Four Perfect Options for Spring Lodging
Style. Privacy. Convenience. Uniqueness.
All four characteristics – and many more for that matter, can be found among Yosemite Mariposa County’s vast lodging options. Better yet, some lodging options artfully combine one or more characteristic into a great package to provide some of the best lodging experiences that the Yosemite region has to offer. To provide a starting point on your lodging selection journey, here are four excellent Mariposa County options for the ultimate winter stay.
Scenic Wonders
Also cozy, quiet and located inside of Yosemite National Park’s gates are Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders, a community of more than 130 cabins located mostly in the Yosemite West and Wawona regions, a halfhour from Yosemite Valley and just minutes from Badger Pass Ski Area and the Glacier Point Road attractions. Four unique locations in and just outside the Park make Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders a great starting point for High Sierra adventures in all four seasons.
Many of the cabins are stunningly beautiful and boast views of the wild and Scenic Merced River Canyon, on high above the Merced River Canyon, at nearly 6,000 feet above sea level. With varying sizes and styles of cabins, Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders offer options for all groups and budgets. Some of the great amenities offered include Wi-Fi, full kitchens, BBQ grills and big comfy spaces to spread out. Amenities do vary by cabin, so check each individual listing to find out
what is offered.
A point of pride for Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders is its stellar customer service record. 45 on-site dedicated employees are regularly available to make your stay a spectacular one and cater to your needs. Scenic Wonders’ customer service record is reflected in its 4.5-star Google reviews and its Trip Advisor Hall of Fame Award, which was given for the company’s five straight years of being voted as the #1 choice in specialty lodging in Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite View Lodge
When selecting lodging, some focus on one characteristic, “location, location, location”. Yosemite View Lodge has the unique distinction of being the closest resort to Yosemite Valley that’s located 5 minutes outside Park gates, how’s that for a convenient place to lay your head?
Its seamless connection with the great outdoors qualifies it for a place among Yosemite Mariposa’s top hotels. With most rooms having personal balconies overlooking the Wild & Scenic Merced River, it’s a great place to fall asleep listening to water flowing by your hotel room and waking up to the view of the steep granite walls of the Merced River Canyon outside.
With two convenient restaurant options, Parkside Pizza and The River View, and seven, yes, seven hot tub spas on property, the lodge has a nice pop of amenities including the Yosemite View Convenience Store and 120v outlets in the parking lot for EV charging.
The Redwoods in Yosemite The Redwoods in Yosemite blends cozy cabins and luxury mountain homes into an amazing location within Yosemite National Park that checks the boxes of privacy, style and convenience. There are more than 125 fully equipped options at the Redwoods that all come with 24-hour support from a full service front desk, nearby grocery stores, a gas station and a historic restaurant at the Wawona Hotel within walking distance. Good news for the furry members of the family: there are many petfriendly options so that everyone can come!
The entire Wawona area, where The Redwoods in Yosemite are located, is a historic region in Yosemite National Park with nearby hiking on trails like Chilnualna Falls and the Wawona Meadow Loop which both have trailheads so near that you won’t even need to drive. Also, in Wawona is the Yosemite History Center and the newly dedicated Chinese Laundry Building, a historic building that was recently discovered to be a Chinese Laundry operated in the early days of Yosemite.
A stay in the Redwoods in Yosemite means you’re in the heart of one of Yosemite’s quietest and most historic regions. You’re also just minutes from Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and Badger Pass Ski and Snowboard Area making this a great retreat for après ski activities.
The Ahwahnee
One of the crown jewels
of national park lodges, The Ahwahnee is a must-visit destination within Yosemite Valley for its dining, décor and architecture that complements the natural setting of the park. The Ahwahnee was designed and built in the 1920s with the specific goal of attracting well-to-do clientele that would then give back to the National Park cause through the forms of donations. In the following century, The Ahwahnee has more than fulfilled that ambition, hosting presidents and royalty as well as other famous personalities within its walls.
A stay at The Ahwahnee means combining elegance and convenience because you’ve chosen to stay at one of the finest National Park hotels in the heart of Yosemite Valley. Depending on which way your room or suite faces, it’s possible to wake up to views of Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, Half Dome and Royal Arches. Inside the Ahwahnee a full day can easily be spent relaxing in the Grand Lounge near a fire with a book, in The Ahwahnee Bar sipping a artisanal cocktail or dining in the grandest hall of them all, The Ahwahnee Dining Room.
The Ahwahnee includes many different lodging types. In addition to hotel rooms in the main hotel, there are suites and junior suites with private fireplaces and/or balconies on the upper floors. For those looking for a more secluded experience, The Ahwahnee’s cottages are on the hotel grounds in a forested location, just a short walk from the main hotel.