Red Tail Ranch
A quiet Groveland base near Yosemite offering RV spots, guest rooms, and hot outdoor showers under starry skies.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
Red Tail Ranch functions as a quiet retreat located roughly 20 minutes from Yosemite's Big Oak Flat Entrance near Groveland. Guests consistently commend the attentive hosts, spotlessly clean facilities, and the unique experience of hot outdoor showers under dark night skies. However, the rural setting means guests must cope with limited cell service and rely on the shared barn area for Wi-Fi and power outlets. 162
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- Guests consistently highlight the clean bathrooms and outdoor showers with warm water as a standout after hiking. 28
- The location along Highway 120 near Groveland gives travelers convenient 20-minute access to Yosemite's Big Oak Flat Entrance. 16
- Reviewers praise the quiet nights with zero light pollution, which offer clear views of the stars. 12
- Bedrooms provide comfortable king beds, soft linens, and welcome air conditioning during the summer heat. 26
The catch
- While some visitors come specifically for the rustic appeal of the RV sites and outdoor showers, others focus on the indoor comfort of the air-conditioned rooms. drawn from the full read
- Some guests rely on hosts and local tips to plan park excursions, whereas independent campers treat the ranch as a quiet, self-contained base. 2
Who it's for
- — Campers and RV road-trippers visiting Yosemite
- — Hikers seeking clean outdoor showers and quiet nights
- — Stargazers looking for zero light pollution
Skip it if
- — Travelers expecting a full-service traditional hotel
- — Guests uncomfortable with outdoor shower setups
- — Anyone needing strong cell reception outside the barn Wi-Fi area
How to book
No loyalty currency of its own — this one is a cash or card-portal booking.
Score breakdown
How the 100/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
100Food
93- “Breakfast was my favorite meal. Don't sleep on the Huevos Rancheros; if you've got a sweet tooth, the dulce de leche French toast delivers a sugar rush, and the decadent combination of roasted bananas, caramel drizzle, toasted pecans, chocolate crumble, and whipped cream makes for a good photo. It's vacation breakfast at its best.” 3
- “Food was another big win. Firefall Ranch has two on-site restaurants-a fine dining option for those nights you want to treat yourself and a casual spot serving hearty mountain meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” 13
Location
97Noise
93- “If RV'ing is your style of camping, there are three things that are almost always guaranteed to be by or within earshot of your site: Trains, Planes, or Automobiles. Red Tail Ranch has none of those! Peace and quiet was on tap during our entire 4 night stay.” 2
- “Loved how quiet it was! Plenty of Privacy for our RV spot. Highly recommend” 2
Room
99Service
99Bed & Sleep
99- “the rest of us loved options such as house-made tomato soup, elk chili, roasted chicken, foraged mushrooms, salmon and a classic burger. Described as "elevated mountain cuisine," these dishes hit the spot after active days on and off the ranch.” 8
Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-09-14
Where it sits
Red Tail Ranch and the 19 other hotels we cover in Yosemite. Hover a marker for the hotel; click to open it.
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Beats what $$ usually buys
Scores 12 points above the mid-range median of 88, across 933 hotels in the same bracket. In Yosemite it sits 19 points above the local median of 81.
- This hotel
- 100
- Bracket median
- 88
- Index median
- 88
Based on 933 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
No reviewer has yet described a room, floor or aspect specifically enough to act on at this property. Room intelligence appears here the moment they do.
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 46 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “Very nice and clean room! Such a rare and good place to stay in the very last minute ordering during the very busy season.” 2
- “The bed was very soft, the air conditioning in the bedroom was welcome, and the hot shower was great, especially after nearly a week of camping. :)” 2
- “Beautiful room with even better views.” 6
- “The room and bathroom/kitchen were clean and comfortable.” 2
- “King bed is comfy and the room has AC for the heat.” 12
- “Clear instructions for entry into our suite.” 6
- “Len provided thoughtful and generous amenities; the yogurt, granola, and drip coffee machine waking up super early to get to Yosemite a breeze.” 6
- “the rest of us loved options such as house-made tomato soup, elk chili, roasted chicken, foraged mushrooms, salmon and a classic burger. Described as "elevated mountain cuisine," these dishes hit the spot after active days on and off the ranch.” 8
- “The camp host, Robb, is also very kind and helpful. His book on Yosemite is excellent.” 2
- “The showers were great especially after a long day in the park and the barn area was nice for winding down. We also enjoyed the WiFi and outlets since we hadn't had service for a couple days.” 2
- “The owner, Robb, is incredibly friendly. He came by to chat with us and make sure everything was to our satisfaction.” 2
- “The Firefall Ranch team is also more than happy to book guided excursions into the park.” 8
- “Len was extremely responsive and helpful.” 6
- “Robb was an attentive and reactive host. We hope to return!” 2
- “A trendy hot spot for East Hampton socialites with excellent food and service that delivers.” 3
- “bb was an excellent and welcoming host.” 2
- “During my recent stay, there were so many staff members who went above and beyond to make my visit special, and I'm confident you'll experience the same high level of customer service on your trip.” 16
- “The showers were great especially after a long day in the park and the barn area was nice for winding down.” 2
- “incredible amenities! wifi, boardgames, community sitting area, darts, hammocks, clean kitchen with outlets, and the cleanest bathroom ever.” 2
- “Walk-in shower is huge with double sinks in the unit.” 12
