MARIPOSA COUNTY
YOSEMITE FALLCOLORS& PHOTOGRAPHY
Yosemitefall colors areunbelievable, and fallphotographyallows you to capturesome gorgeousscenes and experiencetheparkwithsmall bursts of color.
Startingaround thesecond week of October, Yosemite Valleytakes afalltransitionwith cooler evening temperaturesand colorchanges frommanydeciduoustreesin Yosemite Valley. In addition,midoctoberfall weather conditions usuallycreate moredramatic weatherpatternswithearlymorning fogandmorescatteredclouds duringtheday. If you want to see fall colorsinNorthernCaliforniaand MariposaCounty,there’snobetter timeorplacethan YosemiteNational Parkinfall to experiencethe golden state inallitsautumnalglory.
THESOUTHERN SIERRAMIWUK
NATION:
TheSouthernSierraMiwuk Nation people were one of theoriginaltribes of Yosemite National Parkandsurroundingareas of what is nowthe stateof California.Archeological evidenceshowsNativeAmericanslivingin Yosemite Valley for5,500 years,sustained by thenatural resourcesprovided by this uniqueenvironment.Thissecludedland alsoservedasasanctuary,long protecting Native Americansfromtheadvances of Spanish,Mexican,andAmerican colonists TheCaliforniaGoldRushchangedthat forever. Duringand followingthe GoldRush, theSouthernSierraMiwukNationsuffered from violentdispossession, relocation,and economicdisadvantage intheirancestral homeland.
Whiletheirplighthasbeendifficult,many SouthernSierraMiwuk still residein Yosemite MariposaCounty,andthis extraordinary landscape continues to bethe heart of their tradition,spiritandculture.Elements of NativeAmericanlifefrom generationsago are stillpresent today. Hereareways visitors canengagewithMiwukculture and history incurrent-day Yosemite National Parkand MariposaCounty.MichÉ ksÉsÉÉ(welcome) to Miwukculture!
MiwukHistoryOutdoors
Place-nameslike“Tutokanula” for El Capitanlive on today across Yosemite National Park.HetchHetchy isderived fromtheMiwuk word “hatchhatchie,” whichmeans“ediblegrasses.”Onetheory isthatthe name Wawona comesfrom a Miwuk word that representedthehootof an owl, considered to betheguardian spirit of thegiantsequoiatrees.“Pohono”isthe traditionalMiwuk name forBridalveil Fall,
PohonoBridge
Youcan findacanopy of autumn colorsalongthepathfrom Pohono BridgeneartheMerced River.
ValleyView
Youcanlookacrosstheriver towards Yosemite Valleyand captureElCapitanandBridalveil Fallsfromgroundlevel,the adjacentshorelineispeppered with varioustreesandshrubs thatprovideamazing colors duringfall.
meaning“puffingwind.”And“Yosemite”is theMiwuk word for“thosewhoare killers,” referring to theAhwahneechee,amixed tribeincludingMiwukandMono Paiutethat livedin Yosemite Valley.
As you explore Yosemite Mariposa,look for pounding rocks,thegranite mortarholes thattheMiwukused forpreparing different kinds of foodsincludingacorns.
MiwukHistoryIndoors
Miwukheritageandcultureis celebrated at theMariposaMuseumandHistory Center locatedindowntownMariposa. Founded in1957,themuseumhouses an array of exhibitsinterpretingNativeAmericanlife in Yosemite Mariposa,whichincludesthe Mono, Paiute andMiwuktribes.Thenative plant gardenincludesanumacha,the traditional teepee-shapedhouse covered with cedarbark.Themuseum’s compelling collection includesalarge Indigenous basket collection, artifactsandimages.
MiwukHistory at the YosemiteMuseum
Yosemite National Park’s signature archive the Yosemite Museum,islocatedon thenorthside of Yosemite Valley in the shadow of NorthAmerica’stallest waterfall, Yosemite Falls. It offers interpretive displays ontheculturalhistory of Yosemite’s native Miwokand Paiutepeople from1850 to thepresent.Demonstrations of basket weaving, beadworkand traditional gamesarepresented.
