Wonderful property with everything we needed for our stay. Plenty of space and the pool was amazing after a long day of hiking.

Everything was perfect from the view to the location. The pool was the icing on the cake. Everything we needed was provided other then the food but they have everything you needed to prepare any meal. The wildlife on the property was awesome a couple of deer came and visited every night that would come up within 5 feet of us. Words can’t explain how amazing this property is. The drive to Yosemite was along the same river the property was on making the short ride to Yosemite very scenic. Our 4 year old said it was the “best place he’s ever been too”.The house could sleep 8 very comfortably and the sound from the river while in bed put us right to sleep.The whole process from booking to entering the home went smooth with no issues and the host was available and explained everything in great detail. This will be our new vacation spot we will be coming back sooner than expected just because how amazing the house was.

Enjoyed our stay and the pool

JoAnn's house is lovely and comfortable with a 10-star location. Some of our favorite features were: -- Quick access to Yosemite Valley by car, close enough to come back for an afternoon rest then head back to the park -- Sleeping to the sound of the Merced River -- Plenty of room for our 18-year-old son and his friend -- Excellent wifi -- Gazing at the river while having coffee on the deck -- Easy safe access to a running route for our athletic young men -- Pool and comfy couches for less-athletic, less-young parents

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in El Portal. Easy drive into Yosemite and beautiful home and surroundings. We would definitely stay here again!

Great property with an incredible location near Yosemite! I highly recommend this property for anybody looking for a home with convenient access to the national park.

We were awe struck when we pulled up to our house. The beauty of the river, trees, deck and pool was so impressive, more than we could have asked for. The house was emaculate. Everything was so nice and clean, including the pool and only 15 minutes from the park gate.

Great location to next to the park. Quiet and next to the river. Would definitely stay again. The house had everything we needed.

Stayed here two nights to visit Yosemite valley. Very close to park gate. Loved the sound of the river as we fell asleep. The stars were exceptional due to almost no lights around from neighbors. Kitchen was very well supplied with good cookware. Really enjoyed our brief visit.

Beautiful setting on the Merced River. Very peaceful. Close to Arch Rock Yosemite entrance. Weather was perfect for hiking, but too cool to use the pool! No real grocery stores nearby so come prepared. We had good communication with hosts. Directions to home were spot on. We had a wonderful time.

Fantastic place to stay!

Accommodations were quite pleasant and very clean. Kitchen was generously stocked, which was well appreciated so that we did not have to drive out to get things we may have not thought of. Wish info was in the guest information booklet on the whereabouts of the washer and dryer, as we did not know it was in the garage building. I guess we should have contacted the owner to ask. But otherwise, everything was well-organized, with labels on cabinets and drawers and details in the guest information booklet.

It is really nice place on Merced River and Jo Ann is wonderful host!

We celebrated my baby girls 2nd birthday in Yosemite and loved our stay

We were very comfortable in this nice house with wonderful views of the river and the nearby mountains. Our favorite things about this house were the warm gas fireplace in the livingroom and complete kitchen. The property is only minutes from a Park entrance.

Visited with 2 adults and two small children. A lot of nice things to note about the property. Close to Yosemite entrance so daily in and out of the park with kids was great. Kitchen had nice new pots and stocked with lots of cooking spices, coffee, utensils, etc. A clean, quiet, secluded spot along the river, which can be heard at night; with no problem for sleep time. Deer greeted us in the morning in the backyard. A few things could be upgraded as it appears to be an older house. Beds were not particularly comfortable, a bit too wobbly and squeaky. Filtered water faucet was a trickle when we used it so it was hard to even fill up one cup, definitely not our canteens for day trips. Tap was supposedly potable so we didn’t bother boiling and didn’t have any issues. Definitely zero phone reception when not on wifi, but we read about that in advance so no surprises there. We were in the park most of the day so only came back for dinner and sleep. Overall, a very decent option for Yosemite visits.

The location of the property is very private and serene tucked back on the hillside above the river with cozy landscaping. It was too cold to use the pool when I was there but it was well maintained and large enough to easily accommodate several adults and kids. The interior has plenty of room to spread out and the beds were very comfortable (we didn't use the couch bed - so I can't speak to it). The kitchen was spacious and easily accommodates 2-3 adults working in it at a time. Also, the kitchen was very well stocked with high quality pans and appliances. The fireplaces produce a lot of heat and were very welcome with night-time temperatures dropping into the thirties in mid November. The central air was a little difficult to figure out how to work - but if you stay in the winter you won't be lacking for heat. The host was very friendly and helpful. We managed to lock ourselves out on the first day and the host responded quickly to get us back in. I would definitely book again - the property was much more affordable than the hotel up the road when compared to booking 2+ rooms.

This home really fit our needs on our visit to Yosemite. We were a bit surprised with the lack of cellular service but the property had a landline and Internet service that were greatly appreciated. Beautiful home overlooking the Merced river where we spent many days listening to the Merced and many nights looking at the stars.

Loved the river view and the pool. Would definitely go back.

Very nice place to stay. My German family that I brought there in order to visit Yosemite thought it was expensive for what it was. It was also a long drive (1hr 40 min) to Tuolumne meadow where we spen 3 of our 4 days.

Good time!

The house was a welcome retreat after spending time in the crowded parks. The pool was a refreshing bonus. Private and peaceful, this home exceeded our expectations!

We had a great holiday in the house! Everything was perfect. We recommend it as it is a clean, well equipped house.

The house was great...clean, comfortable and relaxing. Great location to explore Yosemite and great to be able to cool off in the pool.

My fiancé , my son and a few friends and 2 toddlers stayed on our vacation to Yosemite , PERFECT location 20 minutes to park entrance , the house was great ! The pool is absolutely amazing , what a back yard !! The hosts were also incredible, thank you for everything !!

We loved the property; the location, setting and pool were amazing! What a chance to see Yosemite from a super property!

Private, remote location while so close to the park. The view of the Merced River rushing by and the refreshing afternoon swims were a godsend. My family had a wonderful visit and will never forget our stay at this beautiful place.

I feel like we discovered a hidden gem in the Yosemite valley. I was unbelievably hot while we were visiting so I was incredibly nice to come back after a day of sightseeing to refresh in the lovely pool. We loved sitting on the deck and listening to the river rushing. The nearby market was fantastic We were able to make a nice pasta dinner and burgers on the 4th of July with very high quality ingredients including vegetarian options. JoAnne was very attentive and she made sure that we had everything that we needed. The house cooled off quickly with the air conditioner, the kitchen was well appointed, and we appreciated being able to use the laundry supplies. I will definitely recommend to all of my friends who visit Yosemite.

Very clean. Pool area is nice and our family used the pool each evening. Approximately a 10 minute drive to western enterance of yosemite. This is one of the closest residences to this enterance. The merced river view is stunning. Would definitely stay again in the future.

We came as a family. The only reason for 4 star location rating is that "others" may not prefer the more remote location and limited shopping nearby for groceries to be prepared. It helps to do main grocery in Mariposa. We absolutely loved it! We were able to drive into the park each day and then return in the afternoons to relax and enjoy the river-side home peace and quiet. Thank you Joann for such a wonderful stay!

Nice and quiet vacation house. We enjoyed the beautiful surrounding of the house. It was tranquil and peaceful to sit on the deck in the morning. The house is well stocked with towels. However, it would be nicer if: 1. the kitchen pans and pots can be upgraded as many of them have scratches; 2. soap can be provided

Our seventh year! Especially enjoyed watching the river from the deck this year.