Book your spot exactly five months in advance. That is the rule at Wawona Horse Camp, and if you show up expecting a first-come, first-served site, you will be disappointed. Reservations open on the 15th of each month at 7 AM Pacific time, and the two sites here fill fast every season.
For more, see complete visitor guide, all campgrounds, hiking trails, lodging and accommodations, and Tuolumne Horse Campsites at Tuolumne Horse Campsites Yosemite National Park (2026 Guide).This campground sits in the southern end of Yosemite National Park, 27 miles from Yosemite Valley, at 4,000 feet elevation along the South Fork Merced River. It is one of only two horse camps in the park - the other is up at Tuolumne Meadows - and it serves a very specific purpose: getting you and your stock into the backcountry with minimal hassle. If you are planning a pack trip or just want to keep your horse close overnight, this is your spot.
Location and Setting
Wawona Horse Camp is adjacent to the historic Wawona district, which has one of the longer human histories in the park. You are right next to the Yosemite History Center, a collection of original buildings moved here from around the park - including a covered bridge, a blacksmith shop, and the cabin of George Anderson, the first person to reach the top of Half Dome. The camp sits just off Chilnualna Road, a short turn from the Wawona Road (Highway 41).
The elevation of 4,000 feet means summer nights are cooler than in the valley, and the mosquito pressure drops off noticeably compared to lower-elevation camps. The South Fork Merced River runs right along the campground boundary, which means your stock has easy access to water. Rangers will tell you to keep an eye on your picket lines here - the riverbank soil can be soft in spots, and the last thing you want is a loose horse at midnight.
The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is a short drive south. That matters for riders who want to combine stock camping with day hikes in the grove, though stock are not allowed on the grove trails themselves. The Wawona market and visitor center are close enough to walk to, which is helpful for grabbing supplies you forgot to pack.
Reservation System and Fees
The campground's reservation window runs from early to mid-April through early to mid-October. Outside that window, the camp is closed. This is a seasonal operation tied to snow-free conditions at this elevation.
Here is how the booking works:
- Reservations open in one-month blocks, five months out, on the 15th at 7 AM Pacific
- The fee is $50.00 per night per site
- There are exactly two sites
That last point deserves emphasis. Two sites. For the entire campground. If you hesitate, the sites are gone. Most visitors underestimate how competitive these spots are, especially for July and August dates. Set a calendar reminder. Have your Recreation.gov account set up beforehand. Refresh at 6:59 AM.
The $50.00 per night fee is higher than standard Yosemite drive-up campsites (most of which run $24-$36), but it includes the stock amenities - corrals, hitching posts, and designated grazing areas. Compare that to commercial horse camping outside the park, and it is a reasonable rate for the convenience of being inside park boundaries.
What You Get at the Campground
Wawona Horse Camp is not a full-service campground. There are no hookups, no dump station, no camp store on site. What it has is what horse campers actually need:
- Two sites with space for multiple stock per site
- Corrals or tie-lines for horses
- Access to the South Fork Merced River for watering
- Picnic tables and fire rings
- Vault toilets
The parking situation here is straightforward - each site has space for one vehicle and a horse trailer. If you have a larger rig, check the site dimensions when you book. The access road off Chilnualna is paved, but the campground loop itself is compacted dirt and can get dusty by late summer.
Cell service drops out in parts of Wawona, though you may get a signal near the Wawona Hotel or market. Do not count on having reliable service at the campsite itself. Download your maps and directions before you arrive.
A Complete Guide to Camping with Stock Here
If you are new to horse camping in Yosemite, here is what the park's website does not emphasize enough: the wawona horse camp gives you direct access to the Chihuahua Falls Trail and the Wawona Meadow area for riding. From this camp you can also reach the Yosemite Valley trail system via the Wawona Road, though that involves a road ride or trailering your stock to the valley floor.
The South Fork Merced River runs through the campground area. Early morning is your best bet for watering stock before the day warms up - the bank can get trampled by midday if multiple parties are using the same spot. Rangers recommend bringing a portable water trough if you have one. It cuts down on bank erosion and keeps your horses from standing in mud.
For a beginner planning their first trip to wawona horse camp, pack extra water for this stretch - not for the horses, who have the river, but for yourself. The camp has drinking water available seasonally, but it is from a spigot near the vault toilets, and the flow can be slow. Bring at least one gallon per person per day.
The campground's proximity to the Yosemite History Center is a bonus. You can walk over and see the blacksmith shop, the acting superintendent's office, and the artist cabin of Chris Jorgensen. It gives you something to do while your horses rest after a long day on the trail.
Day Rides and Nearby Trails
The trail options from Wawona Horse Camp are good, not great - this is not Tuolumne Meadows with endless high-country loops, but it has enough for a multi-day stay.
Chihuahua Falls Trail starts nearby and climbs roughly 8.5 miles to the falls. It is a steady uphill with decent views of Wawona Dome. Riders should be comfortable with exposed sections. The trail narrows here in places, especially above the switchbacks. Wawona Meadow Loop is a gentler option, about 3 miles on mostly flat terrain. It works for an evening ride or for conditioning a green horse. The meadow is grassy and open, which means your stock can stretch their legs without dodging trees. Mariposa Grove is a short drive away, but stock are not permitted on the grove trails. You can trailer your horses to a nearby trailhead and ride the perimeter roads, but the grove itself is pedestrian-only. Plan to visit it on foot during a rest day for the horses.For riders who want to explore farther, the Wawona to Yosemite Valley trails exists, but it is a full-day ride with significant elevation changes. Most riders trailer to the valley floor instead. The drive from the wawona horse camp to the valley is about 45 minutes - doable for a day trip.
Practical Takeaways
- Book exactly five months out on the 15th at 7 AM Pacific. Set an alarm. The two sites go within minutes for summer dates.
- Bring your own water. The spigot works but the flow is slow and the taste is mineral-heavy. A 5-gallon collapsible container per site is a good idea.
- Pack for cool nights. 4,000 feet at night in summer can drop into the 40s. Your horse will be fine, but you will want a warm sleeping bag.
- Keep stock pickets away from the riverbank. Soft soil and river currents are a bad combination at night.
- The market in Wawona carries basic supplies but closes early. Do not rely on it for dinner provisions if you arrive after 5 PM.
- Download offline maps. Cell service drops out in the campground and along most of the Wawona Road.
For a more detailed overview of everything this area offers, see the complete visitor guide covering the full Wawona district.
Final Thoughts
Wawona Horse Camp is a specialized campground for a specific kind of visitor: someone traveling with stock who wants a convenient, riverside basecamp in the quieter southern end of Yosemite. It is small - two sites small - and that is its strength. You will not deal with the chaos of a 300-site campground. You will hear the river instead of generators.
The limitations are real. No hookups. No dump station. No easy way to book a last-minute spot. But for riders who plan ahead, this camp offers something rare: a legal, safe, and well-maintained place to keep your horses inside Yosemite National Park overnight. That alone is worth the calendar reminder.
For a full list of camping options in the park, browse the all campgrounds guide to compare sites and amenities.
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For more information, see our complete Yosemite National Park Guide.