Yosemite Cabin Rentals For a Family Reunion vs For a Wedding vs From Owner ... and 4 more
Edited by Kathy McGraw, Maria Quinney
With over 4 million visitors every year, Yosemite National Park is a popular vacation destination. Whether you have come to see the granite monoliths of El Capitan and Half Dome, or the misty Bridalveil Falls, as immortalized by Ansel Adams, you'll want somewhere comfortable to stay for the duration of your visit. While hotels and motels are always an option, many people enjoy their vacation better if they have their own space. To that end, there are vacation cabins available of every size and affordable on nearly any budget.
Method 1: For a Family Reunion
The beautiful Yosemite area with its tall redwood and pine forests, rivers, streams, waterfalls, and huge granite rocks makes a lovely setting for your next family reunion. You may think that renting a cabin large enough to accommodate a large group of people will cost a lot of money, but cabin rental rates are quite competitive, and if you go in the rent with a few people, it becomes more affordable still. Here are two examples of what is available in the area:
- 1Just six miles from the west entrance to Yosemite National Park, this 2,450 square foot home has plenty of room to house your extended family. It has seven bedrooms, two bathrooms, and has the capacity to sleep 20 people. Not only do have plenty of room in the house, but also, as this property is on 4 acres of forest, you and your family can spend the day hiking or biking along the trails in and around it. If you get too hot, the Tuolumne River is barely two miles away where you can spend a delightful afternoon swimming or fishing.Family Cabin.
- 2This forest lodge has 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and sleeps 20 on 2,700 square feet; plenty of room for a large family gathering. Yosemite National Park is just 40 minutes away for a day trip. The lodge sits on 300 acres, which includes trails, two swimming holes, and even a cave to explore. After a day spent hiking, swimming, and spelunking when everyone has worked up a powerful appetite, gather around the yard for a huge barbecue of hamburgers, wieners, potato salad, and chips.300 Acre Lodge.
Method 2: For a Wedding
If you and your spouse to be are nature lovers, there is no perfect spot other than one of the many scenic locations at which you can hold a wedding ceremony at Yosemite National Park. Whether you want to say your vows at the foot of Bridalveil Falls or with the majestic El Capitan in the background, a wedding at this UNESCO World Heritage site will make it an occasion neither you nor your guests are likely to forget. There are a few considerations to keep in mind, however.
- 1In order to prevent despoliation of the park, the National Park Service requires everyone who wishes to get married within its bounds to have a special wedding permit. As of this writing, the cost of the permit is $150. For more information about weddings at Yosemite, including all available locations, please visit Yosemite National Park: Weddings for more information.You need a Wedding Permit from the National Parks Service.
- 2Decide ahead of time how you will handle this fee, whether you decide to pay for your guests or ask them to pay their own way in. It's best not to have any unpleasant surprises to mark your special day.The park entrance fee still applies to you and everyone attending your wedding.
- 3Because of snowfall in the winter, some areas of the park become inaccessible from around November to early June.Some locations are unavailable during the winter and early spring months.
- 4While you and your new spouse will no doubt whisk away somewhere for your honeymoon, you will need a place for your wedding party to stay before and after the ceremony. Keep costs down by renting a large cabin and asking your wedding party to go in with you for the cost. For example, you could rent this 2,200 square foot 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home that sleeps, 12 people. It's right inside Yosemite National Park, so everyone will be to hand for the ceremony without a long drive, and with a full kitchen and other amenities, your wedding party will feel right at home.Rent a large cabin for your wedding party.
Method 3: From Owner
Renting a cabin directly from the owner rather than a property management company can sometimes be cheaper because the owner doesn't have to worry about recouping any additional fees. There are many websites online that advertise vacation homes and cabins for rent all over the world. They include sites such as HomeAway.com and AirBnB. Here are a couple of examples of Yosemite cabins we found using these services:
- 1Located inside Yosemite National Park, this little studio condominium is perfect for a couple to enjoy a relaxing retreat in the forest. It has a deck with a barbecue and beautiful hillside views you can enjoy while lounging outside or having a barbecue. Its kitchen is small but has everything you need to cook your meals and a bathroom with a shower and tub.Foxes Lair.
Method 4: Pet Friendly
When you go on vacation, you can't always leave the dog behind, and anyway, why would you want to when you're going to be tromping around in the wilderness? Thankfully, there are rental cabins that allow pets, so you can bring Fido along.
