Groveland
©
Groveland

Groveland

Sierra foothill town on Highway 120, west of Yosemite Valley and rooted in Gold Rush history.

Groveland is a small Gold Rush-era town on Highway 120, the main western approach to Yosemite National Park. Most people blow through it on their way to the park, but it makes a good base — cheaper and less crowded than staying inside the valley, with a handful of restaurants, a historic saloon (the Iron Door, claiming to be California's oldest), and a relaxed Sierra foothill atmosphere.

The town sits at about 850 metres, low enough to stay accessible year-round even when Tioga Pass is closed by snow. From here it is roughly an hour's drive to Yosemite Valley.

Guide

Eating Out

Groveland has a small but decent selection of restaurants along Main Street, serving visitors heading to and from Yosemite.

The Cellar Door — 18767 Main Street. California-fresh cuisine with a focus on seasonal ingredients, steaks, and fresh fish. Good wine list with local and Californian labels.

Guide

Getting There

Groveland sits on Highway 120 between Manteca (in the Central Valley) and the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park, about 45 miles east of Manteca and 26 miles from the park entrance. The drive from the San Francisco Bay Area takes about two and a half hours via I-580 and Highway 120.

There is no public transport to Groveland. YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) runs bus service along Highway 120 between Merced and Yosemite Valley, but it does not stop in Groveland. A car is essential.

Guide

Things to Do

Groveland is a gateway town, not a destination in itself, but it has enough to fill a half-day before or after Yosemite. The main street (Highway 120) has a well-preserved Gold Rush-era character: the Iron Door Saloon occupies an 1850s building with original cast-iron doors; the Hotel Charlotte dates to 1921. Walking the few blocks of Main Street takes 20 minutes.

For those with more time, the ghost town of Second Garrotte is a short drive east and gives a sense of how quickly mining camps rose and fell. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir — the flooded twin of Yosemite Valley — is an hour's drive into the park on Highway 120 and makes an excellent day trip for visitors who want Yosemite's scale without the summer crowds.