Earlier this year, Under Canvas brought its upscale tent life to California, their first-ever property in the Golden State.
Founded in 2012 amid the initial buzz of the glamping trend, Under Canvas stood out with its unplugged settings, ecological ethos, and strategic locales set just outside of the most spectacular national parks. Now, its stylized tent dwellings are in the majestic Sierra Nevada, just 10 minutes from Yosemite National Park.
The new property is the latest in a string of stays that have recently opened along Highway 120. Yet, as attractive as its neighbors are, none quite nail what Under Canvas does best: giving you a front row seat to the Sierra’s natural grandeur. While the upscale camp eschews traditional resort hallmarks such as a pool or spa, it’ll have you swooning with the fragrance of sun-baked pine needles, the magical glow at golden hour, and thrilling glimpses of the Milky Way—all enjoyed from a beautifully designed canvas abode. It’s our fairy godmother's wish for what Yosemite’s in-park lodging should be.
Under Canvas shutters for the season at the end of October, so time is ticking for that special, nature-filled weekend in the Sierra.
A Suite-style tent at Under Canvas Yosemite(Courtesy of Under Canvas Yosemite)
Why We Love These Tents
Under Canvas Yosemite consists of 71 architecturally striking tents dotting an 85-acre forested hillside of towering Ponderosa pines. Upon arrival at the property, you’ll ditch your car in a remote parking lot, and a staff member will shuttle you and your luggage via golf cart. The safari-style tents sit on elevated posts and come in four configurations. In addition to standard tents, the Suite adds a lounge area; the Stargazer features an overhead windowpane; and the El Capitan is a multi-tent family affair. In each, you’ll find hardwood floors and West Elm furnishings (think leather butterfly chairs, jute poofs, and cowhide rugs).
Among the tent’s features, the private bathroom reigns supreme—a blessedly welcome feature offered by few of Under Canvas’ competitors. Billed an en-suite, the spa-worthy bathroom sits in an attached wood-slat structure accessed via a barn door and features a flushing toilet, hot-water shower, and EO bath products. During the day, forest views from the window and floods of sunlight from translucent corrugated ceiling panels lend it the feel of an outdoor shower.
An en-suite bath for one of Under Canvas' luxe safari tents(Courtesy of Under Canvas Yosemite)
Lest you hope that AC will soon arrive at the new property, know that no Under Canvas locations—not even those in Arizona and Utah—are air conditioned. Tents cool down at night, but during warm days, you’ll need to blast the battery-powered fans and pray for a cross breeze from the tent’s multiple screened window panels. In cooler weather, a heated mattress pad and space heater keep things cozy. Also, despite notices about disconnectivity, you’ll actually discover a wisp of Wi-Fi at your tent. You won’t be able to work remotely—and that’s the point—but there’s just enough internet to text reception with requests such as shuttle service around the property. You’ll also find a few standard electrical outlets to charge your phone cleverly concealed in the floor.
A Magical Nighttime Atmosphere
At the center of the property, a large, multi-room tent structure with the look and feel of a fashionable outpost on Tatooine serves as the camp’s central hub, with a reception desk, a restaurant, and multiple lounge areas. The restaurant is exclusive to guests, with breakfast and dinner served cafe-style (i.e., order at the counter and your food is brought to your table). The restaurant’s tented interiors open onto a large outdoor area ringed by pine trees and set with dining tables, lounge seating, and fire pits.
Reception, lounge areas, and the restaurant are tucked inside this multi-room tent structure at Under Canvas Yosemite.(Courtesy of Under Canvas Yosemite)
The food is fresh and flavorful with standouts being a hefty breakfast burrito with roasted tomatillo salsa and the signature UC Rice Bowl, studded with edamame, pickled veggies, an addictive yuzu kosho dressing, and your choice of protein (go for the salmon). There’s also a good selection of beer and wine. The restaurant doesn’t offer lunch service, as most guests are out exploring midday, but a cold case is stocked with thoughtfully selected grab-and-go snacks, including sandwiches and drinks.
But sundown is when the real show begins at Under Canvas. Golden hour is nothing less than magical, bathing the trees in a warm glow while the lush, rhythmic soundtrack of chirping crickets envelops the grounds. Grab a battery-powered lantern from your tent and head toward the outdoor area near reception, which becomes an evening gathering spot with aprés-hike glasses of wine and a self-serve s’mores station for roasting marshmallows over the fire pits.
Brush up on Neil deGrasse Tyson before visiting the property—California’s first DarkSky-approved resort. Roughly one hour after sunset, the twinkling lights of thousands of stars come into view, transforming the midnight-blue sky into a veritable map of the cosmos. As per DarkSky criteria, there are also vivid views of the Milky Way which you’ll gaze upon in awe of from the front porch of your tent. It’s truly extraordinary stargazing and the place to book for the next meteor shower.
Under Canvas Yosemite is a DarkSky-approved resort.(Courtesy of Under Canvas Yosemite)
Pro-Tips and Packing Essentials for Under Canvas Yosemite
The property sits just seven miles from Yosemite’s Big Oak Flat entrance, and getting to the park couldn’t be easier. Skip the traffic and parking hassle awaiting you in the Valley, and breeze into the park via the modern, air-conditioned coaches of the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS). Under Canvas is a designated YARTS stop, and a staff member can shuttle you directly to the waiting bus.
Better yet, bring a bike—unquestionably the best way to explore the Valley—which you can tuck into the coach’s undercarriage. Within an hour, you’ll be basking in the monumental beauty of Half Dome, El Capitan, and the Merced River. You’ll also find other notable destinations closer to camp including a pair of killer swimming holes: Rainbow Pool and Carlon Falls, the latter of which is reached via a pleasant 1.5-mile hike through a forest of oaks, cedars, and pines.
While the property offers numerous amenities and creature comforts, there are a few notable items that will greatly enhance your experience. First on the packing list: a pair of slippers. The trails that link the camp are dusty, so shoes are best left outside on your tent’s front porch. If you like to sleep in, consider bringing an eye mask, as the tent’s canvas walls let in the morning sun.
Inside an Under Canvas Yosemite tent(Courtesy of Under Canvas Yosemite)
Most importantly, if you’re bringing snacks and beverages, plan on two coolers. This is bear country, and the camp has a strict rule prohibiting food in tents. You have to stash your food cooler in the bearproof storage locker near the parking lot, but can keep your drinks closer at hand. While glassware is not provided in the tents and there is no ice available to guests, you can grab plastic cups from the on-siterestaurant (or pack your own) and buy ice from the nearby market so that your in-tent happy hour can proceed as planned.
// Under Canvas Yosemite is open mid-April through late October (closing October 25th in 2026); 30801 Hardin Flat Rd. (Groveland), undercanvas.com
