Entire home

Family Friendly Ridge Top Lodge, Overlooking Yosemite's Mountains And Peaks

Photo gallery for Family Friendly Ridge Top Lodge, Overlooking Yosemite's Mountains And Peaks

Outdoor dining
Front entrance to Lillaskog Lodge
Handicapped carport entry
Dining Room from above
Interior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

6 bedrooms7 bathroomsSleeps 24464.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Pet-friendly
    Pet-friendly
  • Outdoor space
    Outdoor space
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Groveland, CA
  • Rainbow Pool
    4 min drive
  • Yosemite Big Oak Flat Entrance
    18 min drive
  • Pine Mountain Lake
    28 min drive
  • Mariposa, CA (RMY-Mariposa-Yosemite)
    67 min drive

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 24)

Bodie

1 Queen Bed

Bonus Room

+2
6 Single Beds

Bridalveil

1 King Bed

El Capitan

1 Double Futon and 1 King Bed

Half Dome

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

Mono

1 Queen Bed

Tioga

1 King Bed

7 bathrooms

Bodie - Private bath across hallway

Toilet · Shower only

Bridalveil - In room bath

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

El Capitan - In room bath

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Half Dome - Private across hallway

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Mono - In room bath

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Off the Kitchen

Toilet · Shower only

Tioga - In room bath

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Family Friendly Ridge Top Lodge, Overlooking Yosemite's Mountains And Peaks

Located 11 miles from the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park, Lilliskog is nestled on a serene mountain top surrounded by the Stanislaus National Forest, Lillaskog Lodge is perfect for family reunions, larger parties and special events such as retreats, weddings, etc. It is a wonderful place to start new family traditions!

If you are looking to have your wedding here, please reach out to us for more details!

Whether you are exploring Yosemite or Stanislaus National Forest, entertaining family or hosting a large group, Lillaskog has something for everyone.

The 5000 square foot Lodge is styled with a Swedish flair borrowing from the original family's Swedish ancestry. The name Lillaskog (pronounced Lill-a-skoog) is Swedish for “Little Forest”.

After your day exploring Yosemite, BBQ on the patio or cook your family’s favorite dishes in our large, fully equipped kitchen. Relax in the spacious great room, or borrow a book from the loft library and curl up by the stone fireplace.

Lillaskog has free Wi-Fi and flat screen, smart TV’s in the Great Room and all of the bedrooms.

The main floor of the Lodge is totally wheelchair accessible and consists of a large, fully equipped Kitchen and the Great Room with floor to ceiling windows and a stone fireplace. A piano is available in the Dining area adjacent to the Great Room, for those who are musically inclined. This floor has two bedrooms and three bathrooms one of which is fully wheelchair accessible. Surrounding the Lodge’s main level is a wheelchair accessible wraparound balcony so you can enjoy a sunrise over Yosemite and the sunsets over the Stanislaus National forest.

Our laundry facility is also located on the main floor.

The upper loft area features the library and a master bedroom suite with a private balcony and bath.

The lower level includes a bonus room which can be set up with 6 twin beds or as a conference/meeting room. The lower level also has three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

All of our bedrooms are equipped with soft, quality bed linens, irons (in the linen closets) and flat screen TV’s, with Roku’s and some streaming services.

Our bathrooms are stocked with big, soft, fluffy towels, hair dryers and complimentary soap, shampoo and conditioner. The Half Dome bathroom on the main floor is ADA wheelchair accessible with a removable elevated toilet seat and shower chair.

The grounds surrounding the Lodge have two lawn areas. The lower, larger lawn area features the Gazebo with an incredible view as the backdrop. This area is often used for weddings.

The upper lawn area is a favorite for watching the beautiful sunsets. It is also adjacent to our large cobblestone area which can be set up with tables for outdoor dining for our large groups to enjoy. A wonderful spot for wedding receptions with beautiful views!

Swim or fish in the nearby Rainbow Pool, go whitewater rafting down the Tuolumne River. Hike the trails of Yosemite and take your own photographs of the natural treasures that you can only experience in Yosemite. Visit Bodie State Park which is a real old west ghost town or pan for gold in Historic Jamestown.

Property manager

Liza Dadiomov
Premier Host

Languages

English, Russian

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Pack and Play and high chairs available.

