About the Wawona Hotel
The Wawona Hotel is the second-oldest national park hotel in the United States, opened in 1879 — predating both the official creation of Yosemite National Park and the construction of any of the Valley's grand hotels. Its character is more "old California stagecoach inn" than "ski lodge," which is exactly the appeal. The main building and its surrounding cottages are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The drive to Badger Pass
From Wawona it's about 17 miles to Badger Pass, with the route turning off the Wawona Road onto Glacier Point Road for the final climb. The drive takes 25-30 minutes in good conditions. Glacier Point Road is plowed daily during ski season.
What's open in winter
The Wawona Hotel is seasonal — typically open from spring through late autumn — but a portion of the property and the surrounding rental cabins may operate during the winter ski season. The dining room and golf shop may have reduced winter hours. Check the official lodging page for current dates.
Important: The historic main hotel rooms are not always available in deep winter. Many winter visitors stay in the privately-owned cabins around Wawona rather than the hotel itself.
What it's like
- The dining room. The Wawona dining room is famously old-fashioned — white tablecloths, traditional menu, the kind of place where you actually look forward to breakfast. A meaningful upgrade over typical park-area food.
- The lobby and porch. Wood floors, leather chairs, a fireplace in the sitting room, a long covered porch with rocking chairs. The kind of common space that's increasingly rare in modern hotels.
- The rooms. Smaller and more historic than modern hotel rooms — some have shared bathrooms. This is part of the character; if it doesn't appeal, the modern hotels at Yosemite Valley Lodge or Tenaya Lodge are better fits.
- Limited services. No room service. Some rooms don't have TVs. No fitness center. Spa-style amenities are minimal.
Who Wawona works best for
Travelers who care about staying somewhere historic — who want the lodge experience to be part of the trip, not just a place to sleep. Couples on a weekend getaway. Anyone who values atmosphere over modern convenience.
Not the right fit for: families who need adjoining rooms with bunk beds, large groups, anyone who wants to walk to a ski hill, or anyone who needs strong Wi-Fi.
Booking
The Wawona Hotel is operated by Yosemite Hospitality (the park concessionaire). Book directly through the official Yosemite lodging site. Winter availability is more limited than summer.
Other lodging options
If you'd rather have a shorter drive to the ski hill, see Yosemite West (8 miles, 15 min). If you want the Yosemite Valley experience and don't mind the longer commute, see Yosemite Valley Lodge.