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Throughout its history, the Evergreen Lodge has been a well-kept secret among our loyal guests. With the completion of our expansion in 2004, word has begun to get out about the Evergreen. Despite the recent attention, the Lodge remains a quiet, unspoiled hideaway.
Click below to read excerpts from recent articles and reviews on the Evergreen.
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2006 Edition
Evergreen Lodge - Highly Recommended
It feels like summer camp at the Evergreen, where you can ditch the valley’s hordes for a cozy cabin in the woods 8 miles from Hetch Hetchy. The perfect blend of rustic charm and modern comfort, cabins have sumptuous beds, comfy armchairs, candy-cane-striped pull-out sofas, 3-by-4-foot topographic wall maps, and such retro-fun details as tree-stump end tables. The terrific roadhouse-style restaurant serves everything from buffalo burgers and rib eyes to rainbow trout and pastas. After dinner, shoot pool in the old-school rough-hewn-wood bar, melt s’mores, attend a lecture or film, or play Scrabble by the fire in the barnlike recreation center.
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2006 Edition
Evergreen Lodge - A Frommer's Favorite
If you are looking for the classic Yosemite experience at any time of the year, you'll want to book a cabin at the Evergreen Lodge. This idyllic, affordable, and crowd-free hideaway has it all, just 40 minutes east of Groveland right next to Yosemite: cozy cabins in the woods, an historic, well-stocked bar, a great restaurant, a recreation center and library, guided trips, and evening programs including campfires, movies, and music. The 68 cabins are scattered throughout groves of towering pines and come with private bathrooms, decks, sitting areas, and quilted beds. In the evenings, you can enjoy a pitcher of beer and a game of Ping-Pong, pool, or horseshoes, sit around the campfire while roasting marshmellows, or plan your next day's outing in the recreation center. During the day, you'll have proximity to all parts of Yosemite - particularly the beautiful and crowd-free Hetch Hetchy area - and access to numerous hiking and biking trails and swimming holes near the lodge. "Evergreen Dan" Braun, an Evergreen owner and a leading Yosemite expert, runs the outdoor programs - be sure to reserve space on one of Evergreen's guided hiking, biking, fishing, or sightseeing tours before you arrive. All sorts of fun programs for kids are available as well.
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2006 Edition
Nine miles from the Big Oak Flat entrance and about halfway up the road to Hetch Hetchy, Evergreen Lodge is a convenient place to stay for visiting Yosemite's high country or Hetch Hetchy's spectacular water-filled valley. You can spend a comfortable night in your cabin, then get up early and head to the trailhead at Hetch Hetchy's impressive dam, or drive into the main part of the park and cruise over to Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Pass.
If you've stayed at Evergreen Lodge in the past, you'll be surprised at the changes that have taken place here. In 2004, the lodge went through a major expansion. The original 12 one- and two-bedroom cabins, which date back to the 1920s, now sit side-by-side with 52 brand-new cabins. In addition to all the new buildings, there is a first-class restaurant serving three meals a day, and now the lodge offers tons of organized activities: nature hikes, full moon hikes, campfire talks, and the like, many of which are free to guests. With everything going on here, this is an ideal place for families and groups to stay.
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2006 Edition
Click here to view the printed review.
Just one mile from the western border of spectacular Yosemite National Park, Evergreen Lodge is the perfect base for the family vacation you have always talked about. Nestled in the tall pines on the way to Hetch Hetchy Valley, you will be ideally located to explore the wonders of Yosemite Valley, including Half Dome, El Capitan and Yosemite Falls, as well as the splendor of Yosemite's high country and Tuolumne Meadows. Explore on your own, or try one of Evergreen's many guided trips.
The historic main lodge houses their restaurant and tavern, which is the heart and soul of the property. Evergreen's recreation center, complete with indoor/outdoor fireplace, is the perfect place to play games, make s'mores or plan the next day's hike. Nightly complimentary activities include campfires, movies and live music.