- “The outdoor showers are a total delight and the plumbed flush toilet units are almost as good as those in a house.” 2
- “Shower and bathroom facilities were clean and stocked.” 2
- “The bathroom situation is also great - including the showers which are lovely and warm!” 2
- “Very convenient, hot shower, and comfortable spot. Quick access to Yosemite. Thanks!” 2
- “The cottages also had fun and thoughtful features like heated bathroom floors (luxury!), a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and a sink.” 13
- “Bathrooms are spacious and broken into two sections. The single sink vanity is in an open common space, while the double shower and toilet are located behind a door to provide much-appreciated privacy. My favorite touch? The heated bathroom floors.” 3
- “Our two-bedroom accommodation was essentially a contemporary cabin, complete with a double-sided indoor/outdoor fireplace, custom-built wood furnishings, park-inspired prints on the walls, a luxurious double shower and heated bathroom floors.” 8
- “Bathroom and shower are great, property is maintained, peaceful and has hiking trails.” 2
- “The showers were the highlight of our trip. Something magical about an outdoors shower with hot water and warm sunlight on your body!” 2
- “The outdoor shower is a fantastic and adventurous addition.” 2
- “I am a big fan of that hot out door shower!” 2
- “The location was also pretty good not too far from Yosemite and super close to Groveland area.” 2
- “Our RV spot at Red Tail was the perfect landing location for our Yosemite adventure. Just a short drive into the park, awesome outdoor showers, well water and nature trails on the land.” 2
- “Perfect location in a beautiful setting just outside of Yosemite.” 2
- “Would definitely stay here again - it's a convenient location for getting into Yosemite and the accommodations are very comfortable :)” 2
- “Located only 20 minutes from the Big Oak Flat Entrance of Yosemite National Park, the property is conveniently located along Highway 120 near the town of Groveland.” 16
- “Breakfast was my favorite meal. Don't sleep on the Huevos Rancheros; if you've got a sweet tooth, the dulce de leche French toast delivers a sugar rush, and the decadent combination of roasted bananas, caramel drizzle, toasted pecans, chocolate crumble, and whipped cream makes for a good photo. It's vacation breakfast at its best.” 3
- “Embrace the blend of privacy and communal spaces, making unforgettable memories at Firefall Ranch's Villas. There are multiple dining options at Firefall Ranch, providing guests a wide range of delicious menu items throughout the day.” 16
- “Food was another big win. Firefall Ranch has two on-site restaurants-a fine dining option for those nights you want to treat yourself and a casual spot serving hearty mountain meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” 13
- “A trendy hot spot for East Hampton socialites with excellent food and service that delivers.” 3
- “Just a few steps away is the comfortable (but more upscale) Yova dining space, which is open only for dinner. It's a popular choice with non-guests, too, so making reservations in advance is wise.” 8
- “Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, The Tavern offers a casual dining experience that feels just right after a busy day in Yosemite National Park.” 3
- “Between the restaurants and the store, we never once had to leave the property to hunt down food, which made the whole trip feel so much easier and more relaxed. We ate most of our meals in the casual dining room and everything was amazing.” 13
- “If RV'ing is your style of camping, there are three things that are almost always guaranteed to be by or within earshot of your site: Trains, Planes, or Automobiles. Red Tail Ranch has none of those! Peace and quiet was on tap during our entire 4 night stay.” 2
- “Loved how quiet it was! Plenty of Privacy for our RV spot. Highly recommend” 2
- “Really good price for such a well equipped site.” 2
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about floor level.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about view.
- Nothing reliable said about position on the floor.
- Noise rests on 1 source — too thin to rely on.
Ask about Red Tail Ranch
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Solid coverage · 50/100We read 16 sources for this property, and pulled 69 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-09-15.
Watch this hotel
We keep reading Red Tail Ranch. Tell us when you're staying and we'll follow it until then — you'll hear from us only when the verdict is rewritten, the score moves, or new reviews land. No daily mail, and the watch closes itself after your stay.
Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
5 of 6 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 16 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 13Family Travel: Firefall Ranch (Yosemite NP)runwildmychild.comReview site2025-04-08Recent5 quotes used
“Plus, being just 20 minutes from the national park entrance meant we could spend more time exploring Yosemite and less time driving back and forth.”
Read originalrunwildmychild.com - 16Firefall Ranch Yosemite - NEW Luxury Hotel (Full Property ...flyingdawnmarie.comReview site2024-08-05Ageing3 quotes used
“Embrace the blend of privacy and communal spaces, making unforgettable memories at Firefall Ranch's Villas. There are multiple dining options at Firefall Ranch, providing guests a wide range of delicious menu items throu…”
Read originalflyingdawnmarie.com - 1Red Tail Ranch Retreat in Groveland, CAvisittuolumne.comReview siteDate not statedRead originalvisittuolumne.com
- 2Red Tail Ranch at Yosemite - Hipcamp in Groveland, ...hipcamp.comReview siteDate not stated38 quotes used
“Very nice and clean room! Such a rare and good place to stay in the very last minute ordering during the very busy season.”
Read originalhipcamp.com - 3Firefall Ranch Yosemite Hotel Reviewcntraveler.comReview siteDate not stated6 quotes used
“Breakfast was my favorite meal. Don't sleep on the Huevos Rancheros; if you've got a sweet tooth, the dulce de leche French toast delivers a sugar rush, and the decadent combination of roasted bananas, caramel drizzle, t…”
Read originalcntraveler.com - 4
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