Camp 4 (Yosemite) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Camp 4
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Camp 4
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northside Dr., Yosemite National Park, Yosemite, California |
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| Area | 11 acres (4.5 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000056 |
| Added to NRHP | February 21, 2003 |
Camp 4 is a special place in Yosemite National Park in the United States. It's a campground where you can only set up tents. After World War II, Camp 4 became super important. Many people call it "a birthplace of rock climbing’s modern age." It sits high up at about 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) on the north side of the Yosemite Valley. It's also very close to the huge granite cliffs near Yosemite Falls.
Right near Camp 4, there are big rocks called boulders. Climbers have used these boulders for a long time to practice a type of climbing called bouldering. Bouldering is climbing on smaller rocks without ropes, usually not very high off the ground. One famous boulder is the Columbia Boulder. It's known for a very hard climbing challenge called the Midnight Lightning. A famous climber named Ron Kauk was the first to complete it in 1978. You can easily spot this boulder because it has a painting of a white thunderbolt next to it.
History of Camp 4
Even though Camp 4 doesn't look super fancy, it was a really important spot for climbers. From after World War II until about 1970, it was a place where climbers could share ideas, train, and create new gear. This helped make climbing much faster and safer. Many of the world's most famous climbers stayed at Camp 4 for years. They learned from each other and tried out new ideas on Yosemite's giant rock walls, like Half Dome and El Capitan.
A famous climber named Yvon Chouinard even started making new kinds of climbing equipment right there at Camp 4. He used an old anvil and sold his gear in the nearby parking lot. Today, he's known for starting the outdoor clothing company Patagonia, Inc..
From the 1970s onward, a new group of climbers came to Camp 4. Led by Jim Bridwell and others, this group was known as the "Stone Masters" from 1973 to 1980. They brought a more athletic way of climbing and helped make "free climbing" very popular. Free climbing means climbing using only your hands and feet on the rock, with ropes just for safety if you fall.
In the 1990s, there were some disagreements between climbers at Camp 4 and the National Park Service. In 1997, a big flood in Yosemite Valley damaged many park employee homes. The Park Service then suggested building a new building near Camp 4. A rock climber and gear maker named Tom Frost didn't think this was a good idea. He believed the new buildings would harm the camp's natural feel. With help from others, he started a legal case against the Park Service. The American Alpine Club, a group for climbers, also joined the effort.
To try and stop the building plans, Tom Frost and his lawyer also asked to have Camp 4 listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places important to American history. In the end, the park officials agreed to stop their building plans. They also supported the idea of listing Camp 4 as a historic place. This was approved in 2003. Camp 4 was recognized for its "significant association with the growth and development of rock climbing in the Yosemite Valley during the 'golden years' of pioneer mountaineering." This means it was a key place where modern rock climbing grew and developed.
From 1971 to 1999, Camp 4 was officially called Sunnyside Walk-in Campground. But climbers always called it Camp 4, recognizing its history. After 1999, it was officially renamed Camp 4. For many years, it was the seasonal home for many of Yosemite Valley's best climbers.
A report in 2012 looked at rockfall dangers. It suggested that some campsites on the north side of Camp 4 needed to be moved. This was to make sure climbers were safe.
The 2014 movie Valley Uprising shows many climbers who spent time at Camp 4. These include Warren Harding, known for his daring and rebellious attitude. It also features Beverly Johnson. In 1973, she was part of the first all-female team to climb El Capitan.
How to Camp at Camp 4
Camp 4 is a very popular place, and it doesn't offer regular reservations all year. How you get a campsite changes depending on the season.
Camping in Spring and Fall
From about mid-April through October, you need a reservation to camp at Camp 4. You can make a reservation through Recreation.gov one week before you plan to arrive. Up to six people can stay at one campsite. The cost is $10 per person per night.
Camping in Winter
From November to mid-April, Camp 4 works on a first-come, first-served basis. This means you can't reserve a spot. You just show up and hope there's an open site. In spring and fall, if the weather is nice, the campground can fill up very early in the morning. People often line up at the campground kiosk early to get a spot. The camping fee is $10 per night.
There are 36 campsites available each day. Each site can hold a maximum of six people. This means there are 216 spots in total. The cost is $10 per person per night.
There are also rules about how long you can camp in Yosemite National Park. You can camp for a total of 30 nights per year. However, from May 1 to September 15, you can only camp for 14 nights in Yosemite. And only seven of those nights can be in Yosemite Valley or Wawona. Because Camp 4 is so popular and has few sites, it can be hard to find a spot, except during the winter when it's less busy.