The cabins are very comfortable, with spacious bathrooms, private decks and ceiling fans. For serenity's sake, there are no phones or televisions in the cabins.
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May 2005
Excerpt from full article. Click here to view entire story.
JUST OUTSIDE THE YOSEMITE BORDER, SERENITY PREVAILS
Evergreen Lodge near Hetch Hetchy offers quiet beauty and plenty of activities without the valley’s crowds
…Seeking a more serene Yosemite, my partner, Wesla, and I visited the Evergreen Lodge in April. The recently refurbished and expanded lodge…is about a mile from the Hetch Hetchy entrance to the park’s less-visited north-western corner. What we lost in proximity to Yosemite Valley – the hub of park activity – we made up by joining bicycling and fly-fishing excursions led by Evergreen’s guides. In the evenings, we enjoyed family films, slide shows and s’mores. Our simple cabin seemed sublimely remote.
…our cabin was spacious and pristine, half of a newly constructed duplex with a private deck overlooking the forest. It was sparsely but smartly furnished with a queen bed, a sofa bed and a compact cast-iron stove to warm the room. Vintage photos and a topological map of the area adorned the walls.
…[The new owners] bought the property in 2001…and have since lavished more than $7 million on it. They added 50 vaulted roof duplex and free-standing cedar cabins,…a recreation center, an events hall and a general store. The lodge also schedules activities geared to families and outdoor enthusiasts.
…the standing-room-only crowds on the park’s free shuttle buses made us glad to get back to the Evergreen, where we caught up with tourist Harris and her friend. “I like the energy up here,” Harris said as we dug into desserts in the dining room. “The people are lovely. I’d definitely stay here again.” Me too.
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April 2006
Excerpt from full article. Click here to view entire story.
SAVORING YOSEMITE VALLEY’S QUIETER SIBLING
Renovations at nearby lodge add to lure of Hetch Hetchy
Yosemite National Park -- Forgive me, John Muir, for I am about to utter an environmental blasphemy: Hetch Hetchy [even with its dam] is actually a pretty nice place…I drove there last fall to do a little solitary hiking and also to check out Evergreen Lodge, a recently refurbished resort just outside the park boundary.
… My wife, Jeri, and I upgraded to a "new traditional cabin." Built in 2004, it had a queen bed, a small refrigerator, a sitting area with a sofa bed, a gas-operated cast-iron stove and a private deck facing west, toward the sunset. It was unfussy, quiet and comfortable.
…The bar, which has been there since the moonshine days, was friendly and boisterous, filled with both lodge guests and locals. In the adjoining dining room, the menu was rather ambitious considering the location. I had the grilled flat iron steak with bourbon reduction, and Jeri the broiled elk tenderloin with shitake butter. Neither quite reached the level of to-die-for, but both were perfectly enjoyable.
…The lodge offers an array of guided programs, including fly fishing and a bike-hike-and-swim excursion that looked like a lot of fun. But the next morning I opted for a solitary hike at Hetch Hetchy…I had the place practically to myself. As I sauntered along the undulating trail, catching glimpses of Hetch Hetchy Dome and the El Capitan-like Wapama Rock through the pines, I heard nothing but the wind.
…I arrived at the base of thunderous Wapama Falls. Plunging 1300 feet from the valley rim, it is, according to World Waterfall Database, “probably the most powerful waterfall in Yosemite National Park”….There was no one else around. On my way back I encountered three other hikers, which made a total of eight for the day.
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May 2005
Excerpt from full article. Click here to view entire story.
