Your Favorite Legit Yosemite Camping

Headin out to Yosemite for the first time, and was just wondering what most people's favorite, legit camping is.

Do you swear by camp 4? Or do reserve a spot elsewhere way in advance?

Is the "gravel pit" legit?

I like Camp 4 especially when I go to Yosemite alone. Really easy to meet climbing partners and other cool people from all over the world. At the other campgrounds everyone tends to do their own thing. If you've got a group of 5 or more however, getting a site at one of the pines campgrounds will be cheaper.

Edit: also bivying on the side of a wall is a totally legit way to camp. And you can't really beat the views, or the cost for that matter.

I like North Pines, but I go with a large group. The bathrooms at camp 4 are usually trashed, and very smelly in the morning. Euro's can be some pretty gross people, (Why can't you get the TP in the toilet?).

I personally think camp 4 is fine. I've never had (too much) of a problem with noise. The bathrooms aren't that bad and they clean them everyday (?) anyway. You are guaranteed a spot (as long as you are willing to get up/get there early and get in line) without any hassle of reserving and at 5 dollars/night . Camp 4 is awesome man, IMHO. Pines would be cool too, drive in. Just have to make reservations (in advance).

Ledge at the base of the nose is nice. less than 10 minutes in, park car at meadow for free, bear boxes right there to protect food and smellies.

Not exactly sure if the ledge fits the height requirement for wall camping but it's nice.

BAse of Serenity Crack is also a cool bivy spot. Parking at ahwahnee and bear boxes as well.

wow, where to start...

Camp 4 is a ghost town from November to about April, the annoying Euros are few and far between...or, they're all in Bishop sending hard.

Staying in camp 4 during the summer and expecting peace and quiet is a bit like expecting a peaceful election in Afghanistan...fuggedaboutit. That said, it can be fun as hell. I love it.

Pines suck. It's red state RV hell most of the time. Tamarack Flat is cool, rarely full and away from the crowds.

The secret to happiness in C4....BRING YOUR OWN ROLL OF TOILET PAPER!! I can't ever get the TP off of those bars when the caffeine enema strikes.