OBSIDIAN FLAT
Campground · Yosemite corridor
Obsidian Flat sits at 7818 feet in the Yosemite corridor, a high-Sierra campground ringed by lodgepole and fir. Protected terrain and moderate winds make it reliable when valley floor sites churn.
Wind averages 9 mph over the rolling month, with afternoon swells common but contained by slope exposure. Morning calm typically holds until late morning; wind peaks between midday and dusk. Temperature hovers at 35 degrees on average, swinging from freezing nights to afternoons in the low 50s depending on season.
Over the last 30 days, the rolling average wind held at 9 mph with peaks reaching 28 mph; the average NoGo Score was 16.0, indicating mixed but navigable conditions. The week ahead will follow spring patterns: morning stability followed by afternoon wind, with crowding remaining low compared to Yosemite Valley. Watch for wet snow in early season and lingering high wind days as weather systems move through.
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About OBSIDIAN FLAT
Obsidian Flat campground sits on Highway 120 east of Yosemite Valley, accessible via the Tioga Pass route. The site occupies a sheltered bench at 7818 feet, north of the main Sierra crest drainage. Access is straightforward during open road season; Highway 120 typically reopens in late spring after snow removal. The nearest gateway towns are Lee Vining to the east and Groveland to the west, each 90 to 120 minutes away by car depending on conditions and route. Cell service is sparse; plan accordingly.
Conditions at Obsidian Flat reflect its high-Sierra location and moderate elevation. The rolling 30-day average wind of 9 mph masks afternoon acceleration; sheltered mornings frequently give way to sustained 15 to 20 mph winds by mid-afternoon, though the surrounding forest breaks extreme gusts. The 30-day average temperature of 35 degrees Fahrenheit tells the real story: nights routinely dip to freezing through spring and early autumn, while afternoon highs climb into the low 50s. Crowding averages 12 on the rolling index, staying low through early season and climbing modestly as summer approaches. Snowpack persists well into June in heavy years; wet snow and icy camp roads are the primary spring hazards.
Obsidian Flat suits car-based campers and day-use hikers seeking elevation without the Yosemite Valley crowd tax. The site works well for visitors acclimatizing to high altitude or testing gear before longer Sierra trips. Horse packing operations use it as a staging area. Experienced users plan around the wind forecast and pack layers; afternoon wind makes the site harder for tents strung tight to trees, while established camp spots in the lodgepole offer shelter. Parking fills on summer weekends but remains ample March through May and again in September. The rolling 30-day max wind of 28 mph appears infrequently, but when it arrives, afternoon activities shift indoors.
Nearby Tenaya Lake and Cathedral Lakes offer day-hike alternatives from the same parking base. Tuolumne Meadows, 20 to 30 minutes northeast, provides a lower-wind companion site for the same week. The Yosemite corridor overall averages calmer conditions north of Obsidian Flat; consider Tenaya as a buffer if forecast wind breaches 20 mph.