outdoors, to exploration, to remembering “there is no such thing as bad weather (only bad equipment),” to leaving no trace as often as possible, or when needed, to leave a place better than it was found, to seeing exquisite creation everywhere and especially in everyone.
“There are two things children should get from their parents: roots and wings.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as read in How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims.
Eating dinner at our campsite while light rain falls.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Successfully boon docking outside Yosemite so we could get a full day of exploring without a campsite reservation
Taking advantage of our Ikon Pass with a “free” gondola ride
Quick access to beautiful June Lake from our campsite
Night walks after dinner
Beautiful sunsets at June Lake
Dinner in the rain
LOWLIGHTS:
Battling lots of mosquitoes while eating lunch along Lake Mary in Mammoth
Should have brought more layers while exploring the top of Mammoth Mountain (it was cold!)