ElCapitanMeadow
Longgrassand smallpatches of aspentreesalong the borderprovide stunningearth tone contrasts forphotos of Yosemitefall colors.
IndianVillage of theAhwahnee
Locatedbehindthe YosemiteMuseum, theIndianVillage of theAhwahneeisa cluster of demonstrationbuildingsthat showtraditional native structuresincluding a ceremonial roundhouse, sweatlodgeand Chief’sHouse.
Theoriginal reconstruction of thevillage datesback to the1920’s.The sweathouse itself was constructedinthe1930’s.In the1970’sthevillage was reconstructed inthespotthat we knowitin today. The roundhouse,whichisthe center of the IndianVillage of theAhwahnee, wasbuilt duringthe reconstructioninthe70’sand becamethehub for celebrations of rich NativeAmericanhistoryin Yosemite Valley Wahhoga:TheMiwuk Nation’s Word forVillage WahhogaistheMiwuk word forvillage. The Yosemite Valley Wahhoga wasthelast indigenousvillagein Yosemite,occupied until1969whenthe parkservice removed the lastof thesehomes. Located west of Camp4in Yosemite Valley nearthe Yosemite Lodge, Wahhogawillbe reborn, astheSouthern SierraMiwukNation willbecomeone of twotribes permitted to useNational ParkServiceland for traditionalandcultural purposes. Umachas, atraditional roundhouseandamodern Indiancultural centerarebeingtraditionally re-built,manywithoutanymanufactured materials. For example,oak pinswillbeused inplace of metalnailsinthe roundhouse,a methodthathas proven strongand reliable formillennia.
Basketweavingin Yosemiteinthelate 19th century
An example of anumachain Yosemite Valley capturedin1887
YOSEMITE
Enjoyautumnhues, cooler temps, less people and affordable accommodations while you experiencetheoutdooradventures,natural surroundings,Gold-Rushera architecture, award-winning museums—and restaurants, wineries,marketsand shops—thatmake YosemiteMariposaCounty magical duringfall time.Andalltime.
YOSEMITE RESORTS
Create MemoriesinNature. Surround yourselfwiththebeauty of Yosemite National Parkwhen you stay at Yosemite Resorts. Locatedjustminutesfromtheparkentrance, you’ll create memoriesthat willlastalifetimewiththose youcare about most. YosemiteResorts.com (888)742-4371
Stay intheheart of YosemiteNational Park andbe steps away fromallthemagic of autumn! Stay at theiconicAhwahnee,the family-friendly Yosemite Valley LodgeorthehistoricCurryVillage.Beclose to nature.OrbaskinVictoriancharm. Book today andenjoytheease of stayinginside the park TravelYosemite.com/lodging (888)413-8869
Yours to explore Discover Yosemitethisfall. As autumnapproaches, excitingSierra adventures await. Tenayaat Yosemite offers climbing,hiking,andbikingonsite alongwiththeperfect accommodations for you to experiencethebest of Yosemite–andthebest vacationis always thenext one. Ready to go?
ATRIOOF DELICIOUS SIPS
TheThree Legs of MT3
To keepthingsmath-y, our tour of tastytriangulation consists of three connectinglegs:
The route covers atad over30miles but we’renotjustaboutnumbers here.The relaxing country roads of theMT3 offera respitefromthe routinesbackhomeas you rolldown thewindow, takeadeepinhale of Sierraair,andimaginewhatdaily lifemustbelikeintheshadow of YosemiteNational Park.Here are somesip&mortarestablishments worthvisiting…
Highway140/Downtown Mariposa
TheMT3can be approached from anydirection,though a strategic start/finishisalwaysdowntown MariposawhereGoldRushhistory meetsSierracharm,andwhere the choicesrunthe gamut from boots &Birkenstocks to whiskey& wine. EnjoydowntownMariposatastefully tostart yourjourney,thenagain uponarrivalback“home!”
