A Weekend Escape to Wawona: Experiencing Yosemite from The Redwoods in Yosemite
Before the sun had fully risen, I stepped onto the wooden deck of our cabin in Wawona, coffee steaming in my hands. The air was sharp and fresh, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth from the melting snow. The chill in the morning air nipped at my skin, but the warmth of my cup and the stillness of the forest made me pause, just to soak it all in.
The world around me was wrapped in a quiet stillness, the kind you can only find deep in the mountains. No car doors slamming, no hurried conversations, no tour buses rumbling through the valley—just nature waking up at its own pace. A thin veil of mist clung to the trees, the first rays of sunlight breaking through their towering silhouettes, casting golden streaks across the snow-dusted landscape.
This was Yosemite waking up—not in a crowded valley, but in the peaceful embrace of the forest, where the only sounds were the gurgling creek next door, the distant rush of the Merced River, and the rhythmic calls of morning birds. Somewhere nearby, a woodpecker tapped softly against a tree, adding to the quiet symphony of the wilderness.
I shuffled my slipper covered feet to the rocking chairs along the porch rail, taking another slow sip of coffee. Here, in the heart of Yosemite’s high country, I wasn’t rushing to beat the crowds or chasing an itinerary. Instead, I had the rare chance to experience the park differently—more intimately, more casual, more present.
For the next few days, we weren’t just visiting Yosemite; we were living in it.
And as I stood there, breathing in the crisp mountain air, I knew that this trip would be something different—something special.
A slower pace. A deeper connection. A new way to experience a place I thought I already knew.
The Journey to Wawona
A weekend getaway for Two to Yosemite National Park wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when planning this trip to Wawona. Initially, it was meant to be a family getaway—first with our kids, then with my parents. But as plans shifted, it became a quiet retreat for the two of us, set against the backdrop of Yosemite’s historic southern gateway. And honestly, I wasn’t complaining—after all, it was Yosemite, and I was here with the woman I love.
We packed our bags in Carson Valley and hit the road, taking Highway 88 to Jackson, CA, before heading south on the scenic Highway 49. This five-hour drive through Gold Rush country is a journey in itself—winding through historic towns I’d never fully explored. With its old-time charm, Coulterville caught our attention, and we stopped to marvel at Hotel Jeffery, a relic of California’s past that once hosted John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt. Did they stay here at the same time? I couldn’t help but wonder.
After navigating the canyon roads toward Mariposa, we debated making a quick detour to Yosemite Valley, but with dinner plans in Oakhurst, we pressed on. Mariposa and the central entrance to Yosemite Valley would have to wait this time.
Oakhurst: A Gateway to Adventure
Our first stop in Oakhurst was the Visitor Center, where I eagerly collected a few cards from the Fossils to Falls Trail—a self-guided tour I’d learned about while working on a podcast episode with Kate Holden from Mariposa. Though we wouldn’t have time to complete the full trail this trip, collecting three of the ten cards was a fun experience.
Dinner at South Gate Brewing Company was next. For years, I’d heard about this place from readers of Sierra Rec Magazine, and now I finally had the chance to try it. Shrimp tacos for my wife, a hearty burger with a red ale for me—delicious and satisfying. The brewery lived up to its reputation, offering a relaxed atmosphere perfect for unwinding before heading into a snowy Yosemite entrance.
Entering Yosemite: A Snowy Welcome
As we left Oakhurst and climbed toward Fish Camp, the snow-covered trees created a magical winter scene. Passing the famous Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, the road remained clear, but the snow was beginning to make its presence known. A few miles later, we reached the South Entrance of Yosemite National Park, and arriving at 5 pm on a Sunday turned out to be a fantastic decision—no traffic, no lines, just a seamless drive through the gates.
Seeing the “Mariposa Grove: OPEN” sign was tempting, but knowing darkness was closing in, we headed straight to Wawona and our Cabin at The Redwoods in Yosemite.
The Redwoods in Yosemite: A Cozy Stay in the Sierra
We had never stayed in The Redwoods in Yosemite cabins before, but from the moment we arrived, we knew this was a special place. Check-in was effortless—even though we arrived after hours, our registration materials and keys were exactly where they said they would be.
Our home for the next two nights? Cabin 95R—”Little Creek Cabin” on Mariposa Avenue. The name alone felt perfect for a Yosemite stay. As we pulled up, we were greeted by a beautifully nestled cabin among the trees, a large covered deck, and massive granite boulders forming part of its natural foundation. The excitement was real—we had found our home in Yosemite, and I could not wait to experience life as a local.
Inside, the Cabin exuded warmth and comfort. It was a cozy two-bedroom retreat with a king bed, queen bed, a twin bed in the back foyer, and a sleeper sofa—it could easily accommodate six guests. The full kitchen with a large family-style dining table made it easy to imagine family gatherings here, sharing meals after a day of exploring the park, and the adjoining wrap-around deck with two entrances for the kitchen screams summer BBQs. The knotty pine walls, two full bathrooms with instant hot water, and a spacious yet cozy atmosphere made it feel like a proper mountain retreat.
