National Park Service · California

Wawona Horse Campsites

National Park Service · California, United States · in Yosemite National Park

Open on the map Drive there Reserve Official page Directions
Sites
2
Hookups
2 no hookups
Season
May 1 to October 11
Cost
Wawona Horse Campsites: $50. Wawona Horse Campsite
Max RV length
30 ft
Drinking water
Yes
Restrooms
Yes
Showers
No
Dump station
Yes
Laundry
No
Pets
Yes
Elevation
3,999 ft
Dark sky
Bortle class 1
Cell coverage
Verizon weak · T-Mobile none · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
Lake
Yosemite National Park
Nearest town
Wawona
Phone
209-375-9535
Activities
Hiking, Horse Camping, Picnicking, Scenic Drive, Swimming, Wildlife Viewing

2 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.

About

Overview

Wawona Horse Campsites are closed for the winter.

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.

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.

Facilities

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.

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.

Weather, month by month

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January50°31°20°67°10 of 11
February50°31°13°67°11 of 11
March51°34°14°79°8 of 11
April58°36°12°72°7 of 11
May68°45°29°81°1 of 11
June80°54°38°97°0 of 11
July89°62°50°100°0 of 11
August87°61°55°97°0 of 11
September80°55°44°90°0 of 11
October71°44°29°84°1 of 10
November61°39°18°74°6 of 10
December53°33°15°67°7 of 10

Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.

Nearby campgrounds

All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-07-22. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.