Craftsudspowerhouse1850 BrewingCompanyis considered alocal focalwithsuchbrews as theBridalveilHoney BlondeAle, Bootjack’sFinest Pilsnerand TimberlineIPA.Thelunch&dinner menusareequallyelevated,with indoor/outdoorseating filledwith livelytraveler’stales.Kidsare not
only welcomebutencouraged to pairthehouse-madesarsaparilla withfriesbethey regular, garlic or sweetpotato! As foodiesknow all too well,most recipesbeginwith “addoil to pan.”Thetasting room at CostaLivosMountainGoldOlive Oiladdsoomph to thetrianglewith itslocallysourcedliquid goldthat’s alsoperfect fordippingfrench bread or even asanaturalshineserum for hair.
Coffee.Itjustbeckons.And
Mariposa offers lots of choiceswhen it comes to theChurch of the Bean Cute&homey SticksCoffeeserves tastybitesalongsidekillerjoe,and great avocado toastsandfresh bakedbread. Pony Expressoismore thanaplayfulname pairingjolts of arabicawithbreakfastburritosand bakedtreatsthataredevoured by localsand touristsalike.
Anyself-respectingsippingcircuit includeswine,andthetasting room at CastoOaksFineWine& Art offers localgrapessuchasits jammy zinsand well-roundedcabs alongsidelocalartists workinga variety of media,fromoiloncanvas to photographyand pottery. Across the street fromCasto Oaksisone of Mariposa’s newest spots,the LocalGrape,curatesthebestwines fromtheSierra FoothillsAmerican ViticulturalArea. Bottlesaresold onsiteandthe experts at Local Grapecanprovide evenmorewinery recommendations to extend your
Mariposa Triangle Tasting Tour
MariposaCountyhas goodtaste whenit comes to tasting good.Deepblue Sierra skiesandamplesunshine pair perfectly withthe fertilelandscape of rolling foothills, creatingapainterlybackdrop worthy of casualsipping. Add to thisaneasily navigable roadmapand you’ve reached peak drive-timemouthfeel:TheMariposa Triangle Tasting Tour.
From zestyzinfandels to orchard-freshcider andthe welcomingaroma of roasting coffee, thisnatural palette of local flavorsmakesthe Mariposa Triangle Tasting Toura welcome top-off to your Yosemite getaway.
gastro-venturebeyondthe Triangle Tasting Tour.Consider finishing your tourherebefore a wonderfuldinner in“downtown”Mariposa.
Triangle Road
Triangle Roadisthenorthernmost leg of theMT3, gentlywindingeast/ westat anelevation of approximately 3,000 feet.Hereit’s allabout terroir andtranquility,wherewildlife keeps thevineyards companyasdotted driveways disappearbetweenthe trees,theepitome of countryliving. Take mehome,indeed.
Ahardcider“tastingcamp”in themiddle of an800-treeapple orchard?Heaveninaglass!With YosemiteNational Parknearby, a visit to SierraCiderisachill way to kickbackandenjoytheSierra foothillswhilesamplingall four varieties of whattheycallCampfire Champagne.Book yourtasting tour and replicate Newton’s theory of gravitywithfriends!
Thesouthernmostleg of the MT3, Highway49embracesitsGoldRush rootsandembodiesthe49’erspirit asit connectsonehistoricmining townwithanotheralongthe flank of theSierraNevadamountains.No busts,allbooms!
Highway49
Withtheirmantra of “givethanks and workhard,”thefamily-run MariposaCoffeeCompany roasts their ownhand-selectedArabica beanswhilebringingvisitorsand locals together forsuchcupsasthe 49erBlend,SequoiaSunriseand YosemiteDark.Grabapoundor more of beans to-gointheirhandlabeledbags,or evensnagat-shirt/ hoodie/mug to commemorate your visit to theMother Lode.
•If youplanon tippling,be sure to have adesignated driver.
