Bootleg Campground
Campground · Yosemite corridor
Bootleg Campground sits at 6522 feet in the Yosemite corridor's high Sierra, a modest base camp for the eastern approach to the park. Winter conditions and afternoon wind dominate here.
Wind rises predictably by afternoon, funneling off the higher ridges to the west. The 30-day average wind is 11 mph, but gusts routinely spike to 39 mph in the afternoon. Morning calm windows close by midday. Snowpack lingers into late spring; expect freeze-thaw cycling and wet ground through early May.
Over the last 30 days, Bootleg averaged a NoGo Score of 16.0 with temperatures around 33 degrees Fahrenheit and average wind of 11 mph. The week ahead will track the same pattern: morning calm, afternoon wind surge, and lingering snow at this elevation. Plan morning activities; skip afternoons when planning water-based or exposed work.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Bootleg Campground
Bootleg Campground occupies a clearing at 6522 feet on the east side of the Yosemite corridor, roughly 30 miles from the Highway 395 junction at Lee Vining. Access is via Highway 120 from the east (Tioga Road corridor) or a rougher dirt approach from the north. The campground is a staging point for fishermen and backcountry hikers pursuing the high Sierra from below the park's main entrances. Its low base popularity (0.3) and modest facilities make it a refuge when Yosemite Valley and the high country overflow.
Spring and early summer dominate the calendar here. The 30-day rolling average temperature is 33 degrees Fahrenheit, with a yearly low of 14 degrees and high of 49 degrees. Snowpack typically blocks access until late April or early May depending on the water year. Once Highway 120 reopens, wind becomes the dominant constraint. The 30-day average wind is 11 mph, but maximum gusts reach 39 mph, almost always in afternoon hours when solar heating triggers air movement off the ridges. Crowding averages 12 on the 30-day rolling window, a fraction of nearby Tuolumne Meadows or Mammoth Lakes.
Bootleg suits anglers targeting high-elevation lakes and creeks on the park's periphery, plus climbers and backpackers staging for multi-day Sierra crossings. Experienced visitors know to arrive by mid-morning, secure a site, and finish water-dependent tasks before wind peak between 2 p.m. and dusk. Parking is tight and fills by noon on weekends after Highway 120 opens. Snow can linger on roads and campsites through May; bring chains and expect muddy conditions. The site offers no cell service and no reliable water pumping before mid-June; carry what you need or plan around the established water schedule.
Nearby alternatives include Tuolumne Meadows Campground (warmer, more crowded, better services) to the west and Lundy Lake (lower elevation, calmer wind, easier access from Lee Vining) to the south. Bootleg's advantage is seclusion and direct access to the high Sierra's eastern watershed. Pair it with early starts on Highway 120 toward the park proper, or use it as a fallback when the main campgrounds close or fill.