South Rim of Yosemite Valley

[LMBSGV]

When you take the Pohono Trail, the best camping is at Crocker Point, the ridge above Dewey Point (a couple of great campsites), and Dewey Point. But there is no water nearby so you have to carry it in. There are also a string of campsites along Bridalveil Creek by the bridge. There's a small tributary to Bridalveil Creek along the Pohono Trail between McGurk Meadow and Dewey Point that had water in May last year.

Last year when I went, Glacier Point Road was scheduled to be closed when I booked the permit, but they then switched the construction to this year. I decided to do the trip anyway for the eclipse and switched my permit to McCurk Meadow from Pohono to avoid the climb. Here's the trip report:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21547&p=165193#p165193

[Lumbergh21]

By starting "just west of Bridalveil" do you mean down in the valley? Where would you park? There is not overnight parking at Bridalveil in the valley. Tunnel View has overnight parking.

I would camp the night before at the backpackers campground near Northpine and have a nice early morning stroll through the valley to the trail shown just west of Bridal Veil. If the busses are running that would be another option, but I kind of like walking, especially around dawn.

I just looked at reserve.gov and they are giving permits from Tunnel View for the Pohono Trail. That indicates that you CAN camp west of the bridge on Bridalveil Creek. You can get to LYV from Bridalveil Bridge, go back down 4 Mile trail to the backpacker's campground, or return to Tunnel View. One thing that may be in question is carrying a backpack down 4-Mile Trail if it is designated as day-hike only. Due to construction, you may have a detour to follow to get on the Panorama Trail. The construction factor at Glacier Point is another question to ask.

Night 2 would be spent along Illilouette Creek a couple if miles south of the bridge that's just above the falls. The morning of Day 3 would be spent walking to Nevada Falls and back down to Happy Isles near where my car will be parked. Day 2 should be the meat of the trip, and I think I would enjoy it more the fewer the number of other people there are.