•Consider gettingout of the immerse yourselfin all the Sierra foothills have to offer. Tryapre-MT3morning walk through StocktonCreek Preservewherebirdsand turtlesareknown to loiter.
•Besure to checkhours of operation foreach stop prior to visit.
•Know the weather forecast anddressappropriately.
•Don’tbe afraid to order togo bottles,beans&merch to enjoybackhome.
•Finish yourMT3withdinner inbeautiful Yosemite Mariposa,or extend your stay by takingadvantage of itswide range of overnight accommodations.
COUNTRYQUIET: Rural Stays in MariposaCounty
Findingarural retreatin Mariposa Countyislike goingback intime. Whether you’rewatchingthe settingsunsparkle yourwineglass outside yourvineyard bungalow, chillingwitha goodbookonthe roof deckperchedabove anorchard ortakinga strollthroughthehorse ranchjustoutside yourdoor, there’s serenity to be hadandnature to be explored.Herearesome countryquiet stayswherethelodgingisthe destination.
ABigBite of Quietude
It’s saidanappleaday keepsthe doctor away, andnowhereisthat wellnessmantramore truethan at theOrchardBarn Loft at Sierra Cider. Located45minutesfrom YosemiteNational Parkand15 minutes fromthehistoricGoldRush town of Mariposa,thismodernlyappointedbarn-toploftletsvisitors getabird’s-eye view of 800ciderspecificappletreeswhiletakinga
breakfromthe stressesbackhome.
Walkthe rows thentiltbackonthe oaktree swingand gaze up at the passingSierracloudsasthefarm’s “petting zoo” of goats,chickens anddogs keeps you company. OnSaturdaysvisitSierraCider’s tasting roomjust50 steps away to sampletheirsignature“Campfire Champagne“andtaste that sweet orchardumami. Guestsaregreeted witha complimentarybottle of hard ciderand get15% offpurchasesin thetasting room.Aslice of apple heaven.
Vine&Dandy
Nestledona20-acreestate,the
HorseSense
The rollingpastures of Southern MariposaCountyepitomizethe American West Studdedwith oak trees,windmillsandvintagebarns, visitorsaretransported to asimpler timewhenliving offthefat of the land wasthebestdietaround.
Fora couples retreat to remember, the Yosemite“Getaway”Cottage at the RoundHatHorseRanchin Catheys Valleybeckons. Walkthe tree-linedtrails,seetheanimalsup closetheneaseinto theoutdoor soakingtub foranatural remedy that re-alignsthesoul. Stargazing in YosemiteMariposaCountyis unbothered by citylights,theperfect nightcap for your“heavenly” stay.
The TableIsSet
Locatedonanold working horse rancha fewmilesoutside of theGold Rush gem of Coulterville,theBig TableRanchGuestHousecaptures theSierraspiritina way thatissure to lighten yourmood.
This3bedroom/3.5bathcabin featuresa well-stockedkitchen, fireplace(woodprovided),hot tubandtwo swimmingpools(ingroundplusa swimmingcistern, unheated,openMay-October). Pop into Coulterville forauthenticGold Rushhistory,orhead28miles to the BigOakFlatEntrance to Yosemite National Park.Thispropertyisdogfriendly(up to 3furryfriendsallowed at no extracharge)and perfect for meadow walksorloungingonthe porchand counting yourblessings
FromHere to Serenity
The countrycharm of Northwest MariposaCountyisallabout the wide-openspaces of theSierra foothillsanditsH2O recreation at LakesMcClure,McSwainand Don Pedro. The restfulvibe at SerenityRanchlendsitself to slow travelwhether you’re enjoyinga familymeal, flickingaline forsome YosemiteMariposaCounty fishing orjust relaxing away fromthegrind backhome.This3bedroom/2bath cottage featuresafullkitchen, outdoorporchwithBBQand basketballhoop forafriendly game of horse.Ifthekids(oradults!)need aninfusion of action,try thenearby ExchequerMountainBike Park fora littlevim-n-vigor.