- 1Enjoy the Sierras with your best friend in this stunning A-Frame cabin located near Yosemite National Park.The cabin is small but well appointed, with a deck to enjoy the beautiful scenery and breathe in the heavy scent of pine that perfumes the air. After spending the day out romping in the wilderness with your dog, come back to the cabin and enjoy a barbecued supper and share it with your pup.Modern A-Frame Cabin.
- 2With room for three people, this log cabin makes a perfect retreat and home base while you explore Yosemite National Park, which is a short drive away. The highlight of this cabin is the little footbridge off the living room that spans a creek and takes you to a deck with a barbecue and some patio chairs. Lounge in the serenity of the forest and, of course, your pooch is welcome, too.Old-Fashioned Log Cabin.
Method 5: With Hot Tub
After a long day of physical activity, there's nothing like a good soak in the hot tub to ease weary muscles. They're also romantic when you're cuddling in one with your special someone as you share a glass of wine and look up at the stars dotting the night sky overhead.
- 1This three bedrooms two bathroom cabin is a romantic retreat located deep in the forest near Yosemite National Park. Enjoy the hot tub out on the deck while gazing at you at nothing but trees and the Sierras off in the distance. Perfect for your honeymoon or a couple's get-away, it's so peaceful and quiet that you'll never want to leave.Cubs cabin.
- 2Named after that famous ranch of Western yore, this beautiful cabin not only has a hot tub on the property, it also has an in-ground pool so that you can get out of the heat with a splash. The cabin itself has one bedroom and one bathroom, but there is also a studio apartment across the pool from the main cabin that has additional space if you want to bring friends or family up to the Yosemite area with youPonderosa Pines Cabin.
Method 6: On the Merced River
The Merced River runs through Yosemite National Park and is a popular site for all kinds of aquatic adventures including fishing, swimming, and water rafting. It's jade waters and meandering path take it over rocks, making frothing rapids, before becoming placid once again. Here are two examples of cabins on or near the river.
- 1This cabin has 1,400 square feet of living space with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It has a full kitchen so that you can cook your meals there, two gas fireplaces, and an in-ground pool. Its deck looks over the swiftly flowing river and its rocky banks.Yosemite's River House.
- 2Located in Wawona and just five miles inside the south entrance to Yosemite National Park this cabin has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The river is just a few steps beyond the cabin and there is a rock on the banks that's perfect for sunning yourself of leaping into the water.Riverview Yosemite Cabin.
Method 7: Things to do in Yosemite
From rock climbing to hiking, to rafting, to horseback riding, there are plenty of fun things to do in Yosemite National Park.
- 1If you like scaling craggy walls and sheer granite cliffs, Yosemite has an abundance of them for every skill level. While you can't camp on the summit of Half Dome or any of the other granite cliffs, you can go for long climbs and rest on the way up. If you choose to make a multi-day climb, be sure to bring the appropriate gear, including a bag for human waste.Rock climbing.
- 2Fishing is permitted in most of the rivers and streams in the park, with a few exceptions. Get information about them here as well as other regulations about fishing in the park.Fishing.
- 3In Half Dome Village and Yosemite Valley Lodge, there are pools to swim in, but you can also swim in most rivers and streams, as well as go rafting and kayaking. Kayaking is very popular at Tenaya Lake.Water sports.
- 4A fun way to see the sights of Yosemite is to go for a ride on horseback. The ride goes along a trail from Big Trees Stable to Meadow Loop Trail. Children need to be at least seven years old to participate and 44 inches tall.Horseback riding.
- 5In the winter, Yosemite turns into a winter wonderland where you can go cross-country skiing, snow tubing, snowshoeing and downhill skiing. Be aware, however, that some areas of the park get closed off during the winter for safety reasons.Winter sports.
- 6There are over 165 different bird species that live in Yosemite and another 100 migratory species. The most common birds seen include the American robin, acorn woodpecker, and mountain chickadee. Species seen less often include the peregrine falcon, spotted owl, pileated woodpecker, and northern goshawk.Birdwatching.
Facts About Yosemite
- in 1899. Buffalo Soldiers, African-American troops, were assigned to protect the park.
- Human habitation at Yosemite goes back 3,000 thousand years.
- There are 747,956 acres of land in Yosemite National Park
- Yosemite National Park has 800 miles of tended trails
- The first tourists came to the park in 1855
- Yosemite Falls is North America's longest waterfall ( 2,425 feet long)
- Horsetail Fall takes on the appearance of a stream of fire tumbling down its granite bed during the evenings in the month of February
For More Information
If you want to get more information about the park, you can go to the following websites for more information:
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
