The park service is crystal-clear on rules restricting dogs to campgrounds and paved roads or trails (with the exception of the Wawona Meadow Loop). But don’t let those limitations keep you kenneled. If you’re only visiting for a day or two, you and your furry buddy are sure to have a rewarding time.
Paved trails you can walk together include the half-mile, wheelchair-accessible path to Lower Yosemite Falls, part of a 2,425-foot cataract that ranks as the highest measured waterfall in North America. Bridal Veil Falls (620 feet) and Ribbon Falls (1,612 feet) are just two of the other cataracts to be seen within the valley’s 3,000-foot-high granite walls.
Unless you’re camping, you’ll have to keep Daisy outside park boundaries at night. But you won’t have to travel far, as dog-friendly lodging is abundant in gateway communities just a short drive from park boundaries.
One of our favorites is the Redwoods in Yosemite, an enclave of privately owned vacation rentals, many of them pet-friendly, in the park’s Wawona area. Go in the month of February to take advantage of a “sweetheart deal” offering 20 percent off two nights or a third night free—plus a bottle of sparkling wine or cider, two commemorative glasses and a box of chocolates. (Don’t forget to bring some treats for Daisy so she won’t feel left out.)
Other good choices: the Groveland Hotel, offering old-fashioned, dog-friendly hospitality near the Big Oak Flat entrance; and Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, an upscale, resort-style property in Fish Camp near the Wawona gate.
