Groveland is a popular stopover for visitors embarking on adventure vacations in Yosemite National Park. It’s a modest community at an elevation of about 3,100 feet (955 meters) in the rugged hills of central California. Make Groveland your base when exploring the granite cliffs, lakes, valleys and waterfalls that spread across the nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Find a host of amenities, including cafés, general stores, hotels and restaurants on Main Street. Many of the buildings have colorfully decorated façades. Experience the welcoming atmosphere of the Iron Door Saloon, established in 1852 and said to be California’s oldest continually running bar. Learn about the region’s gold-mining history, plants and wildlife at the Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum.
About a 5-minute drive east from town is Pine Mountain Lake, a private residential neighborhood with public access areas. Play a round of 18 holes at the William F. Bell-designed championship golf course. Go horseback riding at an equestrian center. Camp in the wooded campgrounds, which has hiking trails, horseshoe pits, picnic sites and volleyball courts.
Start your exploration of Yosemite National Park at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Admire panoramic views of the reservoir from the O’Shaughnessy Dam. Trails skirt the reservoir and lead to some of Yosemite’s more remote areas. Enjoy easy walks to Wapama Falls and Lookout Point, a day hike to Rancheria Falls or strenuous hikes to Smith Peak and Poopenaut Valley.
Continue your outdoor adventures by visiting Yosemite Village in the heart of Yosemite Valley. Discover Yosemite’s ethnological and geological history at the Yosemite Museum and Yosemite Visitor Center. Hike to breathtaking natural landmarks such as Glacier Point, Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. Take postcard-perfect shots at Tunnel View and relax at thin strips of beach along the Merced River.
Groveland is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) from San Francisco. Public buses travel between the town and Yosemite Village. Travel here by rental car to have the freedom to explore the beautiful surroundings.
