Opened in 1921, you could say Evergreen Lodge near Yosemite National Park, has been making travelers happy for more than a century. Surrounded by the Stanislaus National Forest, the historic property is located one mile from Yosemite’s western border and the entrance to Hetch Hetchy, but there’s much more to love about this property than just its location.
Evergreen Lodge offers 88 cabins scattered among 20-acres of towering pine trees. Stocked with classic board games and books, cabins have an old-school vibe. There are no televisions, but accommodations don’t scrimp on comfort. Along with comfy beds, cabins boast heat, air conditioning, mini-refrigerators, Keurig coffee machines, and Wi-fi.
For those that hate the hassle of pitching a tent, but love the idea of being in the great outdoors, Evergreen Lodge also offers a unique custom camping option. Available May through October, an onsite campground features 21 campsites with fully furnished tents.
Standard tents feature one queen foam mattress and sleep two people. Family tents offer one queen and two twin foam mattresses, and can sleep up to four people. Sleeping bags, liners, pillows, towels, camping chairs, and a lantern are included with every stay. Campers have access to a bathhouse and all of the lodge’s amenities.
Yosemite National Park is the reason most guests come to Evergreen Lodge. The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and O’Shaughnessy Dam are a 15-minute drive. Plan on about an hour to reach Yosemite Valley. But if your itinerary allows, save some time to simply stay put.
In addition to a pool and hot tub, the property boasts a nature trail, forest disc golf course, playground, kids’ zip line, (for kids and kids-at-heart) and game room stocked with a pool table, shuffleboard and foosball. Complimentary daily activities include nature journaling, arts and crafts, bingo, and S’mores. History buffs will enjoy the property tour. Sunset Point is the place to be to say goodbye to a busy day and to welcome a star-filled night sky.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in Evergreen’s Main Lodge. Along with a classic tavern, indoor and outdoor seating is available. Grab and go items including bagels, yogurt, sandwiches, coffee and more, can be found in the General Store.
Hotel guests are also welcome to make the less than 10-mile trip to Evergreen’s sister property, Rush Creek Lodge Yosemite. Along with more dining options, Rush Creek boasts a full-service spa, and a trio of hiking trails.
Both Evergreen and Rush Creek Lodge are certified B Corporations. The hotel properties use profits to operate a youth employment program and to focus on environmentally-friendly practices.
Rates for cabins at Evergreen Lodge start at $190. Rates for standard tents start at $130. Wi-fi and parking is included. There is also a complimentary charging station for electric vehicles. You can compare rates at Expedia or Hotels.com and book your stay if you find a better deal.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by Evergreen Lodge, but as always her thoughts and opinions are her own.
