Wawona Horse Campsites
Wawona Campground standard and Group site reservations are located here: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232446
Wawona Horse Campsites are available to reserve up to five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. PST. For example, on January 15, arrival dates for the period May 15 to June 14 become available to reserve, and therefore, the full arrival date window would be from the campground open date to June 14.
Yosemite National Park Campground Reservation Dates
Reservation Tips! Campsites in Yosemite are extremely popular and typically sell out in minutes. Login to your account or create a new account before the 7:00 a.m. (PST) release time. You may only add reservations to your cart and proceed with your reservation if you are logged into your account. The recreation.gov call center does NOT have access to additional sites or additional information beyond what is published on recreation.gov.
Wawona Horse Campsites are located in breathtaking Yosemite National Park in Central California's rugged Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The site is situated at the southern end of the park, 27 miles and approximately 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley, at an elevation of 4000 feet.
Wawona was home to the park's headquarters in 1904 and historic structures still stand today. The majestic Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is just a short drive away. Within Yosemite, visitors gaze upon waterfalls, sheer granite cliffs, deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area and much more.
Wawona Horse Campsites accommodate only those with horses or other stock animals. Reservations are required.
High lines, flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Each campsite contains a picnic table, fire ring, and food storage locker. A general store and gas station are less than a mile away.
Need to Know
If you arrive without a horse, your reservation will be cancelled and you will be asked to leave.
You are responsible for educating yourself and booking a site that will accommodate your equipment.
If arriving one or more days late, call (209) 375-9535. Your reservation will be cancelled if we do not hear from you within 24 hours of your arrival date.
Bear Habitat! Food and toiletries must be stored 24 hours a day in food lockers provided (45" wide by 33" deep by 18" tall). No food or scented items stored in vehicles. Dispose of garbage immediately in bear-proof dumpsters.
Potable water and a dump station for RV's/Trailers is located behind the Wawona General Store on Forest Drive.
Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
Help Yosemite be a Zero Landfill park! Leave excess packaging at home. Use refillable water bottles, food containers and travel mugs. Place all of your recyclable waste in designated recycling containers. For more information go to: https://www.nps.gov/yose/getinvolved/zlf.htm
For additional park information, call (209) 372-0200 or visit www.nps.gov/yose
Resale or auction of reservations is illegal.
Natural Features
The area is forested with a diverse mix of ponderosa pine, incense-cedar, white fir, and whiteleaf manzanita, which offers a pleasant combination of sun and shade. The gentle South Fork of the Merced River flows alongside the campground.
Nearby Attractions
Just 45 minutes away is Yosemite Valley, an awe-inspiring landscape containing many of the famous features for which Yosemite National Park is known. Hiking trails and bike paths are abundant in the valley. Rafting the Merced River is a fun way to cool down on a summer day when water levels are sufficient. Yosemite Valley also offers numerous guided bus tours, educational programs, museums, ranger-led activities, and an art center with workshops.
Another scenic 45-minute drive leads to Glacier Point, with its sweeping views of Yosemite Valley, Little Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and Clouds Rest, among other notable landmarks.
The Tioga Road, in the central region of the park, offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes, and granite domes. Tuolumne Meadows embodies the high-country of the Sierra Nevada, with its broad sub-alpine meadows and granite domes and peaks. Beautiful Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is home to spectacular scenery and numerous wilderness trailheads.
Recreation
Yosemite's trails, cliffs, roads, and rivers provide endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. Hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, auto touring, and photography are all very popular activities within the park.
The Pioneer Yosemite History Center is like stepping back in time. A visit to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, just four miles away, is a must-do. A network of hiking trails within the grove leads to stately trees with names like Grizzly Giant, Faithful Couple, and California Tunnel Tree.
Wawona offers several additional hiking trails, including the Wawona Meadow Loop, Swinging Bridge Loop, Alder Creek and Chilnualna Falls.
Contact Information
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 209-375-9535
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
Take Highway 41 north from Fresno, Highway 140 east from Merced, or Highway 120 east from Manteca into Yosemite National Park. Follow signs to Wawona. The campground is located 7 miles north of the South Entrance station on Highway 41, and 28 miles south of Yosemite Valley.
Available Campsites
- Site HORSE #1 (HORSES ARE MANDATORY), Loop HORSE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
- Site HORSE #2 (HORSES ARE MANDATORY), Loop HORSE, Type Equestrian Nonelectric
