High Sierra Topix

We are walking the JMT from a Reds Meadow trail head to Yeosemite Valleyon the 31 August 2014 .We would like to leave our car at Tuolumne Meadows as we flying out of San Fran 7 Sept.Is there any problem leaving the car at one of the car parks for 5 nights or do we need a valid permit from the trail head there.we do not want to bus back to Mammoth Lakes.Also what are the best camping spots along our route.Thanks

Hi Teulon1,

Welcome to HST! Park you car at the wilderness permit office parking lot at
Tuolumne. In regards to camp spots along the way please start a thread in
the backpacking section, this is section is for transportation only.

If you are going from Red's to the valley I would park in the valley......
That being said, you do not need a permit to park at TM. Sometimes it's difficult to find a place at the permit office parking lot. Is so, continue down the road toward the lodge. People park on the edge of the road (make sure your car is all the way off the pavement) and also in the lot on the left side of the road. You do need a permit to park in the lodge parking lot at the end of the road.

The Other Tom wrote:If you are going from Red's to the valley I would park in the valley......

Smart words there - always hike back to the car.

If set on parking Tuolumne, after trying the Wilderness Permit lot - (does fill up), rather than trying the Lodge lot, which has restrictions, park along the "Lembert Dome to the Stables" road.

One caveat - while no parking permit is needed long-term other than at the Tuolumne Lodge, Rangers do walk the parked cars daily...no visible food, food bags, ice chests, etc that can be seen. Plenty of bear boxes available.