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Type & size of gathering must be approved by owner

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 3 total)
Pet addendum policy must be signed. $50 pet fee.

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
In designated smoking area only

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 99
Note from host: Type & size of gathering must be approved by owner
This property uses solar energy
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Groveland

Located in Groveland, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Pine Mountain Lake Golf Course and Pine Mountain Lake Marina are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit El Portal Market and Twain Harte Miniature Golf. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Groveland, CA

What's nearby

  • Rainbow Pool - 4 min drive
  • Yosemite Big Oak Flat Entrance - 18 min drive
  • Pine Mountain Lake - 28 min drive
  • Yosemite Valley - 44 min drive
  • Yosemite Arch Rock Gate Entrance - 57 min drive

Getting around

  • Mariposa, CA (RMY-Mariposa-Yosemite) - 67 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Tangled Hearts Bakery - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Buckmeadows Restaurant - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪La Casa Loma River Store - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪49er Restaurant - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Family Friendly Ridge Top Lodge, Overlooking Yosemite's Mountains And Peaks pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 3 total).

What time is check-in at Family Friendly Ridge Top Lodge, Overlooking Yosemite's Mountains And Peaks?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Family Friendly Ridge Top Lodge, Overlooking Yosemite's Mountains And Peaks?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Family Friendly Ridge Top Lodge, Overlooking Yosemite's Mountains And Peaks located?

This family-friendly Groveland holiday home is located on a river, within 2 mi (3 km) of Stanislaus National Forest and Rainbow Pool. Yosemite National Park and Yosemite Big Oak Flat Entrance are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 111 out of 122 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 122 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 122 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 122 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 122 reviews" "

9.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Views, Sunsets and Star Gazing
I have mixed emotions about this property. It is a nice large house that needs some love. Definitely not a 10 out of 10 that some reviewers gave it. Pros: We had six adults and six children and had plenty of room for everyone. Kitchen is well stocked and easy to cook for a group. The sunsets, sunrises and star gazing were amazing and we loved our evenings outdoors. Cons: Air conditioning is by room air conditioners. None in the basement bedrooms (4). Very warm our first night there. Mice and mice droppings, but we are in the forest so.. Two smoke alarms started beeping in the night two out of four nights staying. I think that could have been prevented by maintenance. Property manager responded quickly and replaced batteries both times. Most of the bedroom furniture drawers don't open. Two of the bathrooms have showers in claw foot tubs that are very treacherous. Low water pressure in upstairs bathroom. High water pressure in basement bathrooms.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Irene R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Irene's 70th BD Celebration
Beautiful place, location, interior decor was perfect. Very appreciative of the extra care taken to provide towels, toiletries, barbecues etc.. Entire family members loved everything about this place. Thank you !
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Nancy B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Beautiful views
The views are beautiful and the proximity to Yosemite is great. VRBO indicates the property has a hot tub but there is no hot tub on the property so that was disappointing. That needs to be removed from the listing. There was a mouse in the house but that is probably to be expected based on the location of the property. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
So beautiful!
The cabin was so gorgeous, as well as the view! My husband and I stayed to host our wedding and everyone kept talking about how incredible the cabin was! Liza, of course, was great as well, she responds to texts and calls super efficiently and made sure the cabin was ready for us!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Saketh P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Gorgeous property
The house and the area surrounding it were incredibly beautiful. Liza was a great host, and made sure that everything was taken care of. Highly recommend staying here!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great time!
A group of friends and I stayed on this property with our kids. It was incredible as the kitchen was well stocked and the view was beautiful! The host was extremely responsive as well.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful property with amazing views
We had a family reunion and there was plenty of room for multiple families to have their own space. I would caution anyone traveling with a small car to be very cautious on the 1/2 mile trek from 120 to the property as it is a pretty washed out dirt road.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

David R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Life-long friends reunion
A group of 12-15 childhood friends get together every few years and this year we chose to be near Yosemite NP. We could not have picked a better location or space for our get together. The accommodations were more than enough to keep us all under one roof. And the views were fantastic too! I highly recommend this VRBO to anyone who asks.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Classmate Reunion
The property was great for our high school classmate reunion: plenty of space to cook, socialize and enjoy the surroundings. The house was well-equipped for gatherings like ours (10 guests). We're already talking about scheduling another trip there next year.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

