The meeting spots for Sierra Mac’s Tuolumne and Cherry Creek rafting trips are located about halfway between the town of Groveland, California and Yosemite’s Big Oak Flat Entrance Station on State Hwy 120. In addition to lodging located within Yosemite National Park, which can be very busy during summer months, there are also a lot of options available outside the park. These include public campgrounds, vacation rentals, and hotels for every taste and budget. Here are a few options located within 30 minutes of our Tuolumne and Cherry Creek trip meeting spots. For our Merced trips, search in Mariposa for options.

Closest to our Tuolumne Base

HOTELS AND MOTELS

The Groveland Hotel is an award-winning establishment with recently remodeled rooms and suites featuring Victorian-style furnishings and equipped with free WiFi, coffeemakers and plush bed linens; some rooms offer whirlpool tubs, fireplaces and balconies. The restaurant serves Californian cuisine and an expansive selection of wines and draft beer. It is located close to several restaurants and a grocery store where you can pick up last minute items for your trip. They also have a store on site called “Provisions”

The Hotel Charlotte in Groveland is a Victorian-style hotel located just 15 minutes from our Tuolumne and Cherry Creek trip meeting spots. Amenities include a choice of king or queen beds and a complementary buffet breakfast, the perfect way to start your day of rafting. They recently opened the Fork & Love Restaurant, offering a variety of dishes using local ingredients, local beers and handcrafted cocktails. Thinking of staying a while? The Hotel Charlotte also manages several vacation rentals many of which are located at nearby Pine Mountain Lake. These vacation rentals are listed under the accommodations link on their home page.

LODGE RESORTS

Evergreen Lodge is  located on Evergreen Road about 7 miles from Yosemite’s Big Oak Flat Entrance and just one mile from Hetch Hetchy. With two major expansions in recent years, the Evergreen has become a full-service, year-round resort and a classic Yosemite destination. Accommodations include deluxe cabins, family cabins, one bedroom cottages, and custom camping where guests arrive to a fully furnished, set up tent site and sleep among the big trees in our spacious tents. There is a swimming pool, restaurant and bar on site.

Rush Creek Lodge is a brand new (opened in June 2016) full service resort located around 23 miles past Groveland and less than a mile from the Park’s entrance. Lodging options include lodge rooms, suites and hillside villas and their list of amenities includes a dining destination to enjoy California lodge cuisine, a general store for provisions on the way to the park, and a full service guided recreation program.

RV AND CAMPING OPTIONS

Looking for more of an RV or camping experience? The Forest Service operates several campgrounds in the Groveland Ranger District. Some take reservations and others are first-come first served, some can accommodate RVs and others are walk-in. For more specific information on these and other campgrounds and RV parks in the area see our Tuolumne River Campground Guide.

Yosemite Lakes RV Resort is a private camping RV/tent campground set on 400 acres along the South Fork Tuolumne River six miles from the Park entrance. With 254 full hook-ups, 130 tent sites, and a variety of cabin and yurt setups, Yosemite Lakes Public RV Camping is big enough to accommodate any size group.

VACATION RENTALS

Lillaskog is a  six bedroom vacation rental capable of handling large groups (24) located atop a mountain in the Stanislaus National Forest, with views of Yosemite (Hetch Hetchy), just 5 minutes from our trip meeting spots. Lillaskog can accommodate weddings/receptions family reunions, bachelor parties, business retreats and other group activities. Minimum stay is 2 nights, and can be split up if rafting overnight with us!

Yosemite Cabin Rentals lists several properties that organize accommodations size of groups, luxury stays, pet friendly, affordability and by hot-tubs! This is a great place to start when planning your Yosemite Vacation. Make sure to note where the rental is at, and check driving times. They also list several other trips to do in the area.

The Groveland VRBO page lists over 100 vacation rentals by owner in the Groveland region. There are some good values, and many of the properties still have open dates for this summer.

Our recommendation is to plan some time after your rafting trip to stay and explore the nearby attractions both inside and outside the park. River trips open the senses, you start to notice things, like some of the unique bird species that populate this region, the flash of a trout as it passes beneath your raft, the smell of moving water. It is nice to stay a while while you are in this relaxed and open space and enjoy the all that the Yosemite region has to offer.