What to Pack for Yosemite in the Spring

Though Yosemite is located in central California, its weather varies greatly from the nearby warmer, dryer central valley. In the spring, temperatures can swing from 20 degrees F to 80 degrees F in the span of days – which can make packing a challenge. Like dressing for San Francisco, the key is to bring layers that can be easily added or removed. Read on for what I packed recently for a three-day two-night car camping trip!

For a sense of how the weather in Yosemite Valley can vary daily in April and May, here’s a sample of a weeklong forecast:

Quite the variance – while the week leading up to my trip saw sunny days in the 70s and 80s, the days I went ranged from 30 degrees F to 60 degrees F with some clouds and rain. I also wasn’t sure if I’d be staying for one night or two. It was my first time solo camping (more on that later!), so I was leaning towards fairweather camping and concerned about the second day/night with steady rain in the forecast. But because I was car camping, I had the luxury of bringing a few extra items in case I stayed an extra night.

Outerwear

I brought water repellent layers not only because of the rain, but also as I planned to hike the Mist Trail, a notoriously wet (as the name implies!) hike in the spring.

Rain Shell: North Face Venture II
Rain Pants: REI (old, similar pair here)
Breathable Insulation: Patagonia Nano Air Jacket

Base Layers

Short-Sleeved Shirt: Athleta Fastest Track Tee
Long-Sleeved Shirt: Athleta Fastest Track Long-Sleeve
Lightweight 1/4 Zip: Patagonia Capilene Zip
Midweight Sweater: Smartwool Mid-Weight Crew Sweater
Leggings: 2 pairs of standard workout leggings
Underwear: 2 sports bras, ExOfficio hipster briefs, Patagonia hipster briefs

Sleep / Underwear Clothing

Sleeping Top: North Face 1/4 Zip
Sleeping Pants: North Face Fleece Pants

Accessories & Shoes

Gloves: Running Gloves (old)
Hat: North Face Beanie (received for free from a Meru film screening)
Socks: 2 pairs of Smartwool Hiking Socks
Shoes: Lowa Renegade Goretex Hiking Boots <-- these kept my feet wonderfully dry on the flooded parts of the Mist Trail!

Above: Though not completely waterproof, this pack stayed pretty dry through misty and drizzly conditions while hiking.

Packs

Duffel: REI Gym Bag (old)
Daypack: Topo Designs Rover Pack
Hard Bottle: REI 40’s Logo Nalgene 1L
Soft Bottle: Platypus 1L with Closure Cap

Shelter & Sleep

Tent: REI Passage 2 Tent + Footprint
Sleeping Bag: Marmot Trestles 15 Regular
Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-rest Z Lite Sol Foam Sleeping Pad
Extra Cozy: Pendleton Spider Rock Wool Throw

Campsite #515 at North Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley.

Cooking

Stove: MSR Pocket Rocket 2
Utensils: Sea to Summit Spork + Knife Set
Pots & Bowl: GSI Outdoors Bugaboo Kit
Mug: REI National Park Service Centennial Coffee Mug (old 2016)
Thermos: REI Members Edition Hydro Flask

In addition to the items detailed above, I also packed the usual toiletries and tools – such as matches, headlamp, mylar blankets, swiss army knife, etc. I purchased firewood locally at the Yosemite General Store, which is conveniently located near the campsites (about a 3 minute drive) and stocks not only souvenirs, but also groceries (including vegetables!) and other camping supplies.