To experience all that Yosemite has to offer, there is no better time than late summer and early fall, when there is no snowfall and the sun is making the mountain lakes just warm enough for swimming.
New accommodations and activities are making this season one of the best in years. From major renovations at the popular Tenaya Lodge to a new way to find last-minute campsites, here’s what Yosemite has in store for your next visit.
Firefall Ranch: A new luxury resort on 300 acres
(Tracy Barbutes)
The newest addition to Yosemite lodging options is a collection of cottages and villas spread across 300 acres of forest and meadows near the park’s northwest entrance. Firefall Ranch combines rustic elegance with the natural beauty of the mountains in each of its self-contained accommodations, which feature custom woodwork, covered patios, and dual-sided indoor/outdoor fireplaces.
The property is crisscrossed with hiking trails, and there’s both an upscale gourmet restaurant and a more casual tavern on-site, as well as a general store for essentials. Complimentary daily activities, including bouldering, bikes, daily wine tasting, and nightly s’mores by the fire, are second only to the resort’s guided excursions, which range from winter snowshoeing to rafting. While the amenities you can see are top-notch, some of the resort’s most important elements are designed to stay behind the scenes. With a commitment to conservation practices and a youth program for promising young adults, Firefall Ranch is reimagining the future of tourism in one of the country’s most popular national parks. // 24025 CA-120 (Groveland), www.firefallranch.com
Yosemite Air Tour: A High-Flying Perspective
(Yosemite Air Tours)
Yosemite Flight Tour has partnered with the brand new Firefall Ranch to offer visitors a magnificent view of the national park. The small plane takes off daily with just two (and a maximum of eight) passengers and soars over Yosemite Valley and the mountains, forests and waterfalls that surround it. The one-hour experience ($249/person) is open to all ages and operates year-round. // www.firefallranch.com
Tenaya Lodge: A new look + more fun activities
(Courtesy of Tenaya Lodge)
Tenaya Lodge, one of the most iconic lodgings in Yosemite National Park, debuted a new look last month. The lobby received a stunning facelift with geometric design elements and sleek modern seating, and each of the main lodge’s 244 rooms has been upgraded with an earthy color palette, warm wood tones, and custom furnishings. New amenities are also on the cards, including a shuttle to and from Yosemite Village, pickleball and bocce courts, an 18-foot-tall rock-climbing wall, and even a dog play area. Combined with Tenaya Lodge’s full-service spa, pool, and numerous dining options, the national park-adjacent resort is a true destination in itself. // 1122 Highway 41 (Fish Camp), visittenaya.com
CampChimp: Find a last minute campsite.
(Courtesy of @yosemitenps)
A new app is using artificial intelligence to help campers find last-minute spots. CampChimp lets you type in the type of campground you want to stay at — for example, “in the mountains, 30-minute drive from Yosemite National Park” — and it will show you any cancellations or unbooked spots that match your preferences. Currently, the platform can be used for any national park, national forest, state park or state beach in California. In the coming months, county parks and private campgrounds will be added to the list and the site will expand to cover more parts of the West. // campchimp.com
