Tamarack Flat Campground
Staying at Tamarack Flat Campground requires reservations. Opening date for the Tamarack Flat Campground varies depending on the opening of the Tioga Road and related seasonal facility and road work. Tamarack Flat Campground is located off the Tioga Road just east of Crane Flat. The campground is approximately 20 miles (45 minutes) from Yosemite Valley and is tucked away in the forest 3 miles off Tioga Road. RVs and Trailers are not recommended for this hard to access, primitive campground. At an elevation of 6,300 feet (1,900 m) elevation, the campground is near Tamarack Creek, which is a seasonal water source that must be filtered, treated, or boiled. You should bring water!
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 50 |
| Tent-only | 3 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
53 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 003 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 007 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 008 | Standard | 20 | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 20 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 021, 022, 023, 024 and 1 more are listed accessible |
Tamarack Flat Campground can only by accessed by a 3 mile long, narrow, single-lane road with many hairpin turns. RVs and Trailers are NOT recommended. Seasonal facilities include tent/van sites, vault toilets, trash/recycling collection, food storage lockers, fire rings and picnic tables. There is no cell phone reception, no internet connectivity, no camp store, no ice or firewood for sale, no laundry facilities, no dump station and no showers.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
When entering Yosemite from west of the Sierras - Take Highway 41 north from Fresno, Highway 140 east from Merced, or Highway 120 east from Manteca into Yosemite National Park. When Tioga Pass is open, Tamarack Flat can be accessed from the east side of the Sierras - Take HWY 120 east/Tioga Rd.
| Coordinates | 37.7517° N, 119.7362° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Cancellations more than 48 hours in advance of arrival date will generate a refund, less a $10 transaction fee. Within 48 hours, $10 and the first night's fee are charged. One night reservations do not incur an additional $10 fee, but do not receive a refund. No-shows will be assessed a $20 service fee along with the loss of the first night's fee.
Fire nearby
- WildfireDome
14 mi from the campground · 6,788 acres · 95% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Shop & Mountaineering School ↗ | 9.1 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 9.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Tamarack Flat Campground - Yosemite National Park, CA
Worth a stop
Just 25 miles away is Yosemite Valley, an awe-inspiring landscape containing many of the famous features for which Yosemite National Park is known. Hiking trails and bike paths are abundant in the valley. Rafting the Merced River is a fun way to cool down on a summer day when water levels are sufficient. Yosemite Valley also offers numerous guided bus tours, educational programs, museums, ranger-led activities, and an art center with workshops. The Tioga Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes and granite domes. Tuolumne Meadows embodies the high-country of the Sierra Nevada, with its broad sub-alpine meadows and granite peaks. Several trailheads line the road offering hikes to beautiful, secluded areas that can only be accessed and enjoyed by foot. Beautiful Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, just 23 miles from Crane Flat, is home to spectacular scenery and numerous wilderness trailheads.
- 8.1 miCarlon Day Use Area ↗Day use
- 8.3 miYosemite Valley Welcome Center ↗Visitor center
- 8.3 miBig Oak Flat Information Station ↗Visitor center
- 10.2 miMiddle Fork Day Use Area ↗Day use
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Yosemite Wilderness.
- inYosemite Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 704,624 acres
- 9.4 miStanislaus National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,090,354 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Crane Flat Fire LookoutBuilding · Aspen Valley · 4.6 mi
- Merced Grove Ranger StationBuilding · El Portal · 5.7 mi
- Hetch Hetchy Railroad Engine No.6Structure · El Portal · 5.8 mi
Natural features
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May, and over 75% between November and March. Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. Tamarack Flat is situated along a seasonal creek which is it's only source of water. Creek water must be treated and/or boiled before consuming. You should bring water!
Recreation
Yosemite's trails, cliffs, roads and rivers provide endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. Hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, auto touring, and photography are all very popular activities within the park. A hiking and backpacking trail leaves from the campground and can be used to hike to areas such as Cascade Creek, El Capitan and other points along the North Rim of Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is a 25 mile drive from Tamarack Flat Campground. Many of Yosemite's most popular trails along with the Merced River, bike trails, beaches and picnic areas can be easily accessed in Yosemite Valley. Two of Yosemite's three groves of giant sequoias are located in the Crane Flat area (5-10 miles from Tamarack Flat). Tuolumne and Merced Groves of Giant Sequoias, both of which require a 2.5 to 3-mile roundtrip hike to view. The trailheads are accessible year-round, although trails may be snow-covered winter. Both short hikes lead downhill into sheltered areas with flowing water, dogwood, azaleas, and ancient sequoia trees. Many other hiking opportunities exist at trailheads along the Tioga Road and in Tuolumne Meadows.
Guidebooks for Yosemite National Park
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Tamarack Flat Campground?
Sites at Tamarack Flat Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Tamarack Flat Campground?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Tamarack Flat Campground?
Cancellations more than 48 hours in advance of arrival date will generate a refund, less a $10 transaction fee.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Tamarack Flat Campground have?
54 sites, including 50 standard sites without power and 3 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Tamarack Flat Campground?
The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Tamarack Flat Campground?
There is no cell phone reception, no internet connectivity, no camp store, no ice or firewood for sale, no laundry facilities, no dump station and no showers.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Tamarack Flat Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Tamarack Flat Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Tamarack Flat Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Tamarack Flat Campground?
Sites 021, 022, 023, and 024 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 5 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Tamarack Flat Campground?
Yosemite's trails, cliffs, roads and rivers provide endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Tamarack Flat Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Crane Flat Campground (6 mi), Camp 4 (7.3 mi), and Hodgdon Meadow Campground (7.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Tamarack Flat Campground in?
Tamarack Flat Campground is a Yosemite National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Yosemite National Park