Evergreen Lodge

Evergreen Lodge offers cabins and cottages, custom camping, a restaurant and store, recreational activities, guided tours and more, all in a quiet, woodland setting. Compared to other lodging of similar quality outside the Yosemite Valley, it's a great value for money - and it's less expensive (and nicer) than the hotels inside the park.

If you need constant cell phone contact, a television fix or a broadband Internet connection - or if you're traveling with a pet, this place is not for you.

In the Sierras, you'll find lots of lodges and resorts that have been around for generations. We've stayed at several of them, and haven't found any as nicely modern as Evergreen Lodge. Started in 1921 as a post office, restaurant and general store to serve workers building the O'Shaughnessy Dam at Hetch Hetchy, it retains some original structures, mixed with newer cabins and cottages. Older "vintage" cottages have been extensively renovated inside to match the look of the newest ones, all of them done in a smart, clean, style.

It all adds up to a relaxing place to stay, in the woods with plenty of modern amenities. In fact, there's some danger that you may like the Evergreen Lodge so much that you won't want to leave it, but if you're mostly looking for a quiet, away-from-it-all experience, that can be a good thing. Add a massage or a yoga class and you'll be rejuvenated in no time.

Take time to walk around the property and you'll find lots of hidden, fun things - a giant spider web made of ropes, a sleepy hammock or a fort made from tree trunks. And make sure you find the sunset deck at the appropriate time - it has a great view.

The best way to be happy at Evergreen Lodge is to know what to expect. Just because Evergreen Lodge has cabins, that doesn't mean that you'll be able to cook in them. Rooms have refrigerators, but no kitchens. It's off the main road, which is one reason it's so quiet, far enough that once you get there, you probably won't want to go somewhere else for a meal, but don't let that be a worry. Their on-site restaurant serves an innovative menu featuring locally-grown produce and including some very interesting-sounding vegetarian dishes.

Because of its remote location, Evergreen Lodge depends on satellite-based Internet access, which is - in a word - slow, and it's only available in public areas. Don't plan to download a movie, watch that streaming video or e-mail a bunch of photos to your friends. Some folks might assign negative points for this, but we find it refreshing to be in a place where all our modern gizmos can't distract us.

Cell phones are unlikely to work at Evergreen Lodge, either. They offer free calls within the United States so you can still phone home, with a few phones available for this in public areas.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review of Evergreen Lodge. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.