Yosemite and Bodie and Chico trip

SO my Uncles funeral is May 31 in Chico Ca, Im the only one driving from San Diego I want to check out Bodie Ghost town on my way up and then Sunday head down to Yosemite for maybe 2 days,spread some of his ahes around. I depends on my wallet how long I stay there. I was thinking of CAMP 4 and sleep in the truck. June 1st is my birthday and this is a great way to spend it minus my uncles funeral, I miss him he was so cool raced Vintage motorcross.

Any tips for my stay? Places to check out or stay away from? Just me and my truck no camper shell.

Thank you in advanced

 

Tioga pass may not be open - sometimes it's mid June before the snow can is cleared. Would be good for you if it was... Check the link below before you head out. Have you been to Yosemite? One of my favorite places in the world. If it weren't for all those people...

In Chico, check out Sierra Nevada brewery. They have a great restaurant there. If I remember correctly, they have a partnership with Chico state ag to raise beef for them.



https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

 

Thank you.
Is there a place i can go to now to reserve a spot? I haven't found anything yet.
I want to reserve a spot as soon as I can.

 

Reservation requirements vary based on location. you mentioned Camp 4... check put this link and scroll down for the reservation process for C4. Be ready and quick when the window opens.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/camping.htm

 

tuolumne meadows campground is also another good high country campsite in Yosemite.

Another suggestion, Bass Lake is at the foothills of Yosemite is a nice place, but I'm not sure if there are campgrounds there. Oakhurst is also a nice town just before Bass lake.

 

I'll need a camp ground spot that I can park my truck at and sleep in the back of it or inside of it if it's to cold.

 

Research Yosemite camping rules. Not sure if car camping is allowed (sleeping in your car). Buy a cheap tent and put it up in your bed if so.

 

Yea I was thinking about that. King of the hammers 2018 I had a bed tent fot my Tundra. Not looking to spend that money for a one time use. Maybe a cheapo gound tent next to my truck and if it gets to cold hop in the truck lol

I'll read through all the rules and see whats going on.

That 05 Tundra was a great turck.

 

Masonic area north of Bodie has good dispersed camping. It might still be cold and snowy up there, though. But you can work your way down towards Bridgeport to find lower-elevation camping. Sometimes it's slow-going but this is a fun way to keep going north after hitting Bodie, rejoin the 395 at Bridgeport. There's also dispersed camping on the other back-roads to Bodie, but not so much on the main road. The back road from Mono, starting by the railroad grade, is really rough though--I popped a tire on it the other year.

Again, probably still too early in the season, but if you're looking for an epic 4x4 drive (not technically challenging but definitely 4x4) -- Mt Patterson north of there is IMO the finest jeep trail in CA. Just spectacular scenery. But min 4 hrs pavement to pavement, assuming it's not snowed shut.

The drive down the feather river gorge, like from Quincy to Oroville, is a fantastic stretch of highway. Just really cool road, railroad, and dams, from an engineering perspective. Not the most direct route to Chico, but the one I'd pick. Read up on the camp fire history too, you can see where it started, and swing thru the museum in Paradise.

Yosemite is spectacular but I haven't been in years due to the crowds and rules. Plan carefully if that's what you want, nothing quite like it. But there's plenty to do outside the park too, esp. if you're looking for challenging terrain and dispersed camping.

I am biased, but I prefer working up and down the eastern sierras vs. crossing into the central valley for the drive back to socal.

 

@Jerry311SD how about an update on your trip?

 

Well from san diego up to Chico nothing exciting. Celebration of life for my Uncle Randy's who raced vintage motocross turned out AMAZING. TON of people standing room only and there was people outside in the hall and out in the parking lot. He was that guy at the track that everyone liked and wanted to talk to.
I left Chico Ca and stopped at few places on my way to Placerville. BUTTE county, COOL California stopped in Grassvill for a beer then Placerville. I stayed in the Carry house hotel in Placerville. 140$ not bad.
Next morning woke up and headed to Yosemite. Holy shit! It was beautiful. Hot at 85-90 but amazing. Water falls were going strong.
A few pictures and videos. Or just go on my YouTube channel and see

https://youtube.com/@jerry5736?si=XMXfnVZw5LR4aIai

I had a great time.
















https://youtu.be/q-VNBVHn6Sk?si=MRd9DaRC0leyyxGc



https://youtu.be/o9LWNZ_khMo?si=tGyHXM2XQyoEULyW



https://youtu.be/Cz9ZHEihNd8?si=ezt5wo3Vh_Aaj-bj

 

At camp Carry the were bringing in people by the bus loads. I went farther into the park once I saw that shit.

https://youtu.be/3Z6oU_zJmgA?si=4AE67QnAjf2Gk_Dz

A few bad words in this video.
Sucks to see all these people. Everyone walking around complaining they can't get cell service, dropping trash all of the place .
I had to get out. Lol