Established Camping

Merced Lake High Sierra Camp — Yosemite National Park

Review Campground Win Gear

Do you own or manage this property?

Claim Your Listing

Merced Lake High Sierra Camp is located in Yosemite National Park, surrounded by mountainous terrain and forested areas. Temperatures can reach highs of around 80°F in summer and drop to lows near 30°F in winter. Nearby attractions include the iconic Half Dome and the scenic Mist Trail, offering opportunities for hiking and exploration.

Description

National Park Service

Yosemite National Park

Situated in the remote, southeast region of Yosemite National Park, and resting beneath 10,440-foot Quartzite Peak, Merced Lake High Sierra Camp is the largest, oldest, and most isolated, of Yosemite’s High Sierra Camps (HSC). Established in 1916, the camp is located on eastern side of the lake, near where the Merced River tumbles down a rocky chute. At the base of the chute is a wide pool popularly used as a summer swimming hole. Due to its lower elevation than many of the other HSCs, Merced Lake is usually accessible a little earlier and later each hiking season. There are three primary hiking routes used to reach Merced Lake. All are long and strenuous, and are commonly used as part of the HSC Loop, or other longer-distance treks. Here are the options:

Yosemite Valley: 12.3 miles • 4,080 feet elevation gain Start at Happy Isles and climb the Mist Trail past Vernal and Nevada Falls. Follow the Merced River to Echo Valley and ascend to Merced Lake.

Cathedral Lakes: 15.3 miles • 2,140 feet elevation gain Start in west Tuolumne Meadows and head south on the JMT over Cathedral Pass toward Sunrise. Follow Echo Creek to Echo Valley, then up to Merced Lake.

Vogelsang: 14.3 miles • 1,720 feet elevation gain Start in east Tuolumne Meadows and up Rafferty Creek south over Tuolumne Pass. Follow Fletcher Creek down past Emeric and Babcock Lakes to Merced Lake.

The Merced Lake HSC offers 18 tent cabins that can accommodate up to 60 guests. Cabins are equipped with bunks, but campers must provide their own linens or sleeping bags. Family-style breakfasts and dinners are provided for all cabin guests. There is also flush toilet facilities—a real novelty in the backcountry—in addition to showers and laundry basins. Scoring an overnight stay in one of Merced Lake’s cabins requires entering the annual HSC lottery, which takes place the winter before the next summer hiking season. Due to high demand, and limited space, camps sell out quickly. If you don’t get a cabin space, you can tent camp nearby with a valid backcountry permit. This is primitive wilderness camping, so you should follow Leave No Trace guidelines. You can still opt to purchase meals at the camp if you want to lighten your backpack load. HSC cabin rates are $159/person/night; meals only are $80/person/night; kids rates are available.

Because of its more remote and tranquil setting, and warmer climes due to its lower elevation, visitors to Merced Lake HSC are apt to stay and relax a little longer. The lake is just a short walk from the camp for plenty of sunning, swimming and fishing opportunities, and Washburn and Babcock lakes are each just a few miles away for day-hikeable outings. Those in search of real wilderness solitude can continue into even more remote parts of Yosemite by venturing on to destinations such as Red Peak or the Isberg Lakes.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Merced Lake High Sierra Camp — Yosemite National Park is located in California

Detail location of campground

Coordinates

37.73866381 N
119.40676328 W

Open in Google Maps

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More

Access

  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Available
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • Cabins

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Water Hookups

Contact

General Info

Drive Time


Reviews

Add Review

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

100%
0%
0%
0%
0%

5.0

out of 5

1 Review

Reviewed Feb. 20, 2019

beautiful and somewhat remote

Backcountry camping with several swimming spots, decent fishing and meals and hot showers! If you feel rich, this is a place for a big treat. Tent cabins with basic sleeping set up and a nice spot to sit around a group fire. The ranger talks can be a little much but easy to sneak off and enjoy the quiet. Food is fantastic and the folks who work there are super friendly. A nice loop is to walk in via Tenaya Lake, pass through the Mansfields and over to Merced Lake - a very doable 15 mile one day. Exit out through Happy Isles - about the same distance.

Month of VisitAugust

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Merced Lake High Sierra Camp — Yosemite National Park have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Merced Lake High Sierra Camp — Yosemite National Park has water hookups.

  • Are fires allowed at Merced Lake High Sierra Camp — Yosemite National Park?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Merced Lake High Sierra Camp — Yosemite National Park, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.