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Camp with Critters
Hosted by Ruth · Bootjack, California
2 sites · RV, Tent, Lodging · 5 acres
Near Yosemite National Park
Within a 60-minute drive from the Wawona Visitor Center at Hill's Studio.
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
Ruth is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
Select a site
RV/tent sites
1 site
Camp with Critters
100%
(28)Toilet
Potable water
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
Lodging
1 site
Tent camp with the critters
100%
(5)Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
Reviews
100% Recommend35 ratings · 31 reviews
Ruth's farm offers a unique camping experience where animal lovers will feel right at home. Guests consistently praise Ruth's warm hospitality and the chance to interact with a variety of well-cared-for animals, from friendly dogs and curious goats to majestic peacocks. The campground provides a peaceful retreat with stunning views, yet remains conveniently close to Yosemite, making it an ideal base for exploring the park. Visitors appreciate the thoughtful amenities like pre-set tents and fresh eggs, enhancing their stay with comfort and local charm.
Summary AI-generated from real reviews
Ruth was so sweet and allowed for myself to have a safe stay as a female solo camper. The animals are so friendly and will actually come up to say hi, they are very well taken care of! Would definitely stay at Camp with Critters next time I’m in the Yosemite area!
Recommends
· July 2026
19 ft rooftop tent ·
Camp with Critters
We had a great time. Ruth was patient and welcoming to my six year old, who spent the weekend making friends with the feline residents (had to pull her away from taking Saffron and/or Monkey) and learning how to feed and take care of animals in a compassionate way.
Couldn’t recommend more and we can’t wait to come back!
As animal lovers my girlfriend and I loved our stay at critter camp! Ruth was a wonderful and accommodating host, and especially after our previous night camping in our own tent, having a great tent already beautifully set up was a load off our shoulders (not to mention having an actual showerhead to rinse off under, it made me seriously consider setting up my own outdoor shower at home).
As animal and especially dog lovers we both got a kick out of Ruth’s friendly canines stopping by for pets as we started settling in, and we also enjoyed seeing the cats on patrol and strolling around the pig, chicken/duck/turkey, and goat enclosures in the morning before we left. If we didn’t have to leave so soon it would have been great to have the full tour experience.
There’s a great view of the stars from Ruth’s hill, and although there were other guests there at the same time, the sites are much further apart than at your standard campsite. And the animals are far enough from the animal enclosures that there’s no “farm smell” at camp, but close enough to stroll over when you want to.
I will say the the roosters did as expected in the morning, but if your objective is beating the crowds at Yosemite, you really don’t even need to bother with setting an artificial alarm when you’ve got a natural one built right into the experience. If you get up when they do you’ve got a great chance of finding parking at Curry Village!
Ruth’s camp is on the short list for our next Yosemite trip!
Recommends
· June 2026
I loved Ruth's farm. I loved all the animals and the cats and dogs. Ruth responded to every question very quickly and also gave us recommendations for activities. She was very hospitable and I felt very welcomed. I would definitely recommend!
Recommends
· May 2026
Had a wonderful time with Ruth and her many animals. She was very friendly and gave us a tour of her different animals and even taught us some new facts about bunnies. She shared her land and space with us on a peaceful and wonderful 2 nights in the amazing Yosemite valley. Her home is about 45 min from the gate and very convenient to get to.
Recommends
· May 2026
Ruth was a great host! She took us around to see the critters as well and was very accommodating. We had access to an electricity outlet and a shower as well. The site was slightly sloped on the first night but we readjusted but made it work the second time. Would totally recommend!
Recommends
· September 2025
23 ft campervan · With kids ·
Camp with Critters
Ruth has quite the sanctuary up on the hill. We’ve stayed at countless of hobby farms and Ruth’s hospitality and kindness truly outshine the rest. Ruth is genuinely excited to have you and made us feel right at home. We are so grateful for the opportunity to stay. Thank you for having us, Ruth!
Ruth and her animals are fantastic hosts! The doggos are welcoming, the cats are sweet, and the peacocks make good alarm clocks. Ruth's land is close enough to enjoy Yosemite while also providing a nice retreat from the crowds when needed!
Ruth welcomed us to her beautiful little hidden spot, filled with very loved animals and with love and care. We adored the location, Ruth hospitality and her pack of pups!
Me and my partner both love our stay here ! It’s conveniently near Yosemite but you get a plus with the animal tour on her land. If any questions or doubt all double check with her, she is more than accommodating and helpful! She checked up on us and gave us free fresh eggs, in which we used to make spam and eggs.
