Upper Jackass Lake Campground
Campground · Yosemite corridor
Upper Jackass Lake Campground sits at 9,193 feet in the high Sierra east of Yosemite Valley. A small, low-popularity alpine camp on the Yosemite corridor, it offers quiet access to subalpine lake and meadow terrain.
Wind averages 8 mph across the rolling 30-day window but surges to 26 mph on exposed afternoons. The lake amplifies afternoon gusts; mornings are consistently calmer. At 9,193 feet, temperatures swing sharply between sunrise and midday. Snow lingers into late spring; melt runoff peaks early season.
The rolling 30-day average NoGo Score sits at 17.0, with lows near 7 and peaks above 30. Wind and temperature dominate variability here; the 30-day average wind of 8 mph masks daily swings from near-calm mornings to afternoon gusts touching 26 mph. Crowding averages just 12 across the rolling window, keeping the campground quiet even during peak weekends. Watch the week ahead for temperature dips and wind timing; stability often breaks by early afternoon.
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About Upper Jackass Lake Campground
Upper Jackass Lake Campground occupies a remote alpine pocket east of the main Yosemite corridor, accessed via Highway 120 east toward Lee Vining and the Eastern Sierra. The campground sits above 9,100 feet, placing it in the transition zone between wet meadow and subalpine forest. Nearby peaks and ridges funnel afternoon wind down the eastern slope; the lake itself is small and shallow, typical of glacial cirque basins in the range. Low base popularity (0.3) means the site remains uncrowded compared to Highway 120 corridor mainstays. Access is straightforward but exposed; no major shelter from weather once you leave the treed approaches.
Conditions here track the high-elevation Sierra calendar. Winter and spring (December through May) see snow cover, cold nights near or below freezing, and unstable wind patterns as cold fronts clear through. The rolling 30-day temperature average of 30 degrees Fahrenheit reflects spring conditions; expect frozen ground in early morning and thaw by afternoon. Summer (June through August) brings stable weather, daytime highs in the low 50s, and afternoon wind that is routine and predictable. Fall (September through November) returns to variable conditions and rapid temperature swings. The rolling 365-day temperature range (17 degrees low to 42 degrees high) captures the full seasonal spread. Crowding remains light year-round due to the campground's remote footprint and lack of major attractions immediately adjacent.
Upper Jackass Lake suits day hikers, light backpackers, and fishers comfortable with solitude and self-sufficiency at elevation. The lake itself is small and cold; swimming is rarely the draw. Instead, visitors pursue ridge walks, meadow ecology, and access to the Cathedral Range drainage. Parking is limited; arrive early on summer weekends. Wind picks up reliably by afternoon, so plan lake-based activities for morning hours. Smoke from distant fires can settle in the basin during late summer; visibility and air quality degrade quickly in a high cirque. Cell service is absent or unreliable. Water is abundant from melt and seeps but requires treatment. The nearest resupply is Lee Vining, well over an hour away.
Nearby alternatives on the Yosemite corridor include Tenaya Lake (lower elevation, more sheltered, higher traffic) and Glen Aulin (higher elevation, less developed, more exposed). Upper Jackass Lake Campground occupies a niche for visitors seeking genuine remoteness at or above 9,000 feet without the popularity of well-signed cirque lakes. It is best paired with a vehicle camp strategy rather than as a multi-day backpack base, given limited facilities and exposure. The campground's low popularity reflects both its location (east-facing, requiring a longer Highway 120 drive) and its lack of a signature attraction; it is a camp for people seeking quiet high-Sierra terrain, not a destination lake.