After settling in, I couldn’t resist an evening walk. Just outside our door, Dead Horse Creek murmured in the night, and as I wandered toward the Wawona Library, the chorus of croaking toads from a nearby pond filled the air—nature’s own soundtrack.
Two years ago, I drove through this area, amazed at the hidden community of cabins tucked away behind the historic Wawona Hotel. Now, here I was, staying in one of them, surrounded by a peacefulness that felt like a dream.
Tomorrow would be epic. I’d wake up already in the heart of Yosemite’s high country—with adventure at my doorstep. And best of all? This time, I wouldn’t have to sleep in a tent or hammock—pure luxury.
Morning Coffee and Early access to waterfall trails
My wife, the family digital appliance master, set the coffee brewing early as she knew I would be up and ready to experience the sunrise in the park. I was cozy in my cabin bed when I heard the coffee pot start to brew. To my surprise, as I walked out to the kitchen, Mother Nature had delivered multiple inches of fresh powder for our visit. As I strolled out on the covered deck with my coffee, the scene was spectacular, with trees draped in snow and life so settled as the morning sun started warming the Yosemite skyline. My thoughts of endless adventures out our door betray the sense of peace I am gathering while sitting on the porch, but now, a little chilled, I head in to prepare for today’s adventure.
Chilnualna Falls and Swinging Bridge
Chilnualna pronounced “Chil-noo-al-na,” Falls and The Wawona swinging bridge were my morning adventures of choice. Located just a mile from the Cabin, I couldn’t wait to see this spectacular Waterfall again and then get back to the Swinging Bridge, which I had missed on previous visits.
I could have hiked back on the road but decided to save time and drive the car back to the parking area just off the trailhead to Chilnualna Falls. This trail is a spectacular hike in Yosemite that, in the summer, is a moderate 4-plus mile hike to the top but includes an exceptional waterfall experience in the first mile, accessible to almost all visitors. With fresh snow on the trail and a full day of places to explore, I decided only to visit the bottom portion today and enjoy the Waterfall below the snow canopy of the morning. Photos don’t do this little oasis in the mountain justice. Even with a lower water flow than my last summer visit, the cascading falls and large granite boulder-filled creek provide a mini Mist trail feel, and today, with the magical snow canopy, I just sat there admiring the creation and all its little details.
“That is one thing about this corner of the park: being up early and on the trail first, you get to enjoy peaceful, uninterrupted visits to gems like these.”
After about 45 minutes of admiring Chilnualna Falls, I turned around and headed back upstream to the Wawona Swinging Bridge, approximately a mile from the trailhead of the Chilnualna Falls. Crossing the bridge of Chilnualna Creek and following the road back past several more Redwoods of Yosemite Cabin spots, the trailhead parking area and trail are easily spotted. The trail is an easy 3/4 mile jaunt through an open forest river valley that follows the Scenic South Fork of the Merced River.
The Natural Swinging Bridge of Wawona, not to be confused with the Historic Swinging Bridge of Yosemite Valley, which is no longer a swinging bridge, is not as well known in Wawona as the Sturdy Wood Covered Bridge built by Galen Clark in 1847, which helped inspire the protection of the area for the parks system. Instead, there is little known history as to the origin or purpose of this 40-foot Swinging bridge that crosses over a great scenic section of South Merced with views of Wawona Peak. A natural granite water slide is present in summer under the bridge, but I would suspect, like most things in Wawona, the crowds pale in comparison to those found in the Valley. The trail is easy to find, even covered in snow, and approaching the bridge, I instantly am aware that this is one of those hidden little gems that many probably miss on their Yosemite Adventures. The Wild and Scenic South Fork of the Merced is stunning and filled with granite features and rounded stone shorelines. The crystal clear waters look inviting, even at freezing temperatures. Filling my camera with shots from the middle of the bridge, the little boy in me enjoys the swaying and rocking feeling as I step adn enjoy this scenic location. This was the perfect place for a morning break, pulling off the pack and enjoying a little refuel along the river’s shore.
Back to the Cabin for breakfast and Preparations
An hour later, I am back in the car and returning to our 95 R Little Creek cabin. I stopped at The Redwood in Yosemite Office to say hi and verify our Registration was completed correctly. The staff was great and gave me a few pointers – like the Mariposa Grove hike is going to be 1.9 miles from the parking area in the snow today, and if I can, don’t miss the opportunity to walk around the meadow tonight and look for wildlife.
Back at the Cabin, the snow is melting off the trees, and a family of deer is playing aside from the Cabin in the snow. I picked a magical weekend to be in Wawona. Wendy is inside and building a puzzle on the large dining table, and I whip up a nice Greek yogurt berry and granola breakfast bowl to refuel for the afternoon. After another 30 minutes of Puzzle cabin time, we put together a packed lunch for our afternoon adventures, get Wendy layered up for the snowy hike, and switch out boots to a higher ankle support for the deeper snow we might see at Mariposa Grove.
