Hotel Charlotte
On the way to Yosemite National Park

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Tioga Pass is Closed
YNPark Info: 209.372.0200

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A unique Hammock Garden at
Mountain Sage in Groveland.

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Café Charlotte

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Local Intrigue   Yosemite   Groveland   River Rafting   Tours & Services   Pine Mountain Lake   More about the Area

Regional Itineraries   Within 1.5 hours drive   Eastern Sierras   San Francisco   Lake Tahoe   Las Vegas

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Bears are a common sight
in Yosemite this year

Lake Tahoe to Yosemite is
a popular itinerary route.
This photo is taken from
the Heavenly Valley
gondola.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon
National Parks make a great
stop when heading south
from Yosemite

Las Vegas to/from Yosemite
Groveland is a popular
driving itinerary.

Eastern Sierras are dramatic
with Mono Lake as viewed from
Whoa Nelli Deli

Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys
 displays this 44 pound gold
nugget in a bank vault

An aerial tour of Yosemite
adds a whole new dimension
 to the AWE!

Sonoma Coast to Yosemite:
Bodega Bay, Jenner, Russian
River, Sonoma & Napa Valleys
with a little wine tasting
on the way!

Sierra Foothills wineries stretch
the length of Highway 49

• Groveland Area Activities

• Yosemite (Day Trips)

• Highway 49 Highlights, Gold Country and Winery Stops

• Las Vegas to Yosemite highlights & directions

• Lake Tahoe Itinerary

• San Francisco Itinerary

• Sonoma Coast: Bodega Bay, Jenner, Russian River...

• Murphy's: "the other wine country" Itinerary (Day Trip)

• Ebbetts Pass, Route 4 over the Sierra Nevada

• Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park Itinerary

• Eastern Sierras withTioga Pass, Mono Lake  & Bodie Itinerary

• Itinerary Photo Galleries Enjoy a photo gallery of each of these itineraries.

• Driving distance Chart to popular cities or destinations

• Calendar of Special Events

Local Activities (In and around Groveland)
Who hasn't always wanted to find just the perfect swimming hole? The one all the locals know about but seems to always escape the casual passerby. We have that just up the road a bit. Rainbow Pools are natural swimming holes along the south fork of the Tuolumne river where one can dip their feet, take a plunge or just watch courageous kids jump the rock lined ledges into the largest of the inviting pools. Rainbow pools is located 15 miles East of Groveland, take a right just before the big bridge. If you miss the right, just after the bridge is the turnoff to Cherry Lake, you can turn around there. The Forest Service website provides a great deal of  historic background on the pool and Cliff House Lodge that used stand above the rocks that are now popular with the kids for jumping into the swimming hole. The Forest Service has some really neat old photos of Rainbow Pools. U-Tube has some great footage of folks rock jumping at Rainbow Pools.

Fishing the Tuolumne is an experience in itself as the river is generally sided by steep canyons and difficult to approach. Surrounded by the Stanislaus National Forest take a fishing day or a whole fishing holiday. If fly fishing is a favorite sport of yours, why not look to at one of the guided recreation tours available from Evergreen Lodge Recreation or consider a 2- or 3-day rafting trip that allows for leisure pursuits such as fishing.

Hiking abounds around Groveland, though best done in early morning or spring/fall seasons before the heat of summer sets in. The Groveland Rangers District Office offers an interpretive hike that is both comfortable in distance for families and a learning experience, highlighting changes in the terrain & area from the big forest fire of 1987. Winter hiking can be accomplished with snowshoes, rented locally from Mountain Sage.

Lake Don Pedro has an active marina where visitors can rent boats in season for a day on the water. Use the lake to swim, fish, water ski or just lounge about working on your sun tan! Access from Moccasin Point is about 8 miles west of the hotel. From 120 turn on Jacksonville Road, then an immediate right into the park.

One of our most popular local activities includes white water river rafting on the Tuolumne River. With our location—right between put in and take out—we are perfectly situated for lodging the nights before and after your trip.

Golf lovers will enjoy the beautiful championship 18 hole course at Pine Mountain Lake, just minutes away from the Hotel Charlotte. Finish your game off with lunch and a "cold one" on the deck of the Country Club with snow-capped Yosemite mountain peaks in the distance.

Horseback riding can be arranged through the stables at Pine Mountain Lake,

At just 24 miles away, Yosemite National Park, opens the door to endless activities. Make the Hotel Charlotte your base with breakfast in the morning, a lovely drive to the park, then climb to the top of a waterfall or traipse around a grove of big Redwood trees, return to the Charlotte for relaxation and dinner and repeat with a new park activity the next day! Additional details can be found on our Yosemite pages.

Regional Activities (Within 30-90 minutes drive)
The Black Oak Casino is just 45 minutes away and offers something for everyone, bowling, entertainment, great food and of course, the gaming. Columbia State Park, 40 minutes away, is a charming reminder of days gone by. Any visit to Columbia is marvelous, but stopping in on "Docent Days" when the volunteers are in period dress is exceptional. Sonora, as county seat, is a constant hub of activity and an enjoyable little shopping Mecca for antiques and regional arts & craft goodies. Jamestown has a darling main street, good dining, an old-world ambiance and our friend Stephen Wiley who owns the National Hotel, and a few blocks away from the center of Jamestown is, Railtown 1897 State Park. Traveling in either direction from Groveland are two ski areas: Badger Pass in Yosemite and Dodge Ridge Ski Park on Highway 108. Wine tasting is available in Sonora at Muir Hanna or just outside Jamestown at Mount Brow, both of which can be good stops on your way to Murphys in Calaveras county where dozens of vineyards have tasting rooms. For the spelunker there are several caverns for spending an afternoon of exploring and gold panning is also within a comfortable distance for a day trip.

Many travelers to Groveland are making a popular holiday loop, perhaps flying into LA then heading east to the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite, Tahoe, Wine Country, San Francisco, Hearst Castle and the Central Coast and back to Los Angeles. (in part, whole, reverse or with side trips!) We have done many of these routes and are starting an itinerary library for guests to use as a first hand trip planning tool. With so much information on the internet, it is hard to know who's stuff to trust. We can get you started out with some good ideas and trip tips.

Hotel Charlotte
On the way to Yosemite National Park
Cozy Lodging, Good Food & Spirits 
Serving dinners Thursday-Sunday from 5:30
18736 Main Street (Highway 120) PO Box 787
 Groveland, California  95321
Reservations: (209) 962-6455,  Fax: (209) 962-6254
Email: HotelCharlotte@aol.com

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