One of the areas I visited during the Yosemite trip was the White Wolf campground, which is north of the main Valley. It took about an hour to drive up there along Tioga Road, climbing along the way to about 8,000 feet in altitude – making it a high country campground. According to the NPS site (http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wwcamp.htm) there are 74 campsites, and RVs and trailers can be accommodated there.
There are a number of wood and canvas cabins available on a first come, first served basis, at a cost of $14 per night for up to six people. That’s a bargain compared to lodging in the Valley.
For scenery, besides the usual access to hiking trails, there is Olmstead Point nearby, which offers a view of Yosemite Valley icons such as the Half Dome and Clouds Rest. Also, I found this little meadow with wildflowers right next to the campsites on the drive in, and this little stream wanders through the tent camping area.
As you can see from the photos, White Wolf is rocky and sunny, and my hunch is that it is not as crowded as the main Valley, but it’s close enough that an easy day trip for the shuttle tour and sightseeing is feasible. Also on the way up from the main Valley you can visit two of the three main Sequoia groves, Merced and Tuolumne, with trees that are the largest and oldest living things on the earth, at more than 300 feet tall and more than 2,000 years old.
The history of White Wolf suggests that it started as a camp for ranch hands, and that the name is derived from a native American who lived nearby (this information from a Wikipedia article). Today there is a small store and food service is available there to support the campground.
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