Housekeeping in Yosemite
Sunday, June 22, 2008

We just spent a week in Yosemite Valley. I don’t work for the place, but I have no hesitation in promoting it as the ideal family get-away.

Six of us, wife, kids, grandkids, took up residence in the Housekeeping Units along the Merced River in the center of the valley. From our front yard around the fire pit, in our reclining chairs, we could see Yosemite Falls to our left and Half Dome to our right. Not a bad way to wake up in the morning and sip coffee.

On our first day we saw a bear. He was 30 feet from the trail tearing grubs out of a fallen tree. I got some great pictures (picasaweb.google.com/gibbs54). It wasn’t long before a crowd of people gathered, many from foreign lands, thrilled beyond belief at this big, wild animal so close to us, and unaffected by our presence. One Japanese woman next to me gasped and clutched her chest, mouth agape, suspended in awe. I could tell this would be the highlight of her vacation.

We returned to camp to find deer in the field next to us, chomping leaves. They strolled by, oblivious, and took a long drink from the river. Got pictures of them, too.


Visitors have many options for lodging at Yosemite. You can stay first class in the Ahwahnee (approx. $492 per night), park your RV, or sleep in a tent ($15) at a walk-in campground. Regardless, getting a reservation is a major challenge. You have to be early, aggressive, and persistent.

Campground reservations (recreation.gov) fill up fast. You can book up to 5 months in advance, beginning at 7 a.m., on that date, but often just a few minutes after 7 a.m., they are sold out. It’s like trying to get front-row seats for a Beatles reunion. Lodging (hotels, Curry Village tents, Housekeeping Units – managed privately by Delaware North Companies) can be booked a year and a day in advance (yosemitepark.com) and fill a wee bit slower because they cost more.

I highly recommend the Housekeeping Units. For $74 a night they are like a hybrid lodging-camping facility. You get a room with three hard walls, roof, two bunks and a double bed, canvas door, roofed porch with electricity, water, community flush toilets, hot water, showers, and a pool pass for Curry. They are centrally located walking distance between Yosemite and Curry village. They are also the only lodging facility that allows visitors to cook.

About making reservations, if what I’m writing inspires you to add a Housekeeping Unit to your future vacation destinations -- according to camp employees at the desk, you should call (801-559-5000) rather than make reservations on the Internet. Delaware North has a great site, but you can’t pick your exact location in the 266-unit Housekeeping Village. Over the phone, you at least have a fighting chance of specifying your location.

What you do is call and take whatever they’ve got, even if it’s only one night. Then you keep calling back every few days checking on cancellations. Many cancel because there’s no charge until a week before check-in. We were able to add extra days and move closer to the river by calling, calling, calling.

Units are in two groups – near the river and not near the river. You want near the river. The Village is clustered in groups A through J, with each having its own bathroom, trash, and recycle. A, K, and J are river-side. Regardless of where you first reserve, keep asking for A, K, or J.


As we strolled through the camp making friends we saw that many sites were decorated with lights, streamers, and sometimes signs and banners. I said, “I bet sites with rope lights are return customers. That is a learned amenity.” We tested my theory by visiting lighted sights and asking, “How long you been coming here?”

“Been coming four years.” “Been coming 12 years.” And one couple, “Been coming for 30 years, every summer.” Their technique – reserve for the next year right at the front desk before leaving. Inspired, we did the same and booked four units for June 2009. Now, we just need to find friends to fill three of them.

This is my third stay at Housekeeping in 30 years. Nothing to brag about, but I did bring blue rope lights. This year, we learned a future lesson. Don’t bring a giant cooler. It won’t fit in the bear box. Bring several small coolers.

Each day, we took a hike. Having a three-year-old with us, none of our hikes were too long or strenuous, but every step was an adventure of “Ohh, Ahh,” and “Can we climb that rock?”


Each day, we clustered our chairs in the shade on the beach and did nothing for hours at a time. We talked of nothing. We watched the children play. The roar of the falls sided with my good ear. Those hours are my fondest memory.


We hiked the famous Mist Trail up as far as getting drenched by Vernal Falls icy spray. The boys giggled and squirmed and climbed for all they were worth (Got pictures). We didn’t make the top; maybe next year…