Tenaya Lodge: A Family & Dog Friendly Yosemite Travel Destination

Family hanging out in the Tenaya Lodge grand lobby.

Gennifer hanging in the Tenaya Lodge seating area.

Bringing the whole family to Yosemite National Park is one of those bucket list trips you’ll treasure forever. I remember going when I was a kid with my family, so much fun.

When it comes to selecting your hotel accommodations you have many options, but I have to say that Tenaya Lodge is one of the only resorts in the Yosemite area that is a destination in and of itself. There’s so much to explore at the resort, their list of activities is very impressive.

Tenaya Lodge is very family friendly - and also dog-friendly too. You can literally bring the whole gang! Keep scrolling to see the photo-diary from our stay and read about all the amenities and activities available at Tenaya.

Modern design hallway inside the contemporary suite.

Gifted Martinelli's Apple Cider from Tenaya Hotel.

Things to do with Kids at Tenaya

I’ve broken up this section by seasons because the available activities vary by the time of year. The Tenaya Resort is a great place to really experience the joys of each season - from snow to summer sunshine, it has it all. There’s also a list of on-site activities that can be enjoyed all year round!

Year-Round Tenaya Recreational Things to Do

Hiking - The Tenaya Lodge Resort boasts 75 acres of Sierra Mountain property and you can take guided family hikes with varying skill levels.

During our stay we did the Nature Hike which is great for families with small children. The short trail is 1.5 miles long and the terrain is easy for beginners. Our very friendly guide told us all about the local plants, wildlife and native tribes. My favorite part was we actually got to eat some edible plants - the White Fir tree tasted like citrus!

If you are traveling to Tenaya in the winter, I recommend brining a hiking carrier for babies and toddlers because the trail can get slippery with ice and you’ll need both hands free.

Indoor Swimming Pool - I was really impressed with the size of the indoor swimming pool! Although it was freezing temperatures outside, the indoor atrium with the pool and sauna was very warm and inviting. Tenaya offers complimentary pool toys that your kiddos will love to play with.

Family Game Room - Located right next to the indoor pool is a comfortable lounge filled with games, a big screen for movies, and all sorts of ways to enjoy quality family time.

Ascent Spa & Sauna - This full service spa offers pampering services such as massage, body wraps, facials and nails. After a long day of hiking and adventure, you can come down to Ascent and relax in the sauna and steam room.

Tenaya also offers wellness retreats, yoga and meditation packages.

Adventure Course - For families with children 4 years old and over, the Adventure Course is a great way for kids to get some exercise and excitement. This outdoor challenge course accommodates multiple skill levels.

Mountain Biking & Fat Tire Bikes - Get some exercise and enjoy the great outdoors on bikes. Fat tire bikes are especially awesome because they are made to ride on all kinds of terrain. So you can literally ride them in the snow! Stop by the concierge to get information on biking trails.

Archery Lessons - Learn a new skill and spend an afternoon shooting bows and arrows. Tenaya offers lessons to guests 5 years old and older.

Yosemite Park Tour - Tenaya Lodge offers an all-day tour of Yosemite Park inside a luxury Mercedes-Benz bus which has a roof that opens up for panoramic views. On the tour you’ll have an expert guide show you key locations including Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, El Capitan and Glacier Point.

Winter ice skating rink at Tenaya Lodge.

Winter & Holiday Activities at Tenaya Resort

Ice Skating - Guests of all ages can glide on the ice under colorful twinkle lights. During our stay we spent a fun family evening ice skating around the rink, it turns out that Scout was a natural her first time!

Campfire S’mores - Adjacent to the ice skating rink is the fire pit where you can get cozy and warm up. Inside the lodge gift shop you can purchase pre-made kits to roast marshmallows and build your own s’more.

Sledding - After a heavy snowfall in the Sierras, you can rent a sledding disc from the Tenaya concierge and hit the mini slopes for some snowy fun. There’s a few places on the Tenaya property to sled so you don’t have to go far.

Snowshoe Hikes - These guided hikes follow a 1.5 mile trail through the snowy Sierra landscape. You can opt for the traditional day hike or try a nighttime flashlight hike. Out in the wilderness you can truly experience a night sky full of stars.

Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides - There’s few things that are as magical as a real-life horse drawn sleigh rides through a forest of snow. When the weather conditions are just perfect, Tenaya Lodge offers the opportunity to take a ride on a horse drawn sleigh.

Decorated Christmas Tree - It doesn’t feel like the holiday season without twinkling lights and an adorned Christmas tree. Tenaya celebrates the season with decorations in their grand lobby, the perfect opportunity for family photos.

