Lost Campings
Campground · Yosemite corridor
Lost Campings sits at 8645 feet in the Yosemite corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. A high-elevation campground exposed to afternoon wind, it offers direct access to alpine lakes and meadows.
Wind accelerates from afternoon onward, driven by thermal heating of the basin. The 30-day average wind runs 11 mph, but gusts frequently reach 26 mph by late day. Morning calm windows close by mid-morning; plan lake or exposed activities before 10 a.m.
Lost Campings has tracked a 30-day average NoGo Score of 18.0, with temperatures averaging 29 degrees and average wind at 11 mph. The last month shows typical spring-to-early-summer variability; the week ahead will reveal whether warming trends push crowds and afternoon wind patterns upward. Watch for score spikes after calm mornings turn windy by midday.
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About Lost Campings
Lost Campings occupies high-Sierra terrain at 8645 feet, positioned within the Yosemite corridor near the eastern Sierra drainage divide. Access is via Highway 120 from the west or Highway 395 from the east; the campground sits roughly 60 miles from Yosemite Valley via Tioga Pass. The site serves hikers and campers targeting alpine lakes and cross-country routes. Limited services mean most visitors self-contain; the nearest full resupply is in Lee Vining or Tuolumne Meadows.
Spring and early summer bring rapid melt-off and rising afternoon wind. The 30-day average temperature of 29 degrees reflects lingering frost at dawn; daytime highs climb to the low 40s by late April and May. The 30-day average crowding of 12 (on a scale where higher is busier) shows the site remains lightly populated outside peak July-August. Wind accelerates sharply after 10 a.m., driven by heating of the surrounding terrain; the 30-day average wind of 11 mph masks daily swings where morning calm yields to 20+ mph gusts by afternoon. Snow typically clears from camp by late May but persists on north-facing slopes into June.
Best for backpackers acclimatizing to high elevation and for car campers who plan alpine lake days around morning windows. Experienced visitors know to launch fishing trips, photography, or day hikes before 10 a.m., then retreat to camp or sheltered sites by early afternoon. Parking fills only during major holiday weekends; weekday visits see vacant sites. Expect cold nights even in June; bring extra insulation. Wind-sensitive activities like packrafting or fly fishing work only in early morning or during rare calm afternoons.
Nearby alternatives include Tioga Lake to the east, which sits more exposed but draws fewer crowds, and Tenaya Lake to the west, which offers slightly more shelter but lies inside the Yosemite entrance fee boundary. Lost Campings serves hikers splitting the difference: high enough to avoid valley crowds and heat, protected enough to sleep comfortably when sites on the open lake plateau would be wind-scoured.