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JOURNAL

Yosemite During Government Shutdown

A view of grey mountains amidst green foliage

Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau, along with local businesses and volunteers, have set up at the Yosemite National Park Highway 120 entrance gate to offer information, hand out trash bags, and encourage visitors to “pack it in and pack it out” removing their own trash and picking up extra rubbish.  Locations along  Hwy 120 such as the Groveland Hotel, Rush Creek Lodge, and Miner’s Mart are all also handing out trash bags and acting as collection points for the garbage bags upon visitors’ return.  The County’s catchy phrase “Tuolumne County, Too Cool To Trash!” is a reminder that we, the public, are the real stewards of our public lands.

In 2013, when the government came to a standstill, National Parks were all shut down.  This time some of the National Parks have remained open to visitors – Yosemite included.  However, without government employees staffing the parks, several issues have arisen.

  • There are no park rangers at the gates, therefore no fees are being collected.  This may seem like a good thing, however, guests are also not receiving information on the park, what activities and services are available, and suggestions on how to best navigate the area, as well, all Visitor Centers are closed.  The National Park Service website is also not being updated and maintained with current information.
  • With no staffing, services in the park are very limited, such as trash removal and maintaining restroom facilities. With holiday visitors still heading into the park, trash in some areas is piling up and overflowing, and bathrooms are best avoided.  Unfortunately, there have been reports of trash littering the roadways, and human waste has been found along the corridors leading into and out of the park.  However, reports from recent guests stated that the trash problem appears to be overstated, as they didn’t find any evidence – though they were prepared to do some roadside garbage pick up.
  • Without employee oversite in the park, many rules are being disregarded and broken – rules set up to protect people, wildlife and the park. Campgrounds are being trashed, which is unsightly and attracts wild animals; wilderness areas are seeing more dogs (click here for park rules on pets); and trails are being abused.
  • Not having government workers means that there is no snow removal on Highway 120, the north-western gateway into Yosemite National Park, sporadically closing this entrance into the park and impacting travelers and businesses along the way.
  • To protect sensitive locations in the park, all the groves of giant sequoia trees (Mariposa Grove, Merced Grove, and Tuolumne Meadows Grove), have been closed to the public, as has the Hetch Hetchy Valley. An alternative destination to see these magnificent trees is a visit to the Calaveras Big Trees State Park off Highway 4.  Open daily from sunrise to sunset, it is well worth the drive.
  • Due to congestion, access through the southern park entrance on Highway 41 has been limited to residents and their guests only. All other visitors are being asked to enter Yosemite using the Highway 140 entrance via El Portal Road.

In spite of the above, Yosemite Valley is open and magnificent!  Responsible visitors will find pristine landscapes if they venture even a short distance beyond the main loop road.  Don’t let the lack of park services disappoint you – Yosemite is all about open spaces and awe-inspiring vistas.  Get outside and let it take your breath away!

The Groveland 18767 Main Street circle logo

Summer Menu

Small Bites & Shares

Southwest Chicken Spring Rolls with Pico de Gallo $12

Vegetable Samosas with cilantro chutney $12

Heirloom Tomato Flatbreads with grape tomato, mozzarella, pecorino, pesto, balsamic reduction $14

Grilled Chicken Wings with teriyaki, pineapple pepper relish, scallions, peanuts $14

Truffle and Parmesan French Fries with garlic aioli $11

Charcuterie and Cheese Plate with mostarda, crackers, whole grain mustard $16

 

Greens

Fiesta Salad with romaine, Pico de Gallo, black beans, avocado, pepper jack cheese, chipotle ranch $13

House Caesar Salad with parmesan crisps, garlicky croutons, lemon Caesar dressing $12

Artisan Salad with apple, celery, dried apricots, cucumber, pumpkin seed vinaigrette $12

*Add Shrimp +$14, Chicken +$10, Steak +$14, or Salmon +$12

 

Mains

Vegetarian Orecchiette Pasta $24

with Spring vegetables, tomato coulis, pecorino Romano

Fried Chicken Sliders $22

with brioche bun, sweet pickles, coleslaw, chipotle mayo and house fries

Wagyu Burger Sliders $24

with aged cheddar, brioche bun, mustard aioli, romaine lettuce and house fries

Blackened Chicken Tacos $24

with flour tortilla, jack cheese, black bean aioli, mango salsa and tortilla chips

Pan Roasted Salmon $32 

with cous-cous tabouleh, seasonal vegetable, citrus vinaigrette

Jumbo Shrimp and Potato Gnocchi $34 

with English peas, mushrooms, heirloom tomato, lemon butter sauce

Grilled Steak Frittes $42

with Prime NY strip, house fries, chimi churi sauce

 

ADA

Room 110 is situated at the back of the hotel in the Annex building on the lower floor.  This cozy room features a queen bed, with a large private bathroom containing a tub/shower.  This room accommodates two guests. This is a pet-friendly room.

Accessibility Features: Entry door is 32” wide; there is an outlet within 4’ of the telephone jack; the door lock is located 44” from the floor; there is more than 36” of room to the right side of the bed; hangers are located 53” off the ground.  Currently, the door handle is a historic twist knob, but we are working with our locksmith to replace this with a levered handle that can easily be operated with one hand and without tight grasping, pinching or twisting the wrist.

The bathroom has room to do a t-turn; the toilet seat is 18” off the ground and has a grab bar located behind the toilet; the wash basin is 30” off the ground with insulated pipes; the wash basin faucet is easy to operate with one hand without tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist; the towel racks are 46” off the floor; the bathroom floors are slip resistant.  There are no grab bars on an adjacent wall in the bathroom for the toilet as there is not an adjacent wall to place them on. 

The tub has faucet controls positioned at the center of the end wall and open side of the tub; faucet can easily be turned on and off with one hand without tight grasping, pinching or twisting the wrist; there is a grab bar at the foot of the tub and at the head of the tub; and there are two 40” grab bars alongside the tub to serve for low and high needs.  The fixtures in the bathtub are historic and therefore we do not have a 60” hand held shower wand.

Due to the historic nature of our property, our rooms are fairly small, therefore we are unable to provide 36” around both sides and the foot of the bed.  However, we do provide full clearance between the door and the right side of the bed.

You can book this room online or please call us 24 hours/7 days a week at 209-962-4000 or email us at guestservices@groveland.com and we would be happy to find the room that most meets your needs.  

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Pet Friendly

Your search for pet-friendly vacation lodging near Yosemite National Park ends here.  Our four-legged guests love the Groveland Hotel as much as our two-legged ones!  We’re happy to offer select pet-friendly rooms, located on the first floor, for your stay in Groveland, California.  The pet fee is $75 per reservation, with a limit of one pet per guest.  We welcome pets 60 lbs or less.

For dog-friendly activities near the Groveland Hotel, we recommend a walk along the Hetch Hetchy Railroad or going for a refreshing dip in the pet-friendly Rainbow Pools swimming hole.  If you are heading into Yosemite National Park, check their website for pet rules and restrictions.

Looking for a local dog sitter/boarder where you can keep your dogs for the day while exploring Yosemite?  There is a great nearby facility called Big Creek Boarding.
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