Mariposa Recommendations

Image credit: YMCTB


After you've experienced the beauty of the National Park, we invite you to explore the unique activities around the charming gold rush town of Mariposa.


Here are a few of our favorites:

Water

A river with a sign that says merced wild and scenic river
  • Boating: Visit Bass Lake near Oakhurst for boat rental on a beautiful lake, and finish with a snack and drink at the marina's scenic waterfront bar
  • Swimming: The Merced River in the Briceburg area has many great summertime swimming holes
  • Fishing: Check out the best spots for fishing and fly fishing.

Tastings

A bottle and two cans of beer are sitting next to each other on a table.
  • Beer: We love the wide variety of tasty brews at 1850 Brewery
  • Wine: Definitely stop by and do a tasting (or grab a bottle) at the tasting room for local winery Casto Oaks, just 1 mile from us
  • Cider: Take a short country drive to sample the tasty offerings at Sierra Cider. Enjoy their petting zoo, tours, and beautiful orchard views

Family

A family is sitting on the grass in a park.


Adrenaline

A group of people are in a raft that says ziprite on it
  • Rafting: Run the scenic Merced river in late spring and early summer just 20 minutes from us with our friends at Zephyr Whitewater, the closest option to Yosemite Valley.
  • Skydive: Get a bird's eye view of the Sierra Nevadas and Yosemite with Skydive Yosemite.


Dining & Bars

A close up of a plate of food with beans and tacos on a table.
  • Breakfast: Grab a treat from High Country Health Foods on your way into YNP
  • Lunch: Swing by the giant outdoor patio at the Grove House for their ever-changing menu of well-crafted comfort foods
  • Charcuterie: We highly recommend swinging by The Californian Commissary and picking up one of their tasty cheese and meat platters to go.
  • Dinner: We love the delicious elevated comfort food options at 1850 Brewery.
  • BBQ: Definitely swing by the new BBQ spot in town, Smokin Oak BBQ, for a post-hike pulled-pork or brisket sandwich
  • Bars: Can't beat the Grove House (& their kid & dog-friendly beer garden), the Alley, or the dive-bar ambience at the Hideout. Also check out the wide variety of beer/wine/mead at the new Twisted Cedar Taphouse right next to Smokin' Oak BBQ


Other Fun

A man and woman are walking down a street in front of a store that is open.
  • Hiking: A beautiful spring or winter hike is Hite's Cove, which follows a scenic section of the Merced River.
  • Live Music: Hands down, the Grove House wins the award for best acts.
  • Yoga: If you can't make our on-site summertime classes, check out Yogasemite, especially their guided yoga and meditation classes inside the national park.
  • Climbing Museum: Learn about the history and evolution of climbing by exploring the photography, artifacts, and hardware at the Yosemite Climbing Museum.
  • Shopping: There's some fun window shopping to be had in town, such as the the rocks, gems, and gifts at Yosemite Gifts.
  • Hornitos: This local "almost ghost town" makes for an easy drive for history buffs

Image Credit: Patrick Pike Photography