Crane Flat campground
Crane Flat
Surrounding Views:
The area around Crane Flat is filled with stunning views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The campground is located in a forested area with plenty of trees offering shade and privacy. The meadow adjacent to the campground is a great place for a picnic and offers views of Half Dome.
Specific Nearby Points of Interest:
The area has many points of interest that visitors can check out. One of the most popular activities in the area is hiking. The Merced Grove Trail, which leads to a grove of giant sequoia trees, is a must-see for visitors. Other hiking trails in the area include the Crane Flat Lookout Trail, the Tuolumne Grove Trail, and the Yosemite Valley Loop.
Campground Amenities:
The Crane Flat camping area has all the amenities that campers need. There are 166 campsites, with some sites suitable for RVs, and all sites have fire pits, picnic tables, and bear-proof storage lockers. The campground also has restrooms with flush toilets and running water. Firewood is available for purchase onsite.
Interesting Facts about the Area:
The Crane Flat area was named after a group of sandhill cranes that used to migrate through the area. The cranes have not been seen in the area for many years, but the name has stuck. The area is also home to many different species of wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, and coyotes.
Best Time of Year to Visit:
The best time to visit Crane Flat is in the summer months when the weather is mild and there is less chance of rain. The average temperature in July and August is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night. It is important to note that the campground is only open from late May to early October, and reservations are required.
What's on-site at Crane Flat
Key facilities Snoflo tracks for this campground. Confirm with the operator before booking -- amenities can change seasonally.
Plan your trip down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max so trends jump out at a glance.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks. Hover any point for the full breakdown.
Other campgrounds in the area
Snoflo-tracked campsites within driving distance of Crane Flat, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamarack Flat | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Hodgdon Meadow - Yosemite National Park | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Hodgdon Meadow Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Hodgdon Meadow | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Carlon Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Crane Flat -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Merced R A Pohono Bridge Nr Yosemite Ca | 2,040 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Ab Early Intake Nr Mather Ca | 1,680 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Nr Hetch Hetchy Ca | 1,570 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Early Intake Nr Mather Ca | 2,200 cfs | → |
| Merced R A Happy Isles Bridge Nr Yosemite Ca | 1,730 cfs | → |
| Cherry C Nr Early Intake Ca | 581 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Crane Flat -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nohrsc White Wolf Raws | 0.5 in | 0.2 in | → |
| Nohrsc Lower Kibbie | 1.2 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Paradise Meadow | 208.3 in | 83.9 in | → |
| Groveland 2 | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Ahwahnee 2.5 Nnw | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Tuolumne Meadows | 124.1 in | -0.3 in | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, boat launches, and paddle runs so a camping night can grow into a full weekend.
Parks
- Stanislaus National Forest
- Yosemite National Park
- Wilderness Emigrant
- Hoover Wilderness
- Heaven For Kids Rotary Park
- Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
Boat launches
Fishing spots
Points of interest
- Trumbull Peak Special Interest Area
- Tunnel View
- Valley View
- El Capitan Meadow
- Columbia Rock
- Sentinel Bridge
Paddle runs
- Headwaters Near The Tuolumne And Mariposa County Lines To Western Boundary Of Yosemite National Park
- Confluence With Middle Fork Tuolumne River To Confluence With Tuolumne River
- Clavey River From Cottonwood Road To Confluence With Tuolumne
- Clavey River From 3n01 To Cottonwood Road
- Clavey River At Confluence Of Bell And Lily Creeks To 3n01
Camping essentials & Leave No Trace
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Take all trash, food scraps, and gear back with you to keep campsites clean and protect wildlife.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe animals from a distance, store food securely, and never feed wildlife to maintain natural behavior and safety.
- Know before you go
- Check weather, fire restrictions, trail conditions, and permit requirements to ensure a safe and well-planned trip.
- Minimize campfire impact
- Use established fire rings, keep fires small, fully extinguish them, or opt for a camp stove when fires are restricted.
- Leave what you find
- Preserve natural and cultural features by avoiding removal of plants, rocks, artifacts, or other elements of the environment.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Crane Flat as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Crane Flat
Can I make reservations at Crane Flat?
This campground does not appear to accept reservations -- it's typically first-come, first-served. Arrive early on summer weekends.
How fresh is the weather data on this page?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from the NOAA / yr.no public feeds. Streamflow data is pulled live from USGS streamgauges and snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network.
What's the best time of year to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation. For longer trips, the 5-day hourly meteogram shows snow + rain accumulation hour-by-hour.
How do I get to Crane Flat?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the campground.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed through the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this campground, set a threshold (temperature, snowpack, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other campgrounds near here
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within driving distance of Crane Flat.