Groveland
Photo by Grant Ordelheide
has both the tall trees of the forest and the ambience of a former Gold Rush mining town in
Tuolumne County, with history everywhere you look. On the way to Yosemite, it's the last town on Highway 120 and the most direct route to Yosemite from the San Francisco Bay Area.
In addition to the proximity to Yosemite, Groveland is the perfect location for your Tuolumne River whitewater expedition, hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, golf at Pine Mountain Lake, or just a great place to unwind. Dog-friendly hikes and water activities are also nearby.
DogTrekker.com's favorite historic Groveland hotels (for over 40 years) have been the
Hotel Charlotte and
Groveland Hotel, both located on Main Street. Groveland Hotel owners Jenn and Doug Edwards have completed a complete floor to ceiling face-lift for the their property; and had a hand in the remodeling of Hotel Charlotte for the new owners, Brennen and Finn Horsley.
Yosemite Rose B&B near Groveland is a three-part property. There’s the Manor, a traditional (but not pet-friendly) inn; the Cabin, which sleeps six; and, for groups of up to 12, the Ranch House, a 3,000 square-foot, dog-friendly vacation rental surrounded by 200 acres of pasture with grazing cattle. Great for kids, dogs, family reunions and just relaxing, it’s also just 19 miles from Yosemite National Park.
Where's my breakfast? - Photo Credit: @olivertheguarddog
Sure, you can be traditional and stay at a dog-friendly hotel or motel during your Tuolumne County getaway, but the choices don’t stop there. Bed-and-breakfast inns, Airbnbs and traditional vacation rentals offer options with a more personal touch. Here are some DogTrekker favorites. more »
You coming? - Photo Credit: @namastenadine
The Gold Rush-era prospectors who swarmed the Sierra Nevada foothills in the 1850s made an indelible mark on Tuolumne County, dotting the map with a string of settlements—Sonora, Columbia, Jamestown, Twain Harte, Groveland—that still have a boomtown feel, as well as a relaxed attitude toward dogs. more »
Koda Exploring Tuolumne County
Photo Credit: @dorriya
The rugged country leading up to Yosemite’s Big Oak Flat (North) entrance boasts a pioneer history as rough-hewn as the landscape itself. Tuolumne County towns along the Highway 120/49 corridors—Oakdale, Columbia, Jamestown, Twain Hart, Groveland—still have a boomtown feel, and with it, a relaxed attitude toward dogs.
Columbia, “the Gold Rush town that refused to die,” is engagingly preserved as a state historic park, its 1850s ambience captured in an array of historic buildings. more »
Mike's adventure in Red Hills - Tuolumne County. Photo Credit: @mackenzierodgers
The 19th-century miners who swarmed California’s Gold Country made an indelible mark on Tuolumne County, dotting the map with a string of settlements that still have a boomtown feel. There is plenty to see and do as you and your four-legged companion wander through rugged scenery toward the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park. more »
Marlowe & Boomie exploring Yosemite National Park.
Photo Credit: @thenuggetbros
Before you bring your dog to Yosemite National Park, read up on the rules so you won't be disappointed. While access to trails is restricted (see where you can hike below), there's still lots of scenery that can be enjoyed with your dog, especially in the spring when the waterfalls are running at maximum flow. more »