William W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Incredible Stay
I booked this trip for my family (9 adults and 3 kids) to go see Yosemite. In the run up to our trip, California was hit with record storms and Yosemite was closed and the property was damaged. Liza, the property manager was exceptionally communicative, letting us know well in advance the extent of the damage and how it could effect our trip. Liza and the property caretaker worked hard in the days leading up to our trip to resolve all of the damage issues and gave frequent updates on the progress, including offering to let us reschedule or cancel. Check-in and check-out were extremely easy, the property is immaculate, and the views are astonishing! The house is exceptionally well stocked with amenities from firewood, to puzzles, board games, and books, to the most well outfitted kitchen I have seen in a rental property. The kids brought snow gear and spent every minute they could sledding down the rapidly melting snow and Liza was able to give advice on where they could go to find more snow as well as additional hiking options with Yosemite closed. Liza really did everything she could to make our stay special. My only complaint is that we want to go back and it's hard to find a free weekend given the properties popularity. A huge thank you to the folks that make Liliskag so special!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Suzan B., san francisco

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful place with ambiance and nice view
Magical view, cute indoor and outdoor spaces, very nice ambiance. I will defiantly be back. Communication was smooth, Liza was very responsive. you get full privacy, no other close properties near the lodge, surrounded in beautiful nature.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

David S., Bay Area, California

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Family Gathering
This was the third time we gathered our clan at Lillaskog for a Holiday get together. As usual, all had a great time. I highly recommend this place if you need a large clan to gather and it has a great view. The hosts go out of their way to make you feel welcome. The only very slight negative is we had to wait 10 minutes to get into the house as they were finishing cleaning. On the other hand, it was Christmas Day and we understand that everyone was with their family in the morning. We will be back -- again!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic lodge in a great location, well stocked kitchen
Liza was very communicative and helpful in planning the trip. They clearly put lots of care into the property. The living space is cozy with great views, the aesthetic is pleasant, and there’s ample space for a large group. Definitely recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing holiday weekend
Rental process was perfect from start to finish. The cabin was clean, organized and extremely well stocked to entertain a large group. The location was perfect for enjoying Yosemite and the many other local hikes and swimming holes. The cabin hosts took incredible care of us making sure we had everything we needed. We can’t wait to visit Lilliskog again. Thank you Liza, Tom and Scott!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Judith V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Making Memories
Lillaskog was perfect for our family. Plenty of space for everyone. Liza answered all of our questions as we were preparing for our trip. The kids enjoyed picking grapes and blackberries. Sunsets were beautiful. It was nice to have two sets of washers and dryers for our size of group. The kitchen was big and stocked with many essentials. Overall a great experience. It's all about making memories!
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Max C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Annual family multi generational vacation
2 grand parents, 4 married children, 9 grandchildren. 11 of the group climbed Half Dome. All 19 enjoyed the associated Tuolumne river whole day rafting trip. Yosemite access is close by. Swimming holes nearby. Management removes garbage daily. Beautiful views. Adequate housing for all of us. Kitchen is the best supplied of any VRBO that we have attended. Would definitely return to this property the next time we vacation at Yosemite.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Pushan J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location
Great location, ample bedrooms, photogenic locations
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Paul J., Orland Park

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Janski V (Summer Edition)
The views from the deck were fantastic. The house made our annual family vacation fun and easy. Big spacious kitchen, multiple places to dine, great living room for everyone to visit and everyone had their own bedroom. Only suggestion would be an upgrade on the bathrooms.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

