Kennedy Meadows Resort

I love this place. I haven’t personally rented or stayed at the resort, but I’ve checked out the lodge, made use of the bathrooms, and showers during staying with a friend who was working there.
The area is beautiful and there are many options for different things to do with many trails nearby and that go into the wilderness.

I’ve spent time at Kennedy Meadows before heading out packing on trail, and upon returning. Because of being off the grid, the generator shuts down at 2 am, and plunges you into darkness. The whole experience is of being there 100 years ago. The bar is humming, and full of packers living it up. By four am they will be eating breakfast, or already putting every conceivable thing on horses that people have opted to take into the backcountry. And what a paradise The Immigrant Wilderness is. The big canyon as you leave is lavitic on one side and granitic on the other. It’s harsh country of mainly granite, with little pot hole lakes with meadows. My totally favorite place is Cow Meadow Lake, on the island, watching the moon rise over the water. Rides into the back country aren’t for sissies. I’m 72, and pack myself, but think this year I’ll use their stock. If it says you’re riding 9 miles or 5 hours, plan on being uncomfortable if you aren’t used to riding. You can plan any sort of trip, including hiking and having your stuff transported. I’ve dreams of going from Kennedy Meadows to Tuoloumne Meadows this year on my stock or theirs! It’s not for everyone, but it is a fabulous place.

This review is on the restaurant at Kennedy Meadows Resort. On Oct. 9^th, our Porsche Club stopped at the Kennedy Meadows Resort for lunch at their café. I want to commend the service and the food. We had a party of almost 36 people and we were seated promptly (separate tables) and orders were taken quickly. The two waitresses were friendly, excellent and the food which they served was delicious. Price was fair, and the grounds around the resort are beautiful. Would stop or stay here anytime… except for deep winter… LOL

Slice of heaven on earth! We have been vacationing at Kennedy Meadows since I was a baby and now my kids love it as much as I do. We camp at the nearby campground and visit KM daily while there. We have stayed a few times in the cabins as well. The staff at the store, restaurant and stables are all very nice! Mr Bloom runs Kennedy Meadows like a well oiled machine and your vacation here will be nothing less than amazing. The ½ day trail ride is fun but be prepared for steep portions on the trail. That is what you sign up for when you take the rides. We have NEVER had a disappointing trip to KM. Yep there is no cell coverage but that is the best part… Totally UNPLUGGED while you are enjoying the beautiful surroundings. There is a reason they are booked a year in advance, people come back year after year after year, yes they are that good!

Clearly, Kennedy Meadows must be doing something right. The place is absolutely humming, day and night. It has a small general store, overnight hostel, cabins, restaurant, and bar on the premises as well as campgrounds, a beautiful creek, and access to an extensive trail system.
I booked a 5 day, 6 night horseback ride into the mountains through Active Travel, Inc (ATI). Except for the first and last nights, it seemed that everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. The ATI group consisted of 7 people from 60 — 72 years of age. We got no warning that the trip (to Huckleberry Lake) was an arduous 9+ hour ride, nor that part of the ride consisted of horses jumping down onto multiple hard granite steps on a narrow trail at the very edge of steep canyons. 3 of the group were fearful of heights. Our guides were two14 and 15 year old boys, who made no effort to ascertain each riders skills, training, and equipment suitability. I had been promised an 18 inch saddle; I got a standard saddle. My stirrups had been shortened at my request; no one told any of us what was in store (you do not want shortened stirrups on this trip!). The boys made no attempts to educate any of us on what was coming and how to jump downhill. They did not check with any of us on how we were doing, just did a head count and reported to KM that the riders were «doing fine». I complained to the older boy that «this trip was not what I signed up for» but he did not forward the complaint. At the camp, I immediately told John Roscini, the camp leader, that my health & safety had been endangered on the trip in and that I had no intention of repeating that experience on the ride out. The oldest rider, Jim, stated that he needed to be airlifted out, as he suspected that he might have incurred internal bleeding at the site of operations done for his prostate cancer. John saw to it that Jim was airlifted out, but my often repeated pleas to go with him were rejected because my injuries were not life-​threatening. Jim’s weren’t either, for they waited until the morning of the third day to airlift him by sheriff’s helicopter and he, not surprisingly, checked out fine at the hospital. It was obvious that I was severely limping the first day, and I was spending 22 out of 24 hours/​day on the cot in my tent. The rest of the time I spent mostly swimming which did a lot to relieve my pain. I don’t believe John even notified KM about my situation. Fortunately, the other riders were not similarly affected; although they all complained that had they known what was in store, they would not have come on the trip. On the second to last day, seeing no progress on my complaint, I threatened to hike out on my own. Wish I’d have thought of that earlier. It helped that a couple of rangers came by later that day to see how we were being treated and John saw me giving one of them an extensive report. We took an extremely scenic, easier (still rigorous) route back to Kennedy Meadows. I’ve spent the last two weeks either in bed, at doctors’ offices, or swimming (doctor’s orders) at the gym. I came out of the ride with a compressed back disc that was not there before.

Went for the Special Prime Rib. Very disappointed. Tasted like it was boiled. Server was grumpy and appeared that she would rather be somewhere else. Salad was some lettuce and a slice of beet. Went on 4^th of July so figured they would be busy. Campgrounds were full but the restaurant was not. Drove over an hour to get there and will not go back. SORRY.

