We are from San Diego, Ca and recently had a baby and haven't done much camping. We are considering doing a trip with the baby in mid April up to the Sierra Mountains....Looking for some advice, is April to cold up there? or does it start to warm up a bit? Baby will be 11 months old in April. Are we crazy for taking him to the altitude? Should we stay a little lower in Bishop? Please educate me on some good campgrounds, things to see up there? We have a 39' Fifth Wheel and will be traveling with friends that have a 40' motorhome. Our plan is to leave Thursday night drive a ways maybe stop somewhere on half way there and then spend Friday, Sat and Sun up in the Sierra's and come home Monday. Looking for advice or things we should definitely see or do while we are up there.
Again we have an 7 year old and 11 month old son. Thanks!
We've camped in Yosemite Valley in April when it has snowed for 3 days, then was 70 degrees the next 3. It's very unpredictable. The way this winter's going, so far, it doesn't seem like there'll be much snow this year, but don't quote me. We have taken our daughter camping in the valley in April when she was about 8 months old, we all had a blast, we just made sure we had the appropriate clothing for her(snow suit). You'll have to camp outside the park, your trailer's too long to camp in Yosemite. We've stayed at Yosemite Pines in Groveland (HWY 120), which we all enjoy, but that's at a higher altitude than Yosemite Valley, so if there's snow, you're almost sure to get it there. There's a KOA (Yosemite West/Mariposa) that's is on HWY 140, which is the same altitude as the valley floor, so you're less likely to get snow there than Yosemite Pines. Never been to the KOA, but don't they have a reputation for being kid friendly? If you haven't been to Yosemite, you have to go to the valley, it's beautiful and it won't be crowded so parking will be easy and you'll be able to sit when you're on the shuttle
well, if you're thinking you can go up to Bishop and Mammoth and then across to Yosemite, i think you better think again.
Tioga Pass usually stays closed until almost July. you'd have to go all the way up to Reno and cross there and go back down to get from the east side of the Sierras to the west side.
in April, you'll have to do one side or the other.
we were in Yosemite in April last year and it snowed 4" on us.
never had kids so i can't comment on whether to take your child that early in the season.
Dan- Firefighter, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever, 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
The real question is whether your 11 month old is comfortable in a backpack -- if so, you can do some mild hiking -- if not, there is not much else to do with little kids at that time of year. (If there is any snow left in April, there is always snow play, but that can be very wet in the springtime. And this has been a terribly dry year.)
When my kids were that age, we discovered that travel with little kids was almost more trouble than it was worth. When the youngest was out of diapers, things improved radically. But it depends on the child.
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The weather can be iffy in April we are just getting a couple storms this week. Lone Pine has a nice RV park Boulder Creek It is a FH park clean and friendly with a small petting zoo for the kids.There is an old movie museum in town and you can drive to the old locations where a lot of old westerns were filmed. In Mammoth there is a FH park on the left just before you enter town Mammoth RV Park I think is its name.In the area is Devil's Post Pile Nat. Mon. and lots of lakes and streams for fishing. For a short day trip the visitors center at Mono lake in Lee Vining is interesting,for a full day trip just a few miles up the road is Bodie ghost town one of the best kept secrets in the west. As far as taking Hwy. 120 to Yoesemite it will more than likely still be closed. Have fun
My children both camped in a TT with few amenities (icebox frig, no bathroom, etc) from the age of about 6 weeks. In their 40's now, both are still avid campers and hikers.
It is quite likely to be cold in the Eastern Sierra in April. Many campgrounds are not open then, or only partially open. You can get 7-day weather reports from the National Weather Service. Inyo National Forest posts an "Eastern Sierra Regional Recreation Report" on its website every week. This report includes details on what camps are open and on snow/road conditions. The Bishop BLM Field Office has links for current conditions and downloadable info about wildflower hotspots (sometimes VERY nice in April at low elevations) and scenic drives.
I live south of San Diego and can easily get to Lone Pine in a day. However, I don't stop as long or as often as you probably will with kids and I don't tow so am not bound by the 55 MPH maximum.
Thanks for all of the great info. I was just looking and I think we might leave Thursday afternoon and stop and Boulder Creek Campground in Lone Pine for the night and then drive into Mammoth the following day and stay at Mammoth Mountain RV Park. Looks like about 4 and half hours from San Diego to Lone Pine (probably a little more with stops) and then a couple hours from there into Mammoth.
So the weather in Mid April still might be to cold in the Eastern Sierra? Seems we are having a mild winter and would mind seeing some snow but would still like to be able to enjoy the outdoors.
smknf250 wrote: Thanks for all of the great info. I was just looking and I think we might leave Thursday afternoon and stop and Boulder Creek Campground in Lone Pine for the night and then drive into Mammoth the following day and stay at Mammoth Mountain RV Park. Looks like about 4 and half hours from San Diego to Lone Pine (probably a little more with stops) and then a couple hours from there into Mammoth.
So the weather in Mid April still might be to cold in the Eastern Sierra? Seems we are having a mild winter and would mind seeing some snow but would still like to be able to enjoy the outdoors.
Be advised that Mammoth Mountain RV park is one big asphalt parking lot. They do have some dirt sites in the tress squeezed tightly together but that part is only open in the Summer months.
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smknf250 wrote: Thanks for all of the great info. I was just looking and I think we might leave Thursday afternoon and stop and Boulder Creek Campground in Lone Pine for the night and then drive into Mammoth the following day and stay at Mammoth Mountain RV Park. Looks like about 4 and half hours from San Diego to Lone Pine (probably a little more with stops) and then a couple hours from there into Mammoth.
So the weather in Mid April still might be to cold in the Eastern Sierra? Seems we are having a mild winter and would mind seeing some snow but would still like to be able to enjoy the outdoors.
Be advised that Mammoth Mountain RV park is one big asphalt parking lot. They do have some dirt sites in the tress squeezed tightly together but that part is only open in the Summer months.
Thanks for the heads up. Is there another campground in that general area that has nicer spots? I am not a big fan of asphalt spots.
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, Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur
, Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever
, 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