jeffrey g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect stay.
We had a great stay Lillaskog lodge. The place fit our large group perfectly. It had everything we needed and was a short drive to Yosemite. The views are amazing and we spent the evenings watching the sunset over the mountains. The kids loved swimming at Rainbow pool which is only a mile down the road. Liza the owner was really nice and made everything so easy. I would definitely recommend staying here if you're visiting Yosemite or just want a place for some peace and quiet.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jacob A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We will be back!
This place is amazing and we had a really great stay at the lodge. We had 14 people ages from 2 - 70 and everyone stayed comfortable the entire time. Access to the park as well as many other areas for fishing, hiking, etc were all great for our purposes. We plan to make this an annual tradition and hope the lodge will be our go-to spot.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Eric N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Gorgeous property
Large, cozy, and beautiful cabin on a very isolated and very large property with front courtyard area that is located on a hill with virtually no neighbors. Views were outstanding. Owner was very friendly and easy to work with. Hope to come here for many years to come
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Becky T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful
The views were beautiful. Lots of games for our family to play together. Rainbow Pools hike was perfect for our whole family.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mark R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Greatest family Christmas
The property was perfect for our family Christmas get together. It was the ideal size for our large group and Diane could not have been more accommodating for anything we needed. I would recommend this beautiful lodge with amazing views to any large group(or small) that would like to feel like you are in the wilderness with spectacular views, while only being 12 miles from a town where you could find whatever you need.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Theresa T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Thanksgiving 2021
The Lodge checked all the boxes. It comfortably accommodated all of our 20+ family (including handicapped accessibility).
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021

8/10 Good

Deepu S., Fremont, CA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Big house in a beautiful location
We enjoyed the stay and its a big house. Kids has lots of games to play. Be prepared that there is limited or no Mobile network range and Wi-Fi is not reliable because of the location. Diane is very responsive and got all answered on time. We had a broken dish washer when we arrived - even though Diane informed us of this it took some of our time and effort in cleaning.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2021

About the host

Hosted by Liza Dadiomov

Host profile image
Lillaskog is the life dream of Bill Charlson, a retired park ranger and administrator. Borrowing from his family’s Swedish ancestry, the name Lillaskog is Swedish for “Little Forest.

After purchasing the property, and planting over 20,000 trees (!!) Bill also bought a small sawmill and began drawing up plans to build his dream Lodge. Work halted when in 2002, Bill was diagnosed with cancer. After undergoing extensive cancer treatments, Bill made a miraculous recovery. After years of hard work, Bill opened Lillaskog Lodge welcoming guests from all around the world.

The Lillaskog family suffered a tremendous loss when Bill passed away on January 1, 2020. While he is no longer with us, his legacy will live on and it was his dream that others love Lillaskog as much as he did.

Tom McDonnell and Liza (Leeza) Dadiomov became the new Lillaskog Lodge owners in 2022. They had known of Lillaskog for many years, as Tom’s family’s whitewater rafting company (Sierra Mac River Trips) is located just across the road from the lodge. Tom’s dad Marty had been friends with Bill, the original owner of the lodge. Tom and Liza fell in love with the lodge and even planned to have their wedding there. The pandemic shifted their plans, but they still dreamed of spending time at Lillaskog, and are thrilled to be the new stewards of this beautiful and special piece of property.

Tom grew up in Tuolumne County and has lived in Groveland for over a decade. Tom and Liza both have worked in the outdoor education and recreation industry for many years - Tom as a raft guide, and Liza as a backpacking and hiking guide. At the end of 2021, they were offered an opportunity to continue running Lillaskog, with the help of those who inherited it, and it has been a dream come true. They are both passionate about sharing their love of the outdoors with people and are looking forward to meeting future guests of the lodge and bringing their energy and ideas to Lillaskog!

Why they chose this property

With its proximity to Yosemite National Park, private setting with unforgettable views, and comfortable and cozy set-up, Lillaskog is a unique place to celebrate with family and friends, have a retreat, and enjoy some quiet time in the mountains.

What makes this property unique

The main floor of the cabin is wheelchair accessible and consists of a large, fully equipped kitchen and the dining area with beautiful views. The great room features a floor to ceiling stone fireplace, flat screen TV and entertainment center. The great room and dining area have floor to ceiling windows with stunning views!

There are also two bedrooms on this floor, Bridalveil and Half Dome, with three bathrooms (one of which is fully Handicapped accessible). A piano is available for those who are musically inclined.

The upper loft area contains the library and the master bedroom, El Capitan. The bathroom has an antique claw foot tub with a halo shower.

The lower level includes a Bonus Room with 6 twin beds. There are three other bedrooms, Bodie, Tioga, and Mono. There are also three bathrooms.

Surrounding the cabin is a wheelchair accessible veranda so you can enjoy a sunrise over Yosemite and the sunset over the Stanislaus National Forest.

Languages:

English, Russian

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