We spent a week in cabin 16. It had 3 bedrooms that each had a single and double bed. There were also 2 twin beds in the living room. It was clean but rustic. The floor was uneven and the plumbing did not work well. The kitchen had basic necessities. At 11:00 pm the generator cut off, so you need flashlights.
The resort is very dog-​friendly. The fishing is great. My husband took a horseback ride and the horse stopped in the middle of the trail and rolled over on him. Fortunately he was able to pull his foot out of the stirrup and avoid serious injury other than lots of bruises.
The restaurant has a very limited menu and somewhat pricey.
Warning if you need wifi it is NOT available anymore. There is also no cell phone reception.

We had such a great time escaping the Sonora heat. We took a trail ride. The horses appeared to be well cared for and the staff was courteous and friendly. This is something I will do again.

Incredible vacation value! It’s crazy this place isn’t better known. The cabins are rustic, but if you go you’ll be in some of the best trout fishing areas in CA + the mountains are beautiful. A great jump off point for Emigrant Wilderness backpacking adventures.

Nice area for backpacking, but be prepared for some steep trails! They are very dog friendly here. The restaurant has a good selection. Cabins look quaint, and there are a lot of camp sites with easy access.

Great get-​away nestled between beautiful granite and pine tree mountains. Staff are all friendly, unassuming cowboys and cowgirls. The place is rich with history and a wonderful camping resort. Get off the grid and relax (no cell service and wifi only in the lobby) If you’re not a camper — no problem — the smaller cabins are well appointed and will give you a camping experience without the tents — bunkbeds too! Got a big family, or planning a reunion? Look into their larger cabins that sleep more people and have kitchens. If you’re a hardcore hiker/​backpacker, this is also a great place for you as there are several trails to get away from people and tent camp at higher elevations. Excellent hiking, fishing, horseback riding and easy walking trails. Kick back, have a drink and enjoy the great outdoors with all the conveniences of home, and more, if you want them. Great for all ages. It is closed when the Sonora Pass is closed, therefore, this place is usually only open from April — October.

DOG FRIENDLY :) My family has been going here since 1972 and we LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! Its perfect for families or if ya want to get away with your better half ;) Cabins are great (rustic, but all the essentials you need). LOTS of fishing !!! The restaurant isn’t cheap but its good and super country/​cute. Horseback riding is Awesome/​inexpensive and a wonderful ride. Beautiful scenery! The salon feels like you stepped backed into the early 1900’s. The scenery is stunning in the meadow which is a fairly easy 20 minute walk. Just cant say enough about this place! My husband and I had our engagement
pictures taken here and they were stunning!!!

If you are truly looking to get away from it all, then this is the place for you. Your mobile phone will not have reception and you can’t use your laptop in your room (if you MUST have internet, it’s available in the lodge). You just have to be on «vacation» and learn to enjoy a lack of distractions…
You can decide how to spend your time either horseback riding, hiking, fishing, or just wasting time in a meadow. This is a place where the people are friendly and you can drop the defensiveness that is bred in an urban environment.
The restaurant and bar are both places you’ll want to explore. Of course if you’d rather cook your own food, the cabins and camping areas have fire pits and appliances for such activities.
Kennedy Meadows is a great place to stay or to serve as a mid-​point in your travels further East. Sonora Pass is just over the hill which means that Mono Lake and the other side of the Sierra aren’t too terribly far away. I recommend spending at least a few days there to get to know the countryside and to learn to relax like we used to before technology invaded our down time.

Great place in a fantastic location. Nice horse rides and fishing. Good grub at the café along with a little store and a western bar with nice cold beer. We rented a small cabin. Rustic but comfortable and fitting for the high sierra location.

I have never stayed at the resort, but rather at the Baker campground a mile up the road. I have, however, eaten at the restaurant and drank at the bar and each experience was great. The bar is an old time country music-​playin’ saloon. The bartenders are friendly and the drinks are cheap. I’ve only been here for daytime beers, but I’ve heard the place is super fun at night and I imagine its true.
Unfortunately a fire in 2007 burned down much of the resort. The good news is that the bar survived and that the resort has been rebuilt. I’ve not been to the rebuilt resort, but the restaurant was excellent (it burned down too). It was fun to eat on the outside front porch and look at the mountains. The service was great, coffee good and breakfast fare among the best I’ve had. I hope the new place retains all of the same elements.

I have only eaten at the restaurant at Kennedy Meadows, but what it lacks in gourmet cuisine, and luxury accommodations it makes up for with high country charm and amazing views. This place is first and foremost a Pack Station. They have horses and you may bring your own. They run everything from one hour trail rides, to multiweek pack trips into the high Sierras. You can also sign up for an Angler’s adventure. For those that like four walls and a door, they have some rustic cabins tucked in amongst the trees, some with kitchen, bathroom, etc, some without. They range from $ 80 — $ 150/​night, some with five night minimums. (Don’t quote me on prices, as they do change on occation.) Don’t expect any fine dining or decorated cabins here. The restaurant serves what one might call glorified cafeteria food, if you are used to the Bay area’s nice restaurants. That being said, last night I had trout, french fries, and corn, and ate most of it. And it was only $ 13 I think, including soup, salad, and dessert. There are also two National Forest Service campgrounds at the same turnoff is a cabin isn’t your style or budget.
If you are a hiker or a horse person, Kennedy Meadows is a great place to spend a few days. To be honest, if the food was any better, or the cabins any fancier, it would get WAY to crowded.