The Inside Story:
Yosemite Cabins for Rent Inside the Park
Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular outdoors destinations in the United States. With over 700,000 acres of wilderness area, it is ideal for hiking, climbing, fishing, animal watching, photography and many other outdoor activities. With 13 campgrounds, Yosemite is a haven for those who like to pitch a tent and rough it. But it also has many options for those who prefer a bit more solid type of lodging. Yosemite cabins provide alternative lodging ranging from very basic to beautiful log structures that are so comfortable that many people don’t ever want to leave.
There are many Yosemite cabins for rent, both inside the park and out. Many people prefer to stay inside the park boundaries to avoid waiting in entrance lines each day as they make their way back to the park. Knowing that location is a big selling point, some properties advertise their close locations but don’t mention that they are not inside the park. If an inside location is important, to you, be sure to look for that specific information or ask before reserving a place.
Some of the most adventuresome types of cabin rentals inside the boundaries are typically run by Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts at Yosemite (DNC). DNC operates many of the services in Yosemite and at other popular destinations around the country. They offer Yosemite lodging cabins at Curry Village, Housekeeping Camp, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, White Wolf Lodge and five High Sierra Camp locations.
DNC Cabins In Yosemite
Accommodations in these cabins range from canvas tent type structures with wood frames and shared restroom facilities to cozy wooden cabins with private baths. The tent cabins provide one of the best ways to get a cheap Yosemite cabin rental. The cabins at Housekeeping Camp are a unique combination of tent and hard-sided with three cement walls, a cement floor and a curtain for the fourth wall that walks out to a covered patio.
Most of the DNC cabin campgrounds have restaurants or communal dinning halls, camp stores, and parking. Some have electricity while others provide candles for lighting. The High Sierra cabins in Yosemite are hike-in lodging. They are available through a lottery system that attempts to address the high demand for these primitive but popular accommodations. Prices for DNC cabins range from around $65 to over $100 depending on the type of structure and camp selected.
Foresta Rentals
There are other Yosemite cabins for rent inside the park that are not operated by DNC. Most of them are private cabins offered for rent by owners or a rental company. In many cases, the structures are large homes with multiple bathrooms, decks, fireplaces and great views. Many of these properties are located in Foresta, a small community inside the park.
Foresta was devastated by wildfires in 1990 and the new growth trees are small enough still to offer wonderful views of the rock formations in the area. A simple Internet search for “Foresta Yosemite Rentals” will bring up several options including Yosemite Vacation Homes which offers numerous cabins and other properties for rent inside the park.
Cabins In Yosemite West
Yosemite West is another popular location for cabin rentals inside the park. In addition to beautiful cabin homes, there are several Yosemite luxury vacation rental homes available. Yosemite West is approximately 30 minutes from the Valley. Many of the rentals in Yosemite West are listed by a group with that same name. Their website is here.
Redwood Cabins Yosemite
At The Redwoods In Yosemite near Wawona, guests can choose from over 125 Yosemite cabins for rent. The Redwoods have cabins in three categories: economy, standard and premium. Many of the economy cabins cost around $150 or more per night during peak season, while others are over $300 per night.
Although they are called cabins, the premium accommodations are actually large homes, often with garages. They offer many bedrooms and all the amenities of home. They generally cost over $400 per night and offer a luxurious way to see Yosemite. Visit their website here for more information.
There are hundreds of cabins for rent inside the boundaries and entrance gates of Yosemite National Park. They are usually a bit more spendy than accommodations outside the park. But for many people these cabins allow them to be right in the middle of nature and provide a much more adventurous vacation than that offered by most of the Yosemite California hotels. With so many different cabin-lodging options, there is sure to be something that fits the needs of those Yosemite visitors who prefer to have a roof over their heads but still want to be close to nature.
With Yosemite’s beauty and adventure activities bringing in over 3 million visitors each year, it is a good idea to make reservations as far in advance as possible. The DNC cabins often book up many months in advance and the other cabin rentals experience similar demand. If you are not able to get a Yosemite cabin, you might consider one of the many other types of lodging available in and around the park. Visitors can choose from hotels, condos, apartments, lodges, bed and breakfasts, RV parks, retreat centers, and just about any other kind of lodging arrangement possible.