Generations of Stories…

Click on the links or scroll below to learn about Wawona’s past and present:

Wawona

Swinging Bridge swimming hole
Swinging Bridge swimming hole
Thomas Hill Studio
Thomas Hill Studio, now a visitor center

Located a mere 4.7 miles from Yosemite’s southern entrance, the story of the village now called Wawona starts over 8,000 years ago when the region was tended to and lived in by several Native American tribes. While little is known about the early centuries of human occupation, the Southern Sierra Miwok people cared for the land by the 1800’s, calling the area Pallachun, translating to “A Good Place to Stop.” The origin of the name Wawona is disputed, with some sources claiming it comes from the word meaning “strangers” in Paiute, “big pine tree” in Paiute, or “great horned owl” in Miwuk. One way or another, the name stuck, becoming permanent by 1884.

A natural gateway to both Yosemite Valley to the North and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias to the South, the region saw an explosion of popularity following the federal protection of both scenic areas by President Lincoln in 1864. As the state of California was initially in charge of overseeing the lands, Galen Clark, a carpenter by trade turned early conservationist, was appointed by California as “Guardian of Yosemite.” He founded a traveler’s stop in present-day Wawona, selling the property to Edward, John, and Henry Washburn, a trio of brothers, in 1874. The entrepreneurial brothers turned this quiet stop into a popular destination, the Wawona Hotel. They rebuilt the property following a fire, and gradually built up the place to include phones, electricity, new buildings, and a stagecoach road with tours into Yosemite Valley. Such tourist activity brought many other enterprising and adventurous souls to the area, including the famed artist Thomas Hill, who became renown in the late 1800’s for his dramatic landscape paintings. The current Wawona visitor center, Hill’s Studio, is named after him.

Congress established Yosemite National Park in 1890, expanding the prior protected areas of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias to include surrounding areas and watersheds. In 1984, Yosemite was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was not until 1932 that Wawona was added to the park’s acreage. Modern-day Wawona continues to operate in the spirit of those that made it such a special place to visit. The Hotel, although temporarily closed for renovations, continues to delight guests with its quaint, Victorian charm and grandeur. Several exhibits and trails have developed to tell the story of all who have called this place home, from a Chinese immigrant-run laundry to one of the Yosemite’s largest meadows largely restored to its original beauty. Whether just passing through, spending a night at the hotel, or taking the family for an extended trip at one of Wawona’s many vacation rentals, the “bright green emerald set between the sparkling diamonds of Yosemite Valley’s waterfalls and the red rubies of the sequoias in the Mariposa Grove” offers one of Yosemite’s enduring and inspirational settings.

For a more in-depth history of this charming and quaint section of Yosemite, stay tuned for a list of published works! Click here for a list of sources used to build this brief history.

Under construction.

The Pine Tree Story

Current Happenings in Wawona

July 2, 2025

Wawona Area Gems

Top of Chilnualna Falls
  • Chilnualna Falls
  • The Chilnualna Falls is a majestic waterfall with a 690 foot of drop. The accompanying trail is a premier hike without premier crowds. The lower falls can be reached in roughly 15 minutes of hiking, but hikers looking for more adventure can climb the full 4.2 miles, with 2,400 foot elevation gain, to the top of the trail. This is also a launch point for many backpacking routes into Southern Yosemite’s wilderness.
  • Wawona Hotel
  • Dating back to 1856 , this stunning Victorian Hotel, with it’s stone fountain, sweeping lawns, and many cottages, is one of the finest places to stay in Yosemite. The hotel is temporarily closed for renovations. When it reopens, we expect them to bring back activities such as: fine Summer BBQ on the lawn, a homestyle meal in the legendary dining room, or sipping on a drink while listening to Tom Bopp play the piano and tell stories of Wawona’s yesteryears.
Wawona Hotel facade
History Center in Winter
  • Yosemite History Center
  • Transport yourself back in time at the Yosemite History Center, at which you can find a living history exhibit including the iron strikes of blacksmith’s at work, the joyous laughter of people square dancing in a barn, and the clip-clop of hooves taking delighted guests around on horseback. Several early Yosemite buildings have been transported here. Also be sure to visit the nearby Chinese laundry exhibit, showcasing the role early immigrants had in the development of Wawona.
  • Wawona Swinging Bridge
  • One of two bridges titled “Swinging Bridge” within Yosemite’s boundary, the Wawona Swinging Bridge is the only one that actually swings! Built in the 19th century, this swaying marvel offers a lovely spot to soak up the grandeur of the South Fork of the Merced River, the surrounding mountains, and forests. If you visit during Summer, bring a picnic, a swimsuit, and a towel!
View of Swinging Bridge from swimming hole
Meadow Loop at full bloom
  • Wawona Meadow Loop
  • Experience the beauty of the famed Wawona meadow! The Wawona Meadow Loop trail is a little-known, pet-friendly, and relatively easy three-mile trail around this beautiful meadow that has been largely restored to its natural condition. The trail starts near the Wawona Hotel.
  • Hill’s Studio/Wawona Visitor Center
  • We get it, a park the size of Rhode Island is a lot to navigate! Have our expert team of rangers help make your Yosemite experience the best possible by stopping into the Wawona Visitor Center, adjacent to the Wawona Hotel. With a fraction of the visitation the main visitor center gets in Yosemite Valley, more one-on-one time with rangers ensures trip planning has never been easier and a smooth experience picking up wilderness permits!
Wawona Interpretation and Visitor Center

For directions, visit the market!