New Year’s Eve Party - During our stay at Tenaya I heard tales of a super rocking’ NYE party, complete with live music and lively festivities.

Guided Nature Hike on the Tenaya Loop Trail.

Spring & Summer Activities at Tenaya

Water Park & Outdoor Pool - During the warm days of summer there’s plenty of opportunities for splashing fun at Tenaya. On the resort there’s a designated water play area in addition to the large outdoor pool.

Horseback Riding - The Yosemite Trails Pack Station stable is located an hour outside Tenaya and they offer all kinds of horseback riding experiences. Skill levels vary from beginners to more advanced riders, and you can choose from a variety of trails.

Fishing - There are many streams and lakes in the Yosemite area that are filled with trout fish, and some of them run right through the Tenaya property. If you’re new to fishing you can book a guided tour. Fishing pros can actually pull up a chair at creek below the Tenaya cabins and enjoy a relaxing afternoon with their fishing pole.

Autumn Season at Tenaya & Yosemite

Fall Foliage - Right around October you can begin to see many of the trees beginning to change colors. I personally really love the vibrant hues of autumn leaves, and I think it can really enhance your experience to travel to the Sierras in the fall. You’re also avoiding the extreme heat of summer and the cold winter days.

Vanity room inside the Contemporary Suite at Tenaya Lodge.

Minimalist and modern furnishings inside Contemporary Suite at Tenaya Hotel.

Tenaya Lodge Contemporary Suites

Most of the photos in this blog post were taken either inside the Tenaya Contemporary Suites or the Explore Cabins (hover over the image to see the description).

The Contemporary Suites have been recently renovated and lovers of Pinterest-worthy design will rejoice! The inspiration is very rustic-chic meets modern design. You’ll find many photo-worthy corners inside these rooms during your stay. These accommodations are perfect for bridal parties too!

Modern bedroom inside Contemporary Suite at Tenaya Hotel.

Modern design bathroom inside Contemporary Suite at Tenaya Hotel.

Modern freestanding bathtub inside bathroom in the Contemporary Suite at Tenaya Hotel.

Modern kitchen inside Explorer Cabin at Tenaya.

Newly built modern bathroom inside Explorer Cabin at Tenaya.

Tenaya Explorer Cabins

Similar to how you would rent an Airbnb, the Tenaya Explorer Cabins offer two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen for guests. This is ideal for large parties who want to all hangout together in a family unit. There’s also a stylish main lodge that serves continental breakfast.

During our visit we got a tour of these cabins and I really loved the modern decor and aesthetic. Each cabin has an outdoor patio with comfortable lounge chairs and beautiful Sierra views.

Scout having fun inside the living room in the Contemporary Suite at Tenaya.

Scout calling for room service inside the Contemporary Suite at Tenaya.

Brining Your Dog to Yosemite

While we didn’t bring our Labrador Holly on this trip to Yosemite, we did previously bring her on our summer trip a couple years prior. Traveling with a dog is both a rewarding and challenging endeavor, and it really makes me appreciate hotels like Tenaya that roll out the red carpet for our furry friends.

Although we travel often with Holly, we never leave her alone in a hotel room. She gets terrible anxiety being left alone in an unfamiliar environment and she acts out by being destructive. The beauty of Tenaya’s pet-friendly policies is that they will actually provide pet-sitting inside your hotel room! This is the first time I’ve ever seen such great service for traveling with dogs.

Tenaya also offers kenneling, dog beds, gourmet dog biscuits and even dog massages!

If this will be your first time bringing your dog to Yosemite, see my full guide on brining your dog inside Yosemite National Park. I’ve outlined which areas of the park are dog-friendly - including the best trails.

Modern rustic-chic furniture inside the lobby of Tenaya Lodge.

The grand lobby inside Tenaya Lodge Resort.

Tenaya Lodge Restaurants

On the Tenaya Lodge property you’ll find three restaurants, which is super convenient because the dinning options in the town of Fish Camp are very limited. You can pick from the Timberloft Pizzeria or Jackalope’s Bar & Grill.

Every morning we ate at Jackalope’s and my husband is still raving about his pancakes. My favorite was the sourdough french toast - yum! The staff was very friendly and accommodating to our toddler Scout and they made her favorite scrambled eggs each morning.

There’s also an on-site cafe which sells pre-made sandwiches and picnic essentials. Before heading out on our day trip to Yosemite park, we loaded up on turkey wraps, cheese, yogurt and drinks to have a picnic.