Timeless Tranquility
Sometimes we need to retreat to move forward,especiallywhenit comes to advancingourpersonal well-being.Nowhereis that goal moreachievablethanbookinga ruralescape to YosemiteMariposa County. Withtimeless tranquility infusing theland yet plenty of things to do,there’saperfectbalance to behadas thehustle&bustle back homeseems worlds away Whether you come foradigitaldetox,family &friends reunionor couple’s getaway, the resultisalwaysthe same:laid-backfun.
GOHIGHER THIS FALLIN YOSEMITE
TheHighCountryOffers
As thehub of theNorthern Yosemite region,Tioga Road (Highway120East)crosses theSierraNevadacrestwith its stunning47-mile ribbon of alpine roadway.Indeed,the regionisbeautifulfromthe dashboardand evenbetter froma hikingtrail especially whenthe kaleidoscope of fall colorstakes hold.
MayLake
Distance: 2.4mi(3.9km)out andback.Inaddition to the
popularbackpackers’ High SierraCamplocatedhere, isashortand sweet high countrydayhike that leads to crystallineshores at the foot of Yosemite’s geographical center, Mt.Hoffman. Fromabove,May Lakelookslike apine-ringed thumbprintonahighgranite shelf,and at 9,270 feet (2,825 m)this“easy”hikecanprove morechallengingdue to the thinmountainair.
Falltrailhikesin Yosemite Valleyareunforgettable.With landmarkpeakssoaringabove warmdays followed by cooler evening temperatures anda less hurried pace, hikingthis time of yearisawinneron multiplefronts. Fall colorspeak laterhere at themoderate 4,000 foot elevation valley, as late asmid-November.
Valley Loop Trail
Distance: Yourchoosing, up to 13mi(20.9km) forfullloop. The Yosemite Valley Loop Trail offers 13modularmileswhere youcanjumponand off at multiplepoints for agrand tour withskywardpanoramicviews of Yosemite’smonumental geologyfromthe valley floor such as Cathedral Rock, Sentinel RockandElCapitan. Thoughthe waterfallsarea trickle by summer’send,thefall foliageisanarborealdelight thatmorethanmakesup forit.
MirrorLake/Meadow Trail
Distance:2mi(3.2km)out andback,or5mi(8km)loop. As fallintheSierratakeshold, MirrorLakebecomesalmost beach-likewith sandy washes surrounded by stands of trees displaying theirautumn colors. It’s apeacefultime,perfect for apicnicand easilyaccessible due to the flat terrainand partially pavedtrail.Bonus points forspottingshywildlife (coyotes,bobcatsandthe infrequentblackbear)and theeducationalplaquesthat describethelocalfauna,history oftourismand theNative Americanpresence(including theAhwahneecheename for MirrorLake:Ahwiyah,meaning “quiet water”).
Rightaroundtheautumnequinox,dependableas yourtrusty compass, Yosemite MariposaCountyspinsinto alower gear. Peak YosemiteNational Parkvisitation has passed, vehicletrafficlightens andanimal trafficheightensandhikingtrails— evenin Yosemite Valley—arefar less traveled. Fallisknown by Yosemiteinsiders asprime time to beoutside,andinthis cooler,peacefulseason YosemiteMariposaCountytrailsholdbest-of-yearappeal. Continuingonthis contrarianvibe,it’s alocalsecret thatthe weatheractually getsbetter aftersummer Thesky goesadeeper shade of blue, temperaturestrendlower, and photographers rave overa golden range of Sierra sunlight.Magicallaround.
Whether you’re coming fromtheBayArea, Los Angeles,crosscountryor“acrossthepond,”herearethebestfallhikesin Yosemite MariposaCounty to sharewith yourfavoritetrailmates. Get ready forthatsatisfying,sandycrunch of crushedgraniteunder your boots!
HikesinMariposaCounty Outsidethe Park
IntheCentralMariposa region, the warm temperatureshold outlaterinto fallmaking forsomeperfecthiking weather at atime whenthe higherelevationsare getting downrightchilly.What’s even better?Allareclose to the hotels, restaurants andshops of thecharmingGoldRush town of Mariposa.