I had a great time tent camping at Ruth’s Camping with Critters - I got to tour the grounds, hold days old bunnies, feed the chickens, play with the goats, watch the peacocks and rabbits and feed Magi the horse!! It was so wonderful to spend time with the animals, and Ruth is a tremendous host. She gave me info. several spots to get coffee, grab dinner or a quick bite, she is very knowledgeable about the surrounding area and couldn’t have been more accommodating.
Ruth was an incredible host! She was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed including a freshwater refill for our van and a level place to park the rig. She also took time each day to answer our curious questions about her farm and property, and invited us to join her on a walk with the three dogs! She has a wealth of knowledge to share and her property is truly a paradise. We enjoyed spotting hummingbirds and rubbing horse noses. Definitely worth spending time here if it’s along your route!
Recommends
· November 2023
25 ft Class C · With kids ·
Camp with Critters
Ruth was an excellent host and we were shown the utmost hospitality from the first moment to the last. If you're an animal lover, this place is a great fit. The drive to/from Yosemite valley was about 1h 15m each way, which isn't nothing, but still gave us easy access to the park. We had a 25ft rental RV, and the path up to the property was a bit tight, so take caution with larger vehicles. Also, the farm in on a hill, so bring leveling blocks if you're in a camper or RV. Overall we had a wonderful experience and would stay here again.
Recommends
· September 2023
Tent ·
Camp with Critters
We had a great stay and Ruth was amazing! She was very hospitable, showed us around the farm and even gave us some eggs from the farm. We also had a very nice view from our camp site. Definitely recommend!
Ruth was the most amazing host! We were greeted by her, Danny, and the sweetest dogs. They helped us with backing the RV into place and were more than gracious in offering to help us with whatever we needed. Ruth gave us a tour of her little farm and even had a dozen eggs for us. The views from her place were amazing and she also had the best recommendations on all things Yosemite.
Recommends
· June 2023
14 ft travel trailer ·
Camp with Critters
Beautiful views and lots of animals. Ruth is very helpful and friendly and really helped us out finding great hiking sites.
The experience is relaxing and enjoyable.
Recommends
· June 2023
Tent ·
Camp with Critters
This was a perfect campsite. Ruth was so kind and welcoming, her hospitality was amazing and she gave us the best tour of her farm and all of her amazing animals!! We held baby goats and rabbits, and got to see her peacock’s mating display. Such a beautiful property and view. Also, her dogs are the sweetest and we became such good friends with them!! Ruth also gave us eggs to take home. Such a perfect place to camp during our Yosemite trip, can’t recommend enough!
Recommends
· May 2023
Tent ·
Camp with Critters
Ruth’s place was the perfect place for me, a female singleton, to camp at during my visit to Yosemite. It felt safe and welcoming. She was such a gracious host, constantly making sure that I had everything I needed and was comfortable during my stay - she even was kind enough to send me home with fresh eggs from her chickens (that I’d just met that morning!) I was also delighted to meet all of her other animals and you could just tell how much love and care she puts into all of them. I plan to stay there again whenever I’m back to visit Yosemite! Thanks for your hospitality Ruth!
Recommends
· November 2022
Best time camping with the animals!
10 ft RV · With pets ·
Camp with Critters
We had an amazing time at Ruth’s farm! Ruth was extremely friendly and accommodating- the sweetest! She offered us fresh eggs and herbs when we arrived. We enjoyed waking up next to the alpacas and walking around the farm saying hello to her dogs, pigs, goats, donkey, horse, chickens, rabbits, ducks, and peacock! The sunrise and sunset were so beautiful too :) We can’t wait to visit again!
Recommends
· November 2022
18 ft campervan ·
Camp with Critters
Ruth is a great host and loves to show all her animals. We loved out stay!
What a great time. Our 10 year old son asked when are we coming back after only being there a few hours.
So much to love. Lots of goat to play with, sitting around and watching the alpacas. Pigs, dogs, cats and more.
Just after sunrise a flock of wild turkeys came walking by our camper. More than a dozen.
We enjoyed hanging out with Ruth watching her feed all the animals and listening talk about how she cares for all her rescued friends.
Not only did we have a great time, our dog Mercy loved hanging with all her new friends and following all the other dogs around Ruth’s property.
While there Ruth provide us with electric and water and lots of kindness. Always asking if there was anything we needed.
