Yosemite’s New Glamping Spot Just Became California’s First DarkSky Approved Lodging

A new glamping retreat near Yosemite just earned a distinction no other lodging in California can claim.

Under Canvas Yosemite, which opened earlier this year on roughly 85 acres near the park’s Big Oak Flat entrance in Groveland, has received official DarkSky Approved lodging status — the first property in the state to earn the designation. The certification is awarded to lodging properties that meet strict lighting standards designed to minimize light pollution and preserve natural darkness for guests and surrounding wildlife.

The property itself offers safari-style canvas tent cabins with king-size beds, ensuite bathrooms, and wood-burning stoves. It’s a step above traditional camping without sacrificing the connection to the outdoors that makes a trip to Yosemite worth taking in the first place. The Big Oak Flat location puts guests within minutes of the park’s western entrance, making it a practical base for day trips into the valley.

The DarkSky distinction adds something meaningful for stargazers. Located away from major urban centers, the property sits in a part of the Sierra Nevada foothills where light pollution is already relatively low. With lighting standards now formally managed under the DarkSky certification, guests can expect genuinely dark skies after sundown — a rarity for a commercial lodging property in California.

Under Canvas operates similar properties at national parks across the country, but the Yosemite location marks the brand’s first California debut. Rates and availability can be found through the Under Canvas website, and given the proximity to one of the country’s most visited national parks, booking ahead is strongly recommended.