MercedRiver Trail
Distance:5.5mi(8.9km)out andback. Startingnearthe BLM-operatedRailroadFlat
Campground,theMerced River Trail follows thehistoric Yosemite ValleyRailroadline above andalongthewildand scenicMercedRiver Infall whenthe flow islight,it’s fun to scrambledown forsomeriver rock-hoppingandmarvel at thetransformationfromspring torrent to autumntrickle.Dogfriendly(onleash)andgreat for kids,just remember to bringa hatandplenty of waterasthere islittle cover.
AutumntreksintheSouthern Yosemite regiondisplay a specialkind of tranquility. AccessedfromhistoricFish Camp,thesehikes feature rare treesandplummeting H2Omakingtheman essential stopon yourfall itinerary.
MariposaGrove of GiantSequoias
Distance:multiple routes, from.3mi(.5km)Big Trees Loop to 7miles (11.3km) Mariposa Grove Trail. If your fallhikeneedsthatspecial hook and you want lots of optionswhenit comes to differenttrails, thenhow aboutsome3,000 year-old treeswithnames like Grizzly Giant, Fallen Monarch and FaithfulCouple?Themassive specimensintheareaare simply exquisite post-summer whenvisitation to Yosemite lightens,makingthisa key part of the Yosemite Mariposa Sequoia Tourthathitsallour magicalgroves.
•Daytime temperaturesin MariposaCountycan remain highduringthefall,especially at lowerelevations.Besure to bringplenty of drinking water, a hatandeco-friendlysunblock.
•Considerhikingearlyinthe morningorlaterinthe evening to avoidpeakheat.
•Plan yourhike to coincidewith the colorwheel of fallleaf Wantto
•Nighttimescan cooldownso bringlayers anda waterproof shell for thatoccasionalsprinkle.
Chilnualna Falls
Distance:8.2mi(13.2km) outandback.Beginning at 4,200ft(1,280m),thehike plays hide-and-seekwith aseries of cascadesand cataracts rangingfrom50 to 240 feet inheight.Thoughit peaksinMay, Chilnualna Falls flows year-round,whilethe steadyclimbisguaranteed to get yourheart pumping. After yourhike, stop by the YosemiteHistoryCenter for somelocalsagas,orgrab somegrubandgrog at the historic WawonaHotel.
peeping.Autumnalbliss.
•Alwayscheck road conditions, especially in Yosemite’sHigh CountrywhereTioga Road closesseasonallylate fall throughspring.
•Dittoonchecking weather conditions—high countryfall snowstormsandlate summer to earlyfallthunderstormscan move infastsobeprepared.
•Consider Yosemite Mariposa Countypublictransportation andletsomeoneelsetakethe
Yosemite ValleyHikes
HikesNear Wawona
WHERE THE WILD DREAMS ARE:
Kid-Friendly Lodgingin
YosemiteMariposa County
Parentsknowthat feeling.Thekids have been coopedup toolong,the Wi-Fisignalis getting wornout, andthere’sanaggingsense that a healthieroptionmust beoutthere somewhere. Fret not,guardians of the munchkin galaxy. That“somewhere”is closerthan youthink.
YosemiteMariposaCountyshinesas nature’splayground.There’splenty of
Boastingclimbing rocks (largeandsmall),the meanderingMercedRiver andhikingtrails galore, YosemiteNational Parkisan open-airamusementpark forkids of allages.Sprinkle ininterpretiveprograms suchastheJuniorRangers, WeeWildOnesandKids’ ArtClasses,and youhave a wholekitandcaboodle of outdoorfun.
