Wildhaven Yosemite sits in the rolling foothills outside Mariposa, a quiet stretch of oak woodland and golden grassland about 45 minutes from the Yosemite gate. It’s a glamping property, but not the overpolished, try-too-hard version of glamping. The experience is simple, comfortable, and intentionally close to the landscape—enough comfort to exhale, but still unmistakably the Sierra foothills. The result is a stay that feels restorative rather than staged.
What sets Wildhaven apart for many travelers, especially Bay Area and Central Valley dog owners, is its genuinely dog-friendly setup. This isn’t the “one pet under 20 pounds for an extra fee” kind of policy. Dogs are welcome in select safari tents and cabins, and the staff actually seems to enjoy having them around. For people who plan their trips around whether their dog can come along, that alone puts Wildhaven on the short list.
The safari tents are spacious, canvas-walled structures with real beds, hardwood platforms, and enough insulation to take the edge off cool foothill nights. The cabins lean more modern—clean lines, efficient layouts, and porches that catch late-afternoon light. None of it is fussy. The design quietly reinforces the point of coming here: the outdoors is the attraction.
And for dogs, the outdoors is the playground. The property has room to roam—open space, gentle slopes, and plenty of smells carried on the kind of warm breeze that makes a dog tilt its head and take an extra sniff. It’s not an off-leash dog park, but it’s far from cramped, and most guests seem to understand shared space and trail etiquette. That makes it an appealing base camp for anyone traveling with a dog that needs more than a paved walkway to feel satisfied.
From Wildhaven, guests can head into Yosemite Valley, up to Glacier Point (seasonal), or toward Wawona, but many stay local for at least part of their trip. Mariposa County has short hikes, creekside rambles, and rolling-hill vistas that are far less crowded than the national park but still carry that unmistakable Sierra character. For dogs—who don’t care about bucket-list viewpoints—these quieter trails can be just as rewarding as the marquee destinations.
Back at camp, the experience shifts to something slower. Porch sitting. Star watching. A camp chair, a beverage, a tired dog asleep at your feet. Even in the cabins, the sounds of the foothills remain: breezes in the oaks, the occasional distant coyote, the quiet that comes when darkness settles over a rural ridge line. It’s the kind of stay that satisfies people who want nature without roughing it, and who want to bring their dog without compromising the trip.
Wildhaven Yosemite succeeds because it understands its environment and its audience. It’s not luxury. It’s not rustic. It’s a comfortable middle ground designed for travelers—and their four-legged companions—who want to experience the Yosemite region with ease, intention, and plenty of fresh air.