Mariposa Grove Adventures in Wawona
In all my years of visiting Yosemite, Mariposa Grove has never made it onto my adventure list. Well, today that changes, and just my luck, I get to see the Giant sequoias in the snow. A six-mile drive to the park’s border from the Cabin, the Winter closures have us following a snowy tree-lined trail 1.9 miles up to the grove Bus Drop-off and the start of the Mariposa Grove walkways. Sequoias are always so spectacular and Mariposa grove is no exception. I love the older monarch giants whose side limbs look the size of a house at times, and their battered tops for Sierra storms past seem fit for the crown they hold of the largest trees on earth.
If you have never been in the snow, I highly recommend it. The boardwalk area down low is beautiful, and the easy climb up to Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree is well worth it. I wish I had carried my snowshoes up, as the snow is about 8 inches deep now. Wendy is having fun, but after enjoying the view of a giant grey squirrel playing on the Tunnel tree, she tells me she is done with today’s hike and ready to head out. Fair, as walking up in the snow took a bit more work than expected, and I was going to struggle to get uphill further to the rest of the grove. So we headed back along the road and enjoyed the wintery mix of weather adn the quiet mountainside.
Wendy requested we make a quick stop by Wawona Lodge to inspect the shape of this Historic Lodge, which we had seen with people in it just two summers ago. Now boarded up, several rafter beams on the upper porch supported by new timbers, signs talking about its history and efforts being made to save the lodge. It looks like this old building that has provided such incredible American history moments is in for the fight of its life.
Back the Cabin before one final adventure for the day
We sat cozy in the kitchen at the Little Creek cabin, working on the puzzle for about an hour. Enjoying a few snacks that we had with us, it is so nice to have a full kitchen on my adventure days. I could see myself living here and being quite happy. I was getting tired, but my FOMO started to engage, and I quickly threw together a light pack and told Wendy I was going to walk the meadow and look for wildlife. This old meadow in Wawona has seen its life cycle change over the years. It once was an airport in the early days. Quickly from the parking area, I start to notice how old some of the fence lines are as I start to ramble rather quickly up the old road/ path along the forested edge of the meadow. Willie Coyote at three o’clock. A rather healthy-looking fellow was hunting mice in the meadow, took a keen interest in my movements, and after I took a couple of photos, quickly trotted deeper into the meadow for some private hunting.
The Wawona Meadow loop trail is a 3.5-mile loop with less than 250 feet of elevation change, this loop is one of the few Pet Friendly trails in Yosemite National Park, I move quickly and apparently not quiet enough, so these are the only wildlife sightings that draw my interest. The sun, now set behind the hillsides, tells me that my adventures today need to be coming to a close. One quick walk across the golf course and over to the Old Wooden Bridge by Wawona Lodge, and I was heading back to the Cabin for a home-cooked meal and night of puzzle building and reading with Wendy.
As we sat at dinner and enjoyed the peaceful evening together, I felt so accomplished in my day of play in the Southern sector of Yosemite. Such a fun place to explore and embrace from a local level. Tomorrow we would check out and travel down to the Valley for a day of traditional Yosemite highlights. Similar to my ventures in the High Sierra out of Tuolumne, I have not thought twice about what I might be missing in the Valley. I am in love with the outer reaches of the park.
One thing is sure: my stay at the Little Creek Cabin was delightful, relaxing and filled with just the right amount of adventure opportunities. Another day or two, and I wonder how I would have chosen to live my life in this historic village area. This year The Redwoods in Yosemite is celebrating 75 years with all kinds of Vacation package specials. We would recommend a visit.
Yosemite Valley Crowd less on a March Tuesday
Well, there is a first for everything, and as I pulled through Tunnel View, I instantly knew something was a miss in Yosemite Valley. It’s 10:30 am, and only four cars are parked at the lookout. I have no complaints about our front-row parking opportunity at one of Yosemite’s iconic locations. But when I got to Bridal Veil Falls and literally had the entire viewing area to myself, I wondered if there had been a national emergency or something I had missed. I have never had the pleasure of seeing Yosemite Valley without the crowds. How incredibly peaceful it is. Bridal Veil Falls never disappoints, and after handing off the uninterrupted platform to a couple, we proceeded over to the other better-known Swinging Bridge location (now a Wooden Bridge) with some iconic shots of Yosemite Falls and the Valley. The day is a bit colder than we hoped, but the light crowds are filling us with all the positive energy of Yosemite National Park. I think A Tuesday in March is going to be my new normal.
I’ll be back this summer in Yosemite for several Backpacking adventures and day trips into the Tuolumne area, but the memories we made together at Little Creek Cabin in Wawona’s Redwoods of Yosemite Cabin will hold a special place in my memory banks. I do hope to visit again for a bit longer.
