A Gold Rush town at the edge of Yosemite.
Groveland was built on Gold Rush money, then served as headquarters for the Hetch Hetchy railroad and dam. It’s still a two-block Main Street with wooden porches and a saloon from 1852.
Eat & drink
Iron Door Saloon
~7 minBuilt in 1852 as a Gold Rush store and claims to be California’s oldest saloon. There’s a burger, a beer, and dollar bills stapled to the ceiling. Go at least once.
Hotel Charlotte & Charlotte’s Tavern
~7 minA historic little hotel on Main Street with a cozy tavern downstairs.
The Grill at PML Golf Course
~7 minInside the gates and open to the public, with a view over the fairways. An easy lunch after the beach.
Around the Horn Brewing
Big Oak FlatA local craft brewery just up the road toward Yosemite.
Two Guys Pizza Pies & Pizza Factory
GrovelandFor the night nobody wants to cook. Take-out goes very well with the movie room.
Cocina Michoacana & Lucky Buck Cafe
GrovelandCasual, local and reliable.
Coffee
Mountain Sage
GrovelandCoffee in a garden setting. In summer it hosts the “Live at the Sage” concert series.
FireFall Coffee Roasting
GrovelandLocally roasted beans. Grab a bag for the house.
Mel’s Mobile Coffee
GrovelandLook for the coffee truck.
Provisions
Mar-Val Food Stores
~8 minThe full grocery store in town, 19000 Main St, open 7am–10pm. Stock up here on the way in.
Miner’s Mart
Big Oak FlatA deli counter for sandwiches to take into the park.
Grove Mercantile
GrovelandIce cream and gifts.
PML Hardware
Big Oak FlatFor anything you forgot.
Worth the drive
Rainbow Pool
Summer~25 min from the house
A waterfall pouring into a deep swimming hole on the South Fork of the Tuolumne. $10 per car, 8am–6pm. The water is snowmelt cold, and cliff-jumping is riskier than it looks.
Tuolumne River rafting
AdventurePut-ins nearby from the house
The “T” is one of the West’s great whitewater runs: Class IV+, 18 miles, including Clavey Falls. Only licensed outfitters run it, such as ARTA, OARS, Sierra Mac and All-Outdoors.
Lake Don Pedro & Moccasin Point
Summer~25 min from the house
160 miles of warm-water shoreline. Rent a ski boat, jet ski or a houseboat for the day at Moccasin Point Marina.
Railtown 1897, Jamestown
Kids~45 min from the house
A historic railway park. Weekend steam and diesel excursion rides from April to October, and roundhouse tours every day. Many famous movies and TV westerns were filmed here.
Columbia State Historic Park
History~1 hr from the house
A preserved Gold Rush town with stagecoach rides, gold panning, candy stores and old saloons.
Jamestown & Groveland wine
Grown-ups~45 min from the house
Tasting rooms in Jamestown (Gianelli, Inner Sanctum, Arthur Michael) and small local vineyards around Groveland.
Dodge Ridge
Winter~1.5 hr from the house
A family ski area off Highway 108, usually open from late November to mid-April.
The Rim Fire scar
HistoryAlong Hwy 120 from the house
In 2013 the Rim Fire burned 257,314 acres, reaching into Yosemite. Watch the forest coming back as you drive toward the park.
Events worth planning around
- Live at the Sage: summer concerts in the Mountain Sage garden.
- 49er Festival: Groveland’s Gold Rush heritage festival.
- PML Kids Fishing Derby: $5 per kid, May–September.
Hours and seasons change. Check before you drive. Last checked September 2026.