Travel with your Dog to Yosemite

Travel with your dog to Yosemite National Park and have adventure as big as the park itself with your four legged friend!

Bailey was so excited to get his first job as a tour guide! This dog absolutely loved Yosemite and the Southgate area and we are sure you and your furry sidekick will too.

In the Park

See Yosemite from a dog’s point of view. Meet Bailey who will show you some of the neat things you can see and do with your dog in Yosemite National Park. This itinerary focuses on the Wawona Gate in the South of Yosemite. It’s a full outdoorsy kind of day for a dog in Yosemite.

Stop One: Yosemite Visitor’s Center, Oakhurst (to get all the up to date information)

Stop Two: Pioneer Village, Yosemite History Center

Stop Three: Meadow Loop Trail (As long or short as you need it to be)

Stop Four: Mariposa Grove (and it’s pretty cool parking area and interpretive station)

Stop Five: Tunnel View (You can’t go to Yosemite without this Piece de Resistance!)

Outside of the Park

There is even more to see and do with your dog in the areas surrounding Yosemite. The Bass Lake Oakhurst area offers many options for you and your doggo to have an amazing adventure. Bailey will take you on a dog friendly itinerary that will have you and your fur baby ready to explore! And yes, there is singing…

Stop One: Bass Lake (There are a number of places you can stop and park and enjoy the lake)

Stop Two: Way of the Mono Trail

Stop Three: Coursegold Historic Village (Be sure to check out the Rock Shop and so many other unique shoppes)

Stop Four: Sugar Pine Express (YES! You can bring your dog on the train!!!)

Stop Five: Nelder Grove (It’s a hike full of history and beauty)

Stop Six: North Fork (The Exact Center of the state of California!)

More Things To Do in Yosemite and Southgate Area

Where to stay with your Dog in Yosemite

There are many dog friendly places to to stay in the Yosemite area. Yosemite is a great place to take your dog on the trails and to near by Bass Lake but how do you choose where to stay?

Well, having traveled with Bailey a great deal, there are certain things we look for…and we found them, at the Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn.

Things we look for: pets OK, soundproof rooms so there is nothing to bark at in the middle of the night, place to potty, place to dispose of doggo’s defecations, place to walk, not a ‘run down pet room’

Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn, Oakhurst

Meet Gilbert and Delores Ghyselink of Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn

Gilbert and Delores began their journey in the hospitality business in 1965. In the 1980’s they were itching for a new project and decided to turn a few hilly acres in Oakhurst into a great place to stay just outside of Yosemite. Delores and Gilbert loved the park setting so took care to oversee the growth of their venture to blend with the landscape. The Best Western is more like a park resort than a stereotypical hotel.

Dogs are welcome at the Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn. There are designated spots for them to play and do their business. There are also pet stations with extra poop bags (always a plus). The result is a beautiful campus that is clean and very friendly. Lots of paths to explore and sights to take in on those walks with fur babies. Honestly, we found the hotel very unique and with amenities like indoor and outdoor pools, BBQ facilities, on site laundry, restaurant, etc, you could take a whole getaway vacation here and never leave the property!

Yosemite Scenery Inside and Out

Delores painted all the murals throughout the complex. Many of the oil paintings are of Yosemite and they just add to the homey ambiance and charm of the place. Everywhere you look, it is so evident this is so much more than a ‘hotel’…it is a labor of love!

Each room has at least one mural hand painted by Delores and the large murals in the pool house (oh yes both indoor AND outdoor pools) and lobby are not to be missed! It’s these personal touches that not only make Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn unique but give you a real Yosemite experience.

Patriotic People

Delores and Gilbert both entered the US through Ellis Island. Gil was born in Belgium, and although Delores was born in the states, she lived in Denmark for a few years and reentered through Ellis. They both had strong feelings of how the Statue of Liberty welcomed them into the states and felt that Yosemite had a similar beckoning of welcome for visitors all over the world. Proud to be living the American dream of owning and operating their own business, it just made sense to them to post a Lady Liberty of their own. She stands tall, welcoming all to the property and to the area. She’s made of one giant local redwood and she’s beautiful.

There is also a dog size version of the Statue of Liberty and Bailey had to pose with this lovely lady as he is also a very patriotic pooch.

American Logging History and Family Travel Adventure

Discover the interesting history of Logging in America

Tradition

Gil is no longer with us but Sandee (their daughter) and the family continue the tradition of hospitality that he and Delores began. The Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn is a perfect place to stay to explore Yosemite and the surrounding area and if we’re being honest, the campus is so unique it could be a vacation getaway all on its own. Doggo approved.

Make a Reservation Now

Pack to Travel to Yosemite with your Dog

When traveling to a National Park, there are some extra considerations you’ll want to pack for your dog, just like for your human companions.

Doggy Bag

Extra water and water bowl, Humans get dehydrated on hikes and with altitude, so do dogs so pack plenty. Food, a bed to lay down in the car, towels, leash, poop bags, crate if he’s used to that (I recommend a collapsable one for easy storage and travel), favorite toy or calming treats if your pup is prone to anxiety, dog first aid kit.

Hey, you are headed to the mountains, so better be safe than sorry, right?

For the first aid kit, you can purchase one pre made or make one yourself.

DIY First Aid Kit for your Dog

In it put some gauze, non stick bandages, wrap tape for dogs, tweezers, scissors to cut mats out of fur, some antibiotic spray ointment, antiseptic wound gel, hydrogen peroxide, milk of magnesia (in case of poison), magnifying glass, syringe, flashlight, soft muzzle (better than a cone).

Put it all in a travel size bag and keep it in the car for all your dog adventures! Pin these or print them to make life easy.

Final Notes

Bailey enjoyed being your tour guide for Yosemite and the surrounding Southgate area. How did he do? Let us know in the comments below or email us directly. If you want to see more of this type of story, he would be more than happy to oblige.

Yosemite is a special place for sure and it’s pretty great that they make it so easy to share the memories with you dog. Dogs are, after all, part of the family so why shouldn’t they come along for the fun?

We were very impressed with pretty much every experience we had in Yosemite and Oakhurst and hope these itineraries help you make the most of your time there too! Stay in touch!!

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