There’s about to be a wonderful new way to visit the giant sequoias, waterfalls, two remaining glaciers, and dizzying granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome at Yosemite National Park. Under Canvas has announced its first-ever camp in California, just outside the park.
A brand known for its safari-style tented camps near national parks, Under Canvas will open its Yosemite glamping outpost on April 16, 2026, which will be set on 80 acres of pine-dotted forest 10 minutes beyond the west entrance of Yosemite National Park.
California is “a destination that we’ve had our sights set on for many years,” Matt Gaghen, chief executive officer of Under Canvas, told Afar. “Each of our properties has something unique to offer, and what we’re really looking forward to with this location is offering our guests unmatched access to Yosemite National Park.” He added that “travelers will have the opportunity to be immersed in nature without sacrificing comfort and style.”
Each tent at the Yosemite property will have a king-sized bed (with a heated mattress pad), bedside lanterns, and USB charging packs, along with an en suite bathroom featuring a sink, a hot shower, and a flushing toilet. They will also all have a private deck, and some will include stargazing windows above the bed (the camp’s sister property, Lake Powell-Grand Staircase, became the first lodging worldwide to earn a DarkSky Lodging certification from DarkSky International in 2023, a designation the Under Canvas camps in Zion, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Moab earned soon thereafter).
Under Canvas will soon bring safari-style glamping to the Yosemite National Park area.
Courtesy of Under Canvas
Like all of the other Under Canvas properties, the 70 guest accommodations will surround a central lobby tent. The Yosemite iteration will feature communal lounge spaces decorated with West Elm furniture, a game area, and an indoor-outdoor café-style dining area serving seasonal dishes and a selection of California wines and craft beers. Because Under Canvas expects that its guests will be in the national park during the day, it will also offer grab-and-go lunches and snacks for purchase and will have an Adventure Concierge on hand to help guests book experiences like rafting, rock climbing, and guided hiking trips in the protected land. At night, there will be complimentary activities, including yoga, live music, and a s’mores bar.
Because the brand’s ethos revolves around minimizing disturbance to the land and maximizing guests’ immersion in nature, the camps do not offer Wi-Fi and reduce water usage with pull-chain showers and low-flow toilets. Notably, the bus stop for the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System sits directly across from the property, making it easy for parkgoers to visit without driving a vehicle of their own.
Under Canvas originally announced the Yosemite property in 2019. It was slated for a 2020 debut, but the opening date has been pushed back several times.
Reservations for Under Canvas Yosemite’s inaugural season, which will run from April 16 to October 26, 2026, are now open. Rates start at $319 per night.
The company also recently announced plans to open a new Under Canvas White Mountains in New Hampshire in June 2026, offering travelers a new basecamp for hiking trails, foliage drives, and classic New England apple country. When the White Mountains location opens, it will be the 14th Under Canvas camp operating in the U.S. The brand also operates Ulum, the more upscale spin-off of Under Canvas (which Afar recognized as one of the best new hotels in 2024), as well as the Fields of Michigan in South Haven, Michigan, and Bar N Ranch, in West Yellowstone, Montana, two nature-based accommodations part of a spin-off brand called the Outdoor Collection. The hospitality company partnered with Hyatt last year, allowing travelers to earn and redeem Hyatt loyalty points on Under Canvas stays.
This story was first published in April 2024 and was updated on October 28, 2025, to include current information.