Stayingoutsidethe Park intheunique regions of YosemiteMariposaCounty broadensthescope of kids’ activitieswhileproviding someless-obviousbenefits: morediningoptions, shopping,museumsand local events.One of thebest thingsabout stayingoutside the ParkingreaterMariposa Countyisthegreater room availabilityandpricepoints. Withalittleplanning, your forays into the Parkpair perfectlywiththebounty of things to doin Yosemite MariposaCounty.
room forthekids to shaketheir sillies out—whetherthat’splayinghide’n’ seekbetweenthegiantsequoias, ridingbikesamongst thefall foliage orenjoyingfamily-friendlyactivities initshistoric GoldRush towns.And, whenthebellrings at theend of this blissful recess, rest assuredthat Yosemite MariposaCounty offers kidfriendlylodgingthat’sa comfy way to cap off yourfun-filledday.
Whethera tent cabinorrusticlodge,fun places to stay canbe foundin Yosemite Valley. Coziedup to thebase of Glacier Point,CurryVillageisthe command center of yourfamily’s recreationalmission. Tent cabins, standardcabinsandmotel rooms are complemented by on-site raft rentals forthenearbyMercedRiver, swimming pool(seasonal),outdooramphitheater, bike rentalsandmultiplediningoptions. Parents needabreather?Grabaglass of wine at Bar1899andenjoya plateof theJohnMuir Munchies(akacheesytater tots)!
Locatedeightmilesfrom theArch RockEntrance,the YosemiteCedar Lodgeis aneasyjauntinto the Park whileprovidingsuchplayful perksasaspacious game room(pingpong,pool table andarcade games),multiple swimmingpoolsandhot tub,as wellasitsunique River Walk.Guests can stroll down to theirhiddenbeach fora YosemiteMariposa Countypicnic,a cooling splashor simplysome good old-fashioned rock skipping. On-sitediningincludesthe Cedar Lodge Restaurant andtheCanyonBar& Grill. Perfect afteraday of exploring.
Locateda stone’sthrow fromthebase of Yosemite Falls,thefamily-friendly Yosemite Valley Lodgeisanotherlodgingoption withplenty of kidcred.The glass& wood architectureallowtheSierrasunshine to brightenup your stay whileon-sitedining suchas theBaseCampEateryandthepatio at theMountain Room Lounge coverallthe culinarybasesthat familiesdemand.The MercedRiver flows justbehind theproperty wherekids’imaginations canrunwild whiletheysafely exploreitsbanks,andthe Yosemite Valley Lodgebike standenables breezyridesalongdesignatedbikepaths. A limitednumber of Family RoomsandBunk Roomsare available to thosefamilieswho likealittle extraspace!
Tenaya at Yosemite
Locatedjusttwomiles fromtheSouthEntrance to YosemiteNational Park, Tenayaat Yosemitehas justabout everything for thetravelingfamily.Witha variety of roomsfromthe mainlodge to cottagesand theirsignature Explorer Cabins, thisluxeSierra resorthasall-inamenities suchasbiking(bikes provided), game room, gold panning,guided flashlight hikesand Tenaya’s on-site dining.
YosemiteView Lodgehas broadappealwhenit comes to visitingwiththekiddos. Locatedjusttwomilesfrom theArch RockEntrance, it’s theclosest resort to Yosemite Valleythat’s notinsidethe Parkandis dramaticallyperchedonthe MercedRiver.Kidscan enjoy 11, yes,11poolsandhottubs, a game room complete with foosball,airhockey corn holeandpooltables,not to mentionsometastypizza on-site at ParksidePizza. FamiliestravelingviaEV cantakeadvantage of Tesla charging stations,orleave thecarbehindandhopon the YARTS buswhichhas a stoprightinfront of the hotel.Convenience,indeed.
Whetherskipping rocksinbejeweledmountain lakes,makingnew friends at a Yosemitebed and breakfastor learningaboutMiwuk history,there’s a kid-friendlyitinerary for everyone in Yosemite Mariposa County.Thedays are equalparts vim, vigorandthose time-stands-stillmoments when youcan’thelpbutsay wow,thisis sobeautiful.So comeon up, shake yoursilliesoutanddreamwild— it comeswiththe territory.
CurryVillage
Yosemite Valley Lodge
YosemiteCedar Lodge
Yosemite View Lodge