Yosemite National Park

It doesn’t get more thrilling then looking through your horse’s ears into the famed granite canyons and cliffs of Yosemite National Park. Just over the border in California, Yosemite became the country’s third national park in 1890. Renowned for its towering waterfalls, deep canyons, lush meadows, and giant sequoias, Yosemite draws millions of visitors each year – including some intrepid equestrians.

Of all the national parks within range of Nevada, Yosemite is one of the more horse friendly. There are three equestrian camp grounds and nearly all trails are open to horses. However, in total there are only nine horse sites. Reservations are required at for all of them and can be tough to get due to demand. Navigating the approx. 760,000 acre park with a truck and trailer can be a little hair raising. Weather can be volatile, especially in the shoulder seasons. But all of that is worth the hassle, for a once in a lifetime riding experience.

Wawona Horse Camp

Wawona Horse Camp is located on the southwestern side of Yosemite, tucked among large trees on the banks of the South Fork of the Merced River. It just down the road from the historic village of Wawona and the Wawona Stables – one of three outfitters in the park. The campground has two large stock sites. Each site can accommodate up to six people and six head of stock. There is a limit of two vehicles and two trailers per site. Each site has highlines for horses, though you can set up your own panels or electric pen as well. Be sure to get approval from a ranger first – they are incredibly strict about where panels and or electric pens can go at this campground.

The campground also features a bathroom (with a real flushing toilet and a sink!), fire rings, picnic tables, potable water, bear bins, trash/recycling collection, and cell service. From Wawona Campground you can do several nice rides into the surrounding area, including Chilnualna Falls, the Mariposa Grove, and the Wawona Meadows. The ranger usually will come by to check you in, go over the rules, and give you maps with the area’s horse friendly trails marked.

It’s a short walk to a well stocked store which is nice for last minute supplies. The campground is well enough away from the non-horse campground that you typically won’t have any strangers wandering through. This campground feels nice and private. It is open mid-April to early or mid-October.

Here are some light criticisms of Wawona:

It is located near one of the park’s utility sites. Trucks are in and out hauling rocks and logs, moving dumpsters, and other behind the scenes operations – but they start work very early in the morning and they are very loud. You are also required to clean manure every day, but the manure dumpster is quite far. You’ll want to bring a wheelbarrow or be prepared to drive manure over to dump. Also, as previously mentioned, they are very strict about where pens can go due to some ongoing litigation regarding the river.

However, we are told the park will be closing this campground and building a new one a little further away sometime in the next few years so that will resolve any of these slight issues.

Bridalveil Creek Campground

Bridalveil Creek Campground is open mid-July through early September. It has three stock sites and the horse campsites are set a ways away from the non-horse sites. This campground is located along a creek in a forest of red fir and lodgepole pine. From camp you can easily access a number of trails, including the ones to all those iconic lookouts spots with views to the valley floor.

Tuolumne Meadows Campground

Tuolumne Meadows Campground is open July to September. Tuolumne Meadows is the largest campground in Yosemite. It has four stock sites. This campground is located on the east side of the park, closer to Lee Vining (and Nevada). From camp you can access the famed John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail or ride to several lakes.

Wilderness Stock Camps

If you’re really looking for a backcountry adventure, Yosemite has a ton of wilderness stock camps. These camps are primitive and are meant to be packed into. Click on the map below to access the NPS page with links to each wilderness stock camp for more info.

Riding

Because there are so many diverse horse trails in Yosemite, it’s hard to generalize them. You’ll want to do your research before you come to decide which trails are appropriate for your (and your horse’s) skill level. There are some “easier” trails in the park with mild elevation gain/loss and no obstacles. There are others with serious elevation and technical spots. Though the rangers do a good job maintaining the trails, you can still encounter downed trees, especially in burn areas. There are water crossings, bridges (including covered bridges!), step ups/step downs, stairs, boulder fields, and other obstacles.

The trails range from singletrack to wide old roads. Some are rocky; some are not. You won’t run into bicycles on trails, as they are not allowed except on paved bike paths. But you will probably encounter hikers, some with large backpacks. The park is strict about dogs – they are allowed on very few trails and even then have to be on a leash, so you are unlikely to run into them. But Yosemite is home to wildlife like black bears, bighorn sheep, deer, mountain lions, and fox.

You can haul to most trails, but again, you’ll want to research in advance. Some trailheads have very limited parking. And since the park is notoriously busy, you’ll want to haul early to get a spot.

Other Things to Know

Yosemite has always been popular but visitation really exploded during the pandemic. That’s when the park implemented its reservation system. You cannot enter the park without a reservation on weekends in the shoulder seasons and every day during peak months.

Apparently you can also board horses at Yosemite Valley Stable, another of the park’s outfitters. I don’t know the details of that, other than that you need to have proof of Rabies, West Nile, Influenza, Eastern and Western Encephalomyelitis (Sleeping Sickness), and Tetanus, plus a current Veterinary Health certificate, current Negative Coggins (AGID), and recent worming. Contact Yosemite Valley Stable for more info.

Dogs are extremely restricted in the park. They have to be on a leash in all campgrounds and they are not allowed on most trails. You may not want to bring your trail pup with you!

If you’re coming from Nevada you’ll most likely come in on Tioga Pass. This road is not for the faint of heart, especially hauling a horse trailer. Tioga Pass is the highest mountain pass in California and in the Sierra. From Lee Vining to the top of the pass you’re looking at over 3,000 feet of elevation gain. It’s really steep! My truck struggled hauling up with one horse in a relatively light weight two horse trailer. It doesn’t stop there though. Yosemite’s roads are steep and very windy.

Campground reservations are available in blocks of one month at a time, up to five months in advance, on the 15th of each month at 7am Pacific time. They go fast so set a reminder and be ready on recreation.gov.

Certified weed free hay is required!