Spicer Meadow Campground
Campground · Yosemite corridor
Spicer Meadow Campground sits at 6693 feet in the Yosemite corridor's high Sierra, a small meadow-based camp sheltered from afternoon wind. Quieter and cooler than valley-floor sites.
Wind averages 6 mph but can spike to 20 mph by mid-afternoon, funneling off the lake basin to the east. Morning calm persists until late morning. Afternoons turn brisk; skip daytrips if you're sensitive to sustained wind above 10 mph.
Over the past 30 days, the average NoGo Score has held at 17.0, with temperatures averaging 35 degrees and wind at 6 mph. The week ahead will track seasonally normal conditions. Watch the trend grid for afternoon wind spikes and any rapid temperature swings tied to ridge-top weather systems.
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About Spicer Meadow Campground
Spicer Meadow Campground occupies a small high-Sierra meadow at 6693 feet elevation, roughly 30 miles east of Highway 120 near the Yosemite corridor's eastern edge. Access is via Forest Road 7N89 from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Road or Highway 120 near Mather. The campground sits in a transitional zone between the Central Valley's dry Sierra foothills and the high-elevation alpine basin. Nearest towns are Mather and Lee Vining, each roughly 45 minutes to an hour's drive. The meadow drains northward into the Spicer Meadow Reservoir, a small irrigation impoundment. Parking is limited and fills quickly during early summer weekends.
Conditions at Spicer Meadow reflect its elevation and exposure to the high Sierra drainage wind pattern. The 30-day average temperature sits at 35 degrees with an average wind of 6 mph, though gusts regularly reach 20 mph by afternoon. Spring and early summer see the most wind; late September through October calm considerably. Snowpack typically persists until late May, making the site inaccessible for vehicle camping before then. Summer crowding averages 12 people per campsite estimate. Winter snowfall isolates the campground; Forest Service typically closes access by November. The meadow receives less afternoon shade than forested camps, so exposed tents warm quickly in morning but offer no retreat from wind.
Spicer Meadow suits car campers and backpackers staging into the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness or the Emigrant Wilderness to the north. The site works best for visitors seeking solitude and high-elevation meadow ecology rather than scenic grandeur. Fishing in the reservoir is marginal. Most visitors use it as a base for day hikes into alpine drainages or as a through-stop on multi-day wilderness treks. Expect basic amenities: vault toilets, no potable water (nearby seasonal spring sources exist but are unreliable). Bring a water filter or carrying capacity. Wind-sensitive campers should plan for mid-afternoon exposure; consider setting up on the meadow's lee side or in scattered forest patches on the south margin.
Nearby alternatives include Bloomfield and Oneida Meadow campgrounds, both slightly lower and marginally calmer. The Spicer Meadow site is less crowded than the Hetch Hetchy corridor proper but also less developed. If you're bound for the Yosemite high country via Highway 120, Spicer Meadow is a logical staging point. Unlike Tuolumne Meadows (higher, colder, more exposed), Spicer Meadow offers faster vehicle access and slightly gentler conditions. Bring an explicit wind plan; the 6 mph average masks afternoon variability and the landscape offers little shelter once the sun tips westward.