Union Reservoir East Campground
Campground · Yosemite corridor
Union Reservoir East Campground sits at 6909 feet in the Yosemite corridor, a high-Sierra reservoir camp sheltered from the open lake by ridgelines to the east. Calmer than the exposed water just west and warmer than valley floors at the same elevation.
Morning calm gives way to afternoon wind funneling off the reservoir by mid-day. The 30-day average wind is 6 mph, but gusts spike to 20 mph in the lee-side afternoon slot. Head here on calm mornings; skip if you're paddling or fishing in the afternoon.
Over the last 30 days, the average NoGo Score here was 17.0 with temperatures averaging 35 degrees and winds averaging 6 mph. The week ahead will track the seasonal transition into warmer, windier days as the Sierra spring settles in. Watch for afternoon thermals to push wind into the 15 to 20 mph range by late April and into May.
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About Union Reservoir East Campground
Union Reservoir East Campground occupies the east shore of Union Reservoir in the Yosemite corridor, roughly 100 miles northeast of Modesto via Highway 120. The campground sits at 6909 feet elevation in the transition zone between the Sierra foothills and the high-Sierra crest. Highway 120 curves north through Lee Vining; from the junction, head west toward Yosemite to reach the reservoir access roads. The drive from Lee Vining takes 45 minutes to an hour. The east shore location means morning sun and afternoon shelter from the ridge wall, making it notably different from the open west shore where exposure peaks mid-day.
Temperature and wind regime follow the high-Sierra pattern: cold nights year-round with 30-day lows near freezing and summer highs in the low 50s. The 30-day average temperature is 35 degrees Fahrenheit; expect a 15 to 20 degree swing between sunrise and afternoon. Wind is modest in the morning (under 5 mph) but builds by mid-afternoon as thermals push air off the surrounding slopes. The 30-day average wind of 6 mph masks the daily shape: calm dawn, building through midday, peak gusts of 20 mph or higher in the afternoon. Crowds are light year-round; the 30-day average crowding is 12.0, reflecting the campground's low base popularity and distance from major towns. Snowpack lingers into late spring, making water access variable until June.
Union Reservoir East suits anglers targeting cutthroat and rainbow trout, campers seeking isolation without extreme exposure, and families wanting a high-Sierra base with minimal vehicle hassle. Experienced paddlers avoid the afternoon wind window; launching at dawn and off the water by early afternoon keeps you ahead of the thermals. The campground is best for those comfortable with cool nights and simple facilities. Parking fills slowly except on holiday weekends following Highway 120 openings. Bring layers; the elevation ensures crisp mornings and cool evenings even in summer. The reservoir itself remains snow-fed through early summer, keeping water cold and access variable depending on snowpack runoff.
Nearby alternatives include Ellery Lake, 20 minutes north, which sits more exposed but offers glacier-fed clarity. Tenaya Lake and May Lake, further west toward Yosemite Valley proper, are warmer and more crowded. Grant Lake, south of Lee Vining, is larger and windier. Union Reservoir East trades wind exposure for solitude and serves paddlers and campers unwilling to drive into the Valley proper. It ranks low-traffic within the Yosemite corridor; Highway 120 is the corridor's main artery, and the reservoir draws far fewer visitors than Tioga Lake or the Valley floor.