TOP-SECRET ESCAPES: WHERE TO GO NEXT…AND GET THERE SOON, BEFORE THE SECRET’S OUT
The 10 getaways everyone will be talking about – in 5 years
Let’s face it: between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Yosemite Valley is best left to the first timers. Those who’ve braved the valley’s infamous summer gridlock would do well to instead head down the quiet meadow-and forest-lined road toward Hetch Hetchy, where granite walls jut nearly as high as El Capitan and waterfalls pound a dramatic path to the reservoir below…
…As of last summer, the new owners of Evergreen Lodge added 50 cabins and an airy rec hall where you can plan your day – the lodge hooks you up with guided hikes, horseback riding, rock climbing, and fly-fishing. All of the cabins are still basic enough (no TV’s or phones) to make the point that you should be outside, but the new ones have a bright, folksy charm. The best part of any day could be settling your hiked-out muscles into an Adirondack chair on your private deck to watch the sunset and, later, the sky teeming with stars…After a hearty dinner, lodgers and staff shoot pool and drink cocktails in the bar or circle the fireplace outside to share tales of the day’s backwoods adventures.
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December 2007
Excerpt from full article. Click here to view entire story.
Prototype: Capital Ideas and Social Goals
SINCE 2001, Lee Zimmerman’s Evergreen Lodge has helped almost 60 low-income young adults get their lives on track, while consistently paying 9 percent back to investors backing his business.
…The company deserves praise for its good deeds. But what might be more remarkable about the founders of Evergreen Lodge is the way they raised capital to build a business that has two bottom lines: one financial and one social.
…Such business models are becoming increasingly popular among philanthropists and foundations, which like the idea of self-sustaining charities. They also want their investments to have the same kind of social impact as their donations, an idea called mission-related, or program-related, investing.
…Evergreen Lodge, just outside of Yosemite National Park, hires promising young people from low-income areas. The three co-founders believed that they could give these people a foundation for more stable lives by putting them in a rural environment with a full-time “counselor” who paid close attention to their needs.
…Mr. Zimmerman and his partners and their investors are still refining the model. But he’s excited that the basic model has worked, and he says that “what we’re trying to do can be applied to many different kinds of businesses.”
…If he’s right, the timing is excellent. Billions of dollars could soon start flowing to social entrepreneurs, especially from foundations…
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June 2007
Feature story on weekly MSNBC television program "Your Business". Click here to watch the video.
DOING GOOD BUSINESS
Is it really possible for a small business owner to make a profit and give back at the same time? We met three California-based entrepreneurs who are proving that it is.
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June 14, 2007
Weekly email newsletter providing insiders' recommendations on the best outdoor pursuits in Northern California. Click here to visit their web site.
HETCH HETCHY HIGH
If you’re one of those who have a love-hate relationship with Yosemite (it’s gorgeous, but crowded), we have the solution: visit the less-traveled northwest corner around Hetch Hetchy. Back before the valley was dammed to create the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir — SF's controversial water source — John Muir called it “one of nature’s rarest and most precious mountain temples. A second Yosemite.”
For a leisurely exploration of this uncrowded treasure, overnight at the historic Evergreen Lodge, only 6 miles from the reservoir. Built in 1921 to house the men who worked on the O’Shaughnessy Dam, this rustic place combines the quintessential Yosemite experience with a comfortable and friendly atmosphere. Their staff can lead you on one of their excellent outings (bike rides, hikes, fly-fishing trips) or give you enough information to explore on your own.
Be sure to hike the 2.5 miles to impressive Wapama Falls; the trail is open and easy, with wide views of the gorgeous valley and a full 1,000-foot refreshing waterfall at your turnaround point. Also highly recommended: a 1.5-mile hike to your own private swimming hole at Carlon Falls; you’ll have to ask Joe, Evergreen’s benevolent manager, for the directions to this secluded spot. If Yosemite Valley is the heart of this national park, Hetch Hetchy is its soul.
CUSTOM CAMPING: A great budget alternative is Evergreen’s "custom camping"; the tents are already set up for you, with everything from air beds to towels and toiletries. Cost is $50-$80.
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August 2006
Excerpt from full article. Click here to view entire story.
