Ellery Campground
Campground · 9,327 ft · Yosemite corridor
Ellery Campground sits at 9,327 feet in the Yosemite corridor's high Sierra, exposed to afternoon wind funneling off the eastern Sierra ridges. A staging point for climbers and backcountry users heading into the high country.
Wind dominates the character here. The 30-day average wind runs 15 mph with gusts to 39 mph, strongest mid-afternoon when thermal heating drives air off the lake and ridges. Mornings are calmer and significantly warmer than afternoons. Snow lingers into early summer depending on the year.
Over the last 30 days, Ellery has averaged a NoGo Score of 35 with temperatures near 25 degrees Fahrenheit and winds averaging 15 mph. The week ahead will track the typical spring pattern for this elevation: morning windows shrinking as the season advances, afternoon wind arriving earlier each day, and crowding picking up as Highway 120 access improves.
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About Ellery Campground
Ellery Campground is a small, high-elevation staging area on the east side of the Sierra crest in Mono County, California. It sits just south of Tioga Lake on Highway 120, the primary route over Tioga Pass into Yosemite. The campground serves climbers heading to the Dana Plateau, backcountry users bound for the Mono Wilderness, and anglers fishing the high-elevation lake system. Access from the west (Yosemite Valley) runs via Tioga Road; from the east, Highway 395 feeds into Highway 120 near Lee Vining, roughly 13 miles downslope. The site sits in the rain shadow of the Sierra crest, receiving less precipitation than the western slope but still subject to significant snow accumulation in winter and early spring.
The weather pattern at Ellery is driven by its 9,327-foot elevation and exposed lakeside position. The 30-day average temperature of 25 degrees Fahrenheit reflects the current late-spring window when high snow remains but daytime warming is beginning. Winds average 15 mph, with peak gusts reaching 39 mph; these winds accelerate in the afternoon as the lake and exposed terrain heat, funneling air northward along the Sierra crest. Morning conditions are noticeably calmer and milder. Crowding averages 12 users across the rolling 30 days, reflecting the site's remote position and limited capacity; numbers spike sharply in the first full week after Tioga Road opens to through-traffic each spring. Avalanche terrain surrounds the approach routes; the SAC avalanche center covers this zone, and wet-slab risk persists through late spring on north-facing slopes above the lake.
Ellery suits experienced mountaineers, backcountry skiers transitioning into spring climbing season, and anglers willing to camp in exposed, often-windy conditions. Parking is tight and fills quickly on weekends after the road opens. Wind-sensitive activities like kayaking or paddling should target early morning windows; afternoon thermal winds make the open water substantially rougher by noon. Camping here demands secure tents, patient gear management, and tolerance for cold nights even into late spring. Weather windows close rapidly as afternoon progresses; successful day trips start before dawn. Bring extra layers and assume temperatures will run significantly cooler than the surrounding lower elevations.
Nearby alternatives include Tioga Lake Campground, just north and slightly lower, which offers marginally more shelter from afternoon wind but similar exposure and access challenges. Saddlebag Lake lies further west at a similar elevation with comparable conditions. Yosemite's Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows regions sit on the western slope of the crest, receiving more precipitation and showing different seasonal patterns. Ellery remains the preferred staging point for direct Sierra crest access and eastern Sierra trailheads; its small size and high elevation make it best for self-sufficient users comfortable with wind, cold, and sparse facilities.