California’s best-known cataract is 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls, a voice-drowning, three-stage gusher that roars like a highway during snow-melt season. And yes, your leashed dog is welcome to enjoy views that will put a smile on your face, a crick in your neck and a wag in Fido’s tail.
The half-mile, paved path to Lower Yosemite Fall is dog-friendly, as are other paved pathways and most developed areas in Yosemite National Park. You’ll have to enjoy other waterfalls in the magnificent valley from a distance, but don’t let restrictions concerning pets keep you kenneled. Spring, before the summer hoards arrive, is a great time to enjoy this national treasure, no matter what the vantage point.
Dogs aren’t allowed in Yosemite lodging, but pet-friendly places to curl up after an active day are abundant in gateway communities not far from the three main entrances to the park. Our favorites include the Groveland Hotel, offering old-fashioned hospitality, mile-high feather beds and an amazing wine list near the Big Oak Flat entrance; and Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, an upscale resort property in Fish Camp near the Wawona gate.
