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.
HOTELS AND MOTELS
The Groveland Hotel is an award-winning establishment with uniquely decorated 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 fine dining restaurant serves Californian cuisine and an expansive selection of wines and beer on-tap. The is a small store “Provisions” that offers last minute delights!
The Hotel Charlotte in Groveland is a Victorian-style hotel located just 15 minutes from our Tuolumne and Cherry Creek trip meeting spot. They have a wonderful oder-from-the -bar food service, and have indoor and outdoor seating options.
They use top notch ingredients using local ingredients, local beers and handcrafted cocktails. This is a great place to plan on getting some food for a nice night on the town! Finn, who runs they place, will surely give a friendly ‘howdy’.
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
Lilaskog Resort is a six bedroom lodge capable of handling large groups located atop a mountain in the Stanislaus National Forest just minutes from our trip meeting spots. Lillaskog can accommodate family reunions, bachelor parties, business retreats, weddings and other group activities. Minimum stay is 2 nights. Inquire about a Tuolumne Trip with a Lillaskog stay package.
The Groveland Trip Advisor Vacation Rental Page lists several properties that can accommodate groups, most of these are located in the area of Pine Mountain Lake, a vacation and retirement community located adjacent to Groveland. Rates are reasonable, and the area’s proximity to both the Tuolumne River and Yosemite National Park make it a popular choice.
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.
