Camping at Yosemite National Park, California | Tamarack Flat Campground (during a hurricane)

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Recently, we were invited to join friends in Yosemite for the weekend. It was a perfect opportunity to break from coastal suburbia for a taste of the outdoors. Camping at Yosemite National Park California at Tamarack Flat Campground. Camping spots in California. Best camping places in California. Yosemite lower falls. Camping for beginners. Car camping. Lower falls. Half Dome. Road trip. Adventure camping. We reserved a few spots at Tamarack Flat, a charming campsite about 45 minutes (20 miles) north of Yosemite Valley, sitting at about 6300 feet in elevation. It’s fairly remote and quiet and the scenery is incredible with beautiful overlooks and an endless supply of spectacular trees—cedar, black oak, Douglas fir, sugar pine and giant sequoia. We hopped into our cars and headed toward our first destination of the day, Lower Yosemite Falls, which is part of North America‘s tallest waterfall. The trail from the parking lot to the base of the falls is a leisurely stroll with grand beauty in all directions. The base of the fall was crowded with sightseers and it’s easy to see why this is a popular spot for visitors. You can take it all in from afar or traverse your way over the rocky surface to get closer to the water, which is what we did. Due to a looming storm, our plans to hike at another spot fell apart. However, we took a quick stroll to the nearby Happy Isles Nature Center, a family-oriented space designed for nature and art lovers of all ages. Next up was another beautiful walk to Swinging Bridge at the Merced River. Prior to 1965, Swinging Bridge was an actual Swinging Bridge but was rebuilt to be a sturdy, flood resistant spot to enjoy the river. and the magnificent scenery. Later, we made our way back to Tamarack Flat for some dinner, music and relaxation with friends by the campfire. A plateau above the campground served up an amazing sunset through the skyline of trees. The storm rolled in overnight and poured until the morning. Some of the tents in our group were flooded so everyone relocated to cars to stay dry. By morning, the rain stopped and it was time for coffee and breakfast. Something about being here made even instant coffee taste like gourmet. We had packed for a hot sunny weekend but I’m glad we brought our rain jackets, just in case. As the clouds cleared and the sun returned, we made our way out of the campground for our next destination, Glacier Point, a world-renowned overlook where you can find grand views of Yosemite Valley from above as well as Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. This is a popular spot for visitors but wasn’t too crowded to enjoy. As Hurricane Hillary threatened to pummel California, we several of us received concerned messages from friends and family back in Southern California so we decided that it would be a good idea to head home. First, we needed to eat. About 4 miles south of Yosemite, we pulled off the road at the first place that looked interesting and we ended up at the Narrow Gauge Inn. The well preserved rustic decor of the restaurant and buffalo bar almost feel like a movie set. This is definitely my kind of establishment and something we don’t get much of, if at all, in Southern California. The place was empty when we arrived but the staff was friendly and the food was delicious. I wish we could have stayed longer for a drink and a hang but we needed to get back on the road. As the storm did its worst, driving home required intense focus. We saw a few accidents and hydroplaned once or twice, thankfully, we made it back in one piece. I’d love to get back to Yosemite again soon when the weather is clear so we can do more hiking and visit some of the spots that we couldn’t this time around. But, all in all, it was a delightful trip and I’m glad we went. #camping #yosemite #yosemitenationalpark #lifestyle #halfdome #hiking #cozycamping #nature #california #vlog #nationalpark #cozy