By Erika Mailman, May 30, 2025
4. Firefall Ranch, Groveland
Best for: Families
Opened in May 2024, this newer hotel located a half hour from the Big Oak Flat entrance is a goldmine for families. Firefall Ranch’s outdoor heated pool is open 24 hours, a boon for active kids (and sleepless adults). Individual cabins encircle a frog-laden pond, and on-site amenities and activities include a mini golf course, climbing wall, nightly s’mores, and guided art activities to keep kids busy. According to the property’s General Manager Joe Juszkiewicz, the ranch started offering horseback riding on its extensive acreage in April.
Good to know: For a family activity that merges nature and sports, try the ranch’s forest disc golf course. It features 18 holes across 300 acres. As the hotel’s name alludes, a seasonal package in February called the Firefall Express brings guests into Yosemite to see the Firefall phenomenon where a portion of El Capitan appears to be aflame; other excursions can be booked as well.