CAMPING FOR THE NON-CAMPER
Enjoying the Great Outdoors in Yosemite National Park
It's OK that I don't like camping [but] this time - in the campground of all campgrounds, Yosemite! - I decided to take a chance. Having heard about the Evergreen Lodge's new cushy "custom camping" program, which is geared towards first-timers or those who may have had one too many negative camping experiences (read: mosquito bites, rain, a bit of a hangover), I felt it was time to be risky. And what a great experience it was.
My husband and I drove three-and-a-half hours from San Francisco to the northwest corner of Yosemite National Park - not far from the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir - where we found the Evergreen Lodge, a spiffy yet rustic 85-year-old resort that recently completed a $10 million renovation that includes new cabins, a new recreation center and general store, completely renovated restaurant and a new meeting center for weekend weddings and nightly movies. Other modernized amenities include a new bathhouse (think health-club standards), Internet and free long-distance (don't even try to get cellular service here).
The lodges's rec center also organizes several programs - from guided hikes to fly-fishing to sunset tours - and is a great resource for maps and directions to the local swimming hole. And lastly, the staff was very professional and helpful...in getting us ready for camping.
Cushy Camping 101
After checking in at 3 p.m., the front desk gave us each a mesh bag that had a fleece sleeping-bag liner, a white, fluffy towel, eco-friendly shampoo and soap and a pillow case. They also gave us a brand-new, battery powered Coleman lantern, as well as a map to find our camp site.
The camp site was about a five-minute walk from the general store and restaurant, and about a one-minute walk from the new bathhouse. Our tent was all set up - a new Wenger two-person tent with a mesh top for sleeping under the stars. Inside the tent was a fully blown up air mattress, two brand-new sleeping bags, two firm pillows and a small dust broom. Outside the tent, there were two foldable chairs for hanging out. Ta-dah, all done.
Oops, I forgot to bring Off! (Well, I live in San Francisco, which is usually too cold for mosquitoes, so I couldn't find any at the local Walgreens). I ran up to the general store and they had it - along with about anything you could have left behind, from bottled water, juice and beer to Pepto, Nyquil and Tums. You could even get a latte at the store's espresso bar.
The tents were roughly 10 to 15 feet apart from each other, and on the two nights we were there - midweek - only about half of the camp sites were full. Normally, there are about 12 tents in the lodge's camping area.
Camp Food? Table for two
Food. On both nights, we had a great, hearty meal at the lodge's restaurant - and not just burgers. The menu changes daily and I had grilled tuna steak on night No. 1 and Tuscan-style lasagna on night No. 2. The tavern also features about a dozen beers on draft and an impressive wine list, with the likes of Selby, J and St. Supery. The restaurant also serves breakfast and lunch, and the general store has coffee and pastries in the morning - if you're in a rush to get to the valley floor before the crowds.
...So despite a few mosquito bites, some blisters and sunburned shoulders, camping for this non-camper was quite a success.
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December 2006
Excerpt from full article. Click here to view entire story.
THE RESORT THAT SERVES ITS STAFF
Three passionate entrepreneurs turn around a rustic lodge - and the lives of the needy youth they employ
Growing up in a struggling family where he was shuttled among relatives for years, Ted Smith, now 24, says he spent much of his teens and early 20s abusing drugs and alcohol. Then, in December 2003, a friend who was driving him home from a party slammed his car into a tree. Smith wound up in a hospital for two weeks with a broken femur - and a determination to make a new start in life.
Six months later the San Francisco resident heard about an internship program for underprivileged youths at Evergreen Lodge in Groveland, Calif., near Yosemite National Park. The resort wanted 18- to 24-year-olds to work at housekeeping, cooking and other jobs. Smith, who had gotten treatment for his drug use, immediately applied for a dishwashing position and in June 2004 was hired at $7.50 an hour. He quickly mastered new responsibilities as a line cook.
