Explorers Welcome.

Yosemite National Park is the most sought-after attraction near Groveland, CA. Take advantage of the Yosemite Area Regional Transit System (YARTS) from Groveland to Yosemite and throughout the park.  Yosemite National Park, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area for summer hiking and winter snow-play, and much more.

Another great option for visiting Yosemite is to do so by shuttle tours. These include trips to the Valley Floor, Glacier Pont or Tuolumne Meadows. There are also some unique night tours – the Valley Moonlight Tour or the Glacier Point Stargazing Tour.  Some of these tours can be taken one way, giving you a great opportunity to hike back.

Yosemite is a great destination for children, offering programs like Wee Wild Ones Preschool Program, Junior Ranger Program, Story Time and Children’s Theatre.

See some of the tallest, biggest and oldest living trees in the world.  Nearby there are four options, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Merced Grove, Tuolumne Meadow Grove, or Calaveras Big Trees.

Welcome to the Stanislaus National Forest, where you can fish in over 800 miles of rivers and streams, stay in a campground, or hike into the backcountry seeking pristine solitude. You can swim near a sandy beach or wade into cold clear streams cooling your feet while lost in the beauty of nature, raft the exciting Tuolumne River, or canoe one of the many gorgeous lakes.

Pine Mountain Lake Golf Course, designed by William F. Bell, has been rated “4-1/2 stars Best Places to Play” by Golf Digest magazine and is open for play year-round.  The challenging 18-hole championship course is available for public and tournament play and is always in excellent condition.  Their 18-hole, 6,382 yard, par 70 course offers everything a golfer, beginner or expert, could want from a round of golf: a classic park-like setting, a fair but challenging layout.  Golf lessons, clinics, golf carts, pull carts, club rentals, locker storage and club storage available.

Ready to wet a line?  You will find plenty of great fishing locations between Groveland and the Yosemite Park Highway 120 entrance.  Fishing tends to be better in this corridor than in the park itself.  There is no fish planting in Yosemite and with the crowds that Yosemite experiences, decent fishing will usually take a bit of a hike, and the fish are usually small.

Stream fishing is most popular and the main, middle, and south forks of the Tuolumne River all offer great trout fishing.  The South and Middle Forks are planted weekly with rainbow trout, but also host a healthy population of native rainbow and also occasional brown trout.  Headwater stretches of these rivers also have some native brook trout.  The main fork of the Tuolumne is a little more work to access but the reward is larger rainbows and browns!

Visit these unique towns that started in the mid-1800s and still retain their Gold Rush charms today.  Explore shops with authentic Gold Rush architecture, wineries, and restaurants.

Columbia – Historic Gold Rush Town and State Park – Want to step back in time?  Columbia is the perfect place to be enveloped in a quintessential Gold Rush experience.  This town was established in 1850 when gold prospectors set up camp.  It retains much of its Gold Rush charm thanks to shopkeepers in traditional costume, a Main Street lined with authentic storefronts, and pedestrian-only roads.

Murphys – Old West meets Wine Tasting – The Murphys, California of today, known as “Queen of the Sierra,” grew from a single trading post and gold mining operation in 1848.  Murphys combines the old with the new, thanks to its historic buildings which now house updated shops, restaurants, and many entertainment options.  With over 26 wine tasting rooms and an olive oil tasting room, Murphys is the perfect day trip that will tantalize your taste buds and let you explore the up-and-coming world of Calaveras County Wine!

Sonora – Gold Rush Town and County Center – In 1848, Sonora, California was named after Sonora, Mexico, in homage to the hometown of many of the gold miners who helped establish it.  Today Sonora retains much of its Gold Rush architecture and allure but is also known to be a center for modern culture in Tuolumne County.

Shopping – While you’re here, check out the retail shops offering gifts, outdoor gear, and home furnishings reflecting the gold rush era and the area’s long ranching history.

Walking Tour – Walk Main Street to learn more about the historic buildings that house the businesses, or take a guided Groveland Happy Hour Walking Tour to learn even more about the colorful history of the town.

Visit the Library and Museum– Only steps away from the Groveland Hotel, is the Groveland Library. It also shares the building with the Groveland Museum which features a great gift shop with items about the local area as well as Yosemite.