Waking up early and watching the sun rise over the distant mountains, getting up close with a animal tour with Ruth, and just being at a wonderful place. What a Great Time….
Ruth has an absolutely lovely farm and all her animals are so happy. She takes very good care of them and this was a wonderful place to stay. We got to interact with so many different types of animals and Ruth was extremely accommodating. Highlight of our trip to California was staying here!
What a wonderful and unique camping experience! I found Ruth’s sanctuary while searching for campsites near Yosemite, and staying here not only provided that, but also gave our Yosemite adventure an entirely unexpected and wonderful element. From the incredibly friendly dogs, cats and goats to the adorable rabbits, alpacas, donkey, chickens, and ducks, to the majestic peacocks, the animals are amazing. However, the friendly pigs, (Paprika!) who followed us around asking for pets and practically purring whenever we rubbed their big bellies, were our favorites.
Staying here was like stepping into a kindergarten picture book about animals on a farm, where everyone is friendly and gets along.
Ruth went above and beyond to make us comfortable and happy, and was a pleasure to be around.
I will 100% recommend Camping with Critters to all my friends.
Ruth was the absolute best!! This was our first time using Hipcamp and I don’t think we could have had a better experience. Ruth opened her beautiful and lush property to us to call home with our tent for three amazing days. We were in the area to visit Yosemite. It’s an easy and stunning drive to the Yosemite National Park entrance from Ruth’s. The town down the road, Mariposa, has delicious restaurants and all the supplies you could need that you may have forgotten. Although we were in the area for Yosemite, it was truly hard to want to depart from Ruth’s place. Ruth and all the animals welcomed us with open arms, paws and hooves. It was a one of a kind stay getting to interact and bond with all of the animal residents. Ruth is a phenomenal host that goes above and beyond in communicating and the enjoyment of her guests’ stay. Thank you Ruth, Milkshake, Gloria, Bella, Monkey, Ricardo, Bob, Mochi, Mocha, Beetle, Cricket, Lightning, Parsnip, Turnip, Mag, Clementine, Mr McGreggor, Strider, Toasty, Tea, Jelly Bean, and the others! We can’t wait to be back!
Camping with Critters was the highlight of our ten day camping road trip through CA. Ruth was so kind, warm and welcoming and we were immediately comfortable. Her love of the farm and her animals was apparent and all was well cared for. Our family adored the "critters"- pigs, goats, a donkey and horse, rabbits, beautiful dogs and alpacas just to name a few. We loved participating in farm life and none of us wanted to leave. The land is spectacular, secluded and pristine. We will cherish our memories of early mornings amidst the wildflowers, roosters in the background and farm fresh eggs for breakfast! Beyond the farm, Ruth made helpful recommendations that enhanced our enjoyment of the local area. We will certainly return and have already recommended this site to family and friends in the area. Just awesome ! Thank You!
Ruth was a fantastic host and her farm is beautiful. There are creatures everywhere - peacocks, goats, cats, a donkey, horse, bunnies, alpacas, chickens, dogs, wild turkeys, and more! We were able to let our dog run around off leash most of the time and she had a wonderful time playing with the other dogs. Ruth was especially fantastic with my 9-year old daughter. She let her help feed all the animals and even gave us some farm fresh eggs for breakfast! The farm is spacious and the views are gorgeous. Highly recommended.
Recommends
· April 2022
16 ft campervan ·
Camp with Critters
Wonderful farm camp; kids loved the animals, and Ruth was the most accommodating and attentive host.
Ruth is an amazing host with a wonderful place. We really loved the animals and the nature. She made sure that our stay was amazing! The beautiful view, combined with the most helpful host makes this the perfect camping spot.
Beautiful, secluded location. Ruth is a terrific host - friendly, welcoming and even made us a pot of coffee on our departure. If you want to be immersed in a rural Californian setting, greeted by the most adorable doggos, not to mention the ‘CRITTERS’, dumb goat, alpacas, PIGS! Look no further. Our only regret is that we couldn’t stay longer. Thank you so much Ruth.
My boyfriend & I had an amazing stay at Ruth’s place. This was one of the best experience’s with animals while camping out. She offered a tour of the property which included up close meet & greet with the animals and one on one feeding. I also can not forget about the friendliest dogs ever protecting the property ☺️ Ruth made sure our needs were met. There were multiple options to pitch your tent. I would definitely love to stay here again when visiting Mariposa 💛 Thank You so much!
Location
Bootjack, Mariposa County, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Ruth F.
Joined in October 2021Things to do nearby
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