Southern Sierras

Wawona and The Lake Country

The southern part of Yosemite National Park, called Wawona, is the place to go in midsummer, when Yosemite Valley is crowded with cars and people. Wilderness trails are silent, except for the crunch of your own footsteps and the prattle of squirrels and Steller's jays.

The historical heart of the park, Wawona is anchored by the gracious old Wawona Hotel, riding the edge of magnificent Wawona Meadow like an aging but still glistening white oceanliner.

Between Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Park, the lake country of the central Sierras remains relatively undiscovered by Californians. Some 700 miles of trout streams and numerous lakes, reservoirs, and campgrounds make this an area you'll want to explore on many weekends. Just off Highway 41, at an elevation of 3,400 feet and situated on the 1,000-acre blue sparkler of Bass Lake, are a luxury resort; cabins, condos, and campgrounds; marinas for sailing, fishing, and waterskiing boats; and endless hiking trails in the surrounding Sierra National Forest.