In December 2004 he and his girlfriend, a front-desk clerk he had started dating, moved to her family's home in Las Vegas, where he got a full-time job as a fry cook at a hotel-casino. He then married his girlfriend, and they are saving to buy a two-bedroom house, where they hope to start a family. They recently moved to Lincoln City, Ore., where he found work at the Chinook Winds Casino as a sauté cook. "I grew up poor, and no one taught me any other way to live," he says. "At Evergreen Lodge, I learned there's more to life than I'd realized. The lodge helped me turn my life around."
Evergreen Lodge is a rare phenomenon: a business that has achieved its dual mission of giving back to society and earning a profit...
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February 2005
Excerpt from full article. Click here to view entire story.
YOU OUGHT TO SEE YOSEMITE
When the mercury drops and the summer crowds dwindle, Yosemite becomes a cool-weather wonderland. And there’s no better place to experience its pleasures than at the Evergreen Lodge, a newly renovated hideaway at the western edge of the park. Cozy and accommodating, the lodge offers a range of off-season activities, from guided snowshoe hikes to outdoor s’more-making to nighttime storytelling beneath a full moon. Private cabins cost as little as $79, but the experience is rich.
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(television feature) September 2005
The Evergreen Lodge was featured on this award-winning television program, which focuses on the best places to visit in the San Francisco Bay Area and northern California.
Click here to view a transcript of the story.
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April 2006
Excerpt from full article.
EASY CAMPING
Outdoor options for those that would rather not pitch a tent
Another relatively new lodge has added a brand new "custom camping" option. Evergreen Lodge at Yosemite offers furnished and fully set up regular tents. Imagine sleeping under fragrant pines and stargazing through mesh "ceilings." The tents include air beds, sleeping bags and liners, pillows, towels, toiletries and a lantern to get to the newly built bathhouse for custom campers only. Since this is a national park, open fires are a no-no, but there's a restaurant with surprisingly gourmet fare and a great wine list, as well as an outdoor dining area and beer garden. All other amenities at Evergreen Lodge are available to campers. Rates are $45 to 75 a night for one to three people.
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June/July 2005
GREAT ESCAPES: 8 Great Rustic Retreats for Summer 2005
Best Bargain
Evergreen Lodge offers the classic Yosemite experience…For a place that caters to families and young professionals, the accommodations are surprisingly quiet. You’ll likely fall asleep to the sound of rustling leaves and chirping crickets. But Evergreen is as sociable as it is serene, thanks to a comprehensive recreation program designed by co-owner Dan Braun, considered one of the foremost Yosemite and Sierra Nevada experts. We’re talking daily guided tours, swimming-hole hopping, and other “insider” outings…
In the evening, return to enjoy great comfort food (salmon, steak, pasta) at the lodge – then hit the beautiful old tavern or beer garden for a few brews and a lively game of pool or ping pong. Each night there’s also a family-style activity, such as campfire storytelling (with S’mores!), park ranger talks, full-moon hikes, live music and bingo.
For folks seeking their inner Zen, the lodge even hosts Yoga and Pilates Weekends with top instructors from San Francisco. And talk about good karma: Evergreen hires high-potential kids from urban areas to work as summer interns each year.
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January 2005
Excerpt from full article. Click here to view entire story.
EXPERIENCE A COZY MOUNTAIN REFUGE: EVERGREEN LODGE
…Evergreen Lodge is the perfect abode. Comfortable wooden cabins are sheltered among tall trees at the edge of the national forest and curl around the recreation building where guests congregate by the fireplace, play board games, place phone calls free of charge, or check the internet if they can’t bear to be off the grid for a few days.
…The ambiance is…family-oriented, with the relaxed friendliness of mountain folks. Evergreen Lodge added over 40 spacious new cabins this year, and for the first time is open year-round. Professional guides on site will gladly take you to their secret swimming spots during the summer, cross-country skiing in winter, or help facilitate hikes, horseback rides, and other outdoor adventures anytime…
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