Yosemite Shuttle System
Yosemite Valley
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INSIDE YOSEMITE
(activities listed alphabetically)
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DESCRIPTION: The Ahwahnee opened in 1927 and qualified as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. Built of steel, stone, concrete, wood and glass, its massive features, including its granite facade and expansive dining room and “Great Lounge”, provide a grand display of rustic yet appealing comfort. Its design and location maximize views of Upper Yosemite Fall, Glacier Point, and Half Dome. The Y-shaped building has 121 rooms consisting of hotel rooms, parlors, and suites, and 24 cottages.
NIGHTLY RATES (as of May 2020): Standard Hotel Room ($518), Classic Hotel Room ($589), El Dorado Diggins Room and ADA Junior Suite ($650), Third Floor Suite and Sunroom Suite ($1196), Presidential Suite ($1221), and Library Suite ($1257). Reserve through TravelYosemite.com.
LOCATION: Ideally located in East Yosemite Valley about ¾ mile from Yosemite Village with Yosemite Shuttle access. See Map here.
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YOSEMITE VALLEY LODGE
DESCRIPTION: The Yosemite Valley Lodge is a collection of 13 one- and two-story buildings with traditional hotel-like rooms, featuring two queen-sized beds. Two sinks and substantial storage area is separated from the bathroom itself. “Bunk rooms” have two bunk beds and accommodate larger families. The rooms are comfortable and amenities include a swimming pool (for the summer), bike rentals, amphitheater, gift shop, food court, post office, and even a Starbucks. Summer visitors: There is no air conditioning.
NIGHTLY RATES (as of May 2020): Traditional Room with bath ($278), Bunk Room with bunk beds and bath ($278). Reserving 12 months in advance is highly recommended. Reserve through TravelYosemite.com.
LOCATION: Almost any location in Yosemite Valley is ideal, but the Lodge’s nearness to the trail leading to Lower Yosemite Falls and the excellent view from its parking lot of both the Upper and Lower Falls, make for a superb destination. Additionally, a short walk eastward brings one to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Other trails lead to Leidig and Cook’s Meadows, where bird and deer watching bring delight in the early mornings. The Yosemite Shuttle stops at the Lodge late into the evening. Click here for a map.
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WAWONA HOTEL (Wawona - South Entrance)
DESCRIPTION: Although originally established in 1856, the Main Building (29 rooms) of this Victorian-era National Historic Landmark was built in 1879. It stands next to the only building that survived an earlier fire, Clark Cottage (1876; 8 rooms). Four additional buildings complete the hotel campus: Little White (1884; 3 rooms), Moore Cottage (1895, 9 rooms), Washburn Cottage (1915; 16 rooms), and the large Annex (1918; 39 rooms). All buildings retain their period charm and rooms are furnished with similar period pieces and vintage elements. Large wraparound verandas provide sitting areas during the evening (there is no air conditioning!). Fifty of the 104 rooms have private baths and 54 share a community bathroom. There are no televisions or phones in the guestrooms and wifi is spotty. The hotel dining room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A sparkling pool provides relief in the hot summer months. A lovely nine-hole golf course blends into the Wawona meadow across the street from the hotel.
NIGHTLY RATES (as of 5-20): Standard Hotel Room without Bath ($157), Standard Hotel Room with Bath ($222). Advance reservations are recommended. Reserve through TravelYosemite.com. ALERT: Closed for upgrades until Spring 2021.
LOCATION: The Hotel is situated on a knoll across from the Wawona Meadow and Golf Course about four miles north of the southern Yosemite entrance on Highway 41. Although located 27 miles (16.5 km) from Yosemite Valley (45-60 minute drive), it has easy access to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and the Pioneer History Center. Click here for a map.
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BIRD WATCHING
DESCRIPTION: Stoneman House consists of small, heated, rustic motel-type rooms with one or two double beds and a bathroom. Loft rooms include two double beds and a “loft” with a double bed. No cooking facilities exist in the rooms. There are no telephones, air conditioning, internet, or televisions in the room. All amenities that come with staying at Curry Village are included, such as swimming during the warmer months, bicycle rentals, inflatable raft rentals, and an assortment of food services.
NIGHTLY RATES (as of May 2020): Basic motel room ($260). Reserve through TravelYosemite.com.
LOCATION: Stoneman House can be found in Curry Village/Yosemite Valley near the reservation office about 1.5 miles (30-minute walk) from Yosemite Village. Yosemite Shuttle stops are close by. The location affords proximity to popular trailheads, such as Happy Isles, Vernal and Nevada Falls (the Mist Trail) and Half Dome. Curry Village can be congested due to the 500 rental options. Parking is nearby. See Map here.
GOLFING (Wawona)
WHAT: The historic Wawona Golf Course is a nine-hole, par-35 course that measures 3,050 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 124 and a 34.3 USGA rating. The course features 2 sets of tees for different skill levels and the different tee positions per side provide a par-70, 18-hole format. The fully stocked pro shop has a golf professional available for lessons. A putting green (but no driving range) is located near the pro shop.
Its scenic fairways and well-placed greens amidst towering pine and incense cedar trees make for a refreshing outing. During the early mornings and evenings, deer might accompany you from hole to hole as they graze along the course’s boundaries.
WHAT: Stoneman House consists of small, heated, rustic motel-type rooms with one or two double beds and a bathroom. Loft rooms include two double beds and a “loft” with a double bed. No cooking facilities exist in the rooms. There are no telephones, air conditioning, internet, or televisions in the room. All amenities that come with staying at Curry Village are included, such as