Merced Lake High Sierra Camp

Merced Lake High Sierra Camp is a seasonal tent-cabin camp beside Merced Lake, in a wooded basin ringed by granite. This is a wilderness overnight stop, not a drive-up lake access; keep it in a planned route if you want to stay deep in Yosemite, and skip it as an easy detour. It is reached on foot, and current seasonal availability should be checked before you plan around a stay.

Expect a long, steep hike: the route descriptions put the camp about 14 miles from Yosemite Valley or Tuolumne Meadows, depending on the path. The Yosemite Valley approach passes through Little Yosemite and Lost valleys, then follows a granite gorge along the Merced River. The nearby Merced Lake Backpackers Campground is separate from this reservation camp, so make sure you are planning for the right overnight stop.

A reservation is required. When operating, the High Sierra Camps provide tent-cabin lodging and meals: unguided stays include breakfast and dinner, and lunch is available separately. Restrooms are provided, while showers at Merced Lake depend on the water supply. Check this camp’s seasonal availability and services before building a route around them.

Merced Lake High Sierra Camp opened in 1916 as one of Yosemite’s earliest trail camps. It closed in 1918, reopened in 1922 as a larger sports-oriented boys’ camp, and was rebuilt in 1928 to accommodate 59 guests. It became part of a loop of backcountry camps designed to give visitors an overnight wilderness experience with park-supported facilities along the way.

At roughly 7,150 feet, the camp sits lower and warmer than Yosemite’s higher camps. Thick woods surround the lake, with granite ridges and domes enclosing the basin. The long approach through the Merced River gorge is part of the experience, so plan enough time to settle in rather than treating this as a quick stop.