1. Mt Williamson Motel and Base Camp

    1. Mt Williamson Motel and Base Camp

    0

    Independence, CA

    Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Mt Williamson Motel and Base Camp

    4.8 (94 reviews)
    InexpensiveHotels, Hiking
    Open Open 24 hours

    Mt Williamson Motel and Base Camp Photos

    You might also consider

    More like Mt Williamson Motel and Base Camp

    Recommended Reviews - Mt Williamson Motel and Base Camp

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    "This is my happy place," at basecamp motel.
    Kameshwari K.

    Super clean. Sweet and cozy. Small rooms. Excellent neighboring guests. Eat outside on the mesa grande; meet your fellow trekkers and guests at the motel. Clean, quiet, perfect.

    Janhavi M.

    We had a wonderful stay at this motel during the pandemic. They have about 8 cabins, you can park right in front of your cabin. Breakfast was included in the price. The front yard is lovely with picnic tables and garden furniture. Our cabin of two queen beds was spotless, super clean and cozy and comfortable. Bedding was fresh and clean. There was a TV, microwave and a mini fridge in the room. The cabin had an AC unit as well. The bathroom was just shower (no tub). Toiletries were provided. We booked this motel really last minute on as we everything was sold out at Lone Pine and Bishop. And am soooo glad we found this motel. The owners were super helpful and friendly and handled our last minute reservation very well. Highly recommend this motel !

    Cabin 4.
    Neil M.

    Over the years I have stayed here a number of times when I am hiking in the Sierra. I just returned home from hiking the JMT and I stayed at the Mt Williamson when I needed a resupply. Laura Lynn, Doug, and Emmyleigh all make the process so easy!!! My partner and I hiked off the trail and came down to the Onion Valley Trailhead and there was the shuttle driver waiting for us. He drove us to the motel and they had a cold beer waiting for us, our room was ready, our resupply bucket was waiting in the room, and minutes later they were washing my clothes and I was taking a hot shower! The next morning they provided a great hot breakfast and drove us back up the mountain to the trailhead so that we could resume hiking. They even think of little things like providing you with clothes to wear while they do your laundry for you. We especially liked sitting around outside and visiting with all of the other hikers from all over the world. I love this motel and will be back again in the future.

    Lance T.

    If you're hiking the JMT and need a great resupply resource or if you're passing through and need a good night's rest then try and check-in here! This place does not disappoint. All of the staff including the owner (Strider) are so friendly and accomodating. We just completed the JMT and used The Mt. Williamson motel as our 1st resupply spot. While hiking up, over, and down Kearsage Pass we wondered if we made a sensible decision since it does take you off of the JMT and requires extra effort. But, after staying here and getting treated like royalty with a welcoming free beer, smiles, clean rooms, included shuttle to and from Onion Valley, next-day breakfast, and holding and care of our resupply buckets our doubts were reversed. Also, the rates are very reasonable! Even if you're not doing the JMT and are passing through the small town of Independence I highly recommend doing yourself a favor and staying here. This motel is a no-brainer stay from now on! In fact we stayed here again after completing our Northbound hike and driving from Yosemite.

    One of the cabins
    Mary F.

    The Mt. Williamson Motel owners, Henriette and Paul, immediately make you feel at home. Me and my mum stayed at Mt. Williamson Motel when we went to visit Manzanar. The prices are really reasonable and include a delicious home cooked breakfast. It's a very cozy little no-frills motel with tiny cabins. Our room was immaculate - it's clear the owners take great pride in their motel. Henriette even took the time to show us some of the area's highlights and gave us a map with directions on how to get there. I'd highly recommend Mt. Williamson over the more expensive Lone Pine options just south of Independence.

    Jen W.

    What a sweet little place! The bf and I love little drive up motels and this place with it's cute little cabins worked out perfectly. Don't come here if you are looking for some fancy or super modern digs, but if you want a clean place to sleep in your own little cabin and a nice home cooked breakfast made with love, this is your place. Henrietta and her husband (we missed meeting him, he was recovering from a stroke...boo), obviously love their life here and take good care of their guests. We got a lot of good info and tips for local travel and Henrietta is very kind with a good sense of humor. Bonus for people with pets - your dogs are welcome and there's even a little city park next door with plenty of lawn for poopin'! The one negative...my bf liked her 'fluffy' scrambled eggs better than the ones I make at home! Hands of my man Henrietta! ;-)

    Mt Williamson

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jim C.
    0
    13
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sara K.
    5
    163
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lance T.
    156
    54
    25

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Clay D.
    142
    15
    2

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy L.
    0
    11
    8

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A S.
    0
    17
    4

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen W.
    4
    70
    12

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lauralyn H.

    Lauralyn H.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John L.
    13
    11
    0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shelley K.
    65
    258
    55

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim M.
    2
    45
    18

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jason G.
    1
    384
    52

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Mt Williamson Motel and Base Camp Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mt Williamson Motel and Base Camp

    Review Highlights - Mt Williamson Motel and Base Camp

    In the morning, Doug's wife Strider made everybody home cooked family style breakfast and served it up with a smile!!

    Mentioned in 11 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hotels 277 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Kearsarge Pass - almost to the top

    Kearsarge Pass

    (3 reviews)

    Being in the high Sierras is one of the best things in the world. Like many trails on the eastern…read moreside of the Sierras, this 9.7-mile roundtrip hike with 2500' elevation change wanders past a series of natural lakes (not fake dammed up reservoirs) before reaching the superlative view at Kearsarge Pass. The trailhead (0.0 miles in and at 9240') is next to the Onion Valley Campground - although Kearsarge Pass can also be reached from Kanawyers at the end of road in Kings Canyon National Park. The trailhead had plenty of parking, many bear lockers, and exceptionally well-maintained outhouses. Little Pothole (1.6 miles, 9960') is a crescent-shaped and somewhat marshy lake. The least attractive and smallest of the five lakes, it benefits from an easy-to-reach shoreline and visible cascades feeding it water. Gilbert Lake (2.3 miles, 10,320') is superior to Little Pothole with its larger and rounder shape. With vegetation at the water's edge, continue to the western side of the lake where standing on a massive boulder provides a clear view of the lake. With heavy winter snowfall in both 2017 and 2019, Gilbert Lake was half covered in snow on 6/18/17 (see pic) but was clear on 8/19/19. Flower Lake (2.7 miles, 10,470') is also bushy at water's edge but oddly not with flowers. If at Gilbert, take the rewarding effort to reach nearby Flower. Flower is a good turn-around point if not going to Kearsarge Pass. Heart Lake (3.6 miles, 10,960) is truly heart-shaped. The pond at 3.4 miles is not Heart Lake. Reaching the shoreline requires a steep scramble that needs a healthy heart. Big Pothole (4.3 miles, 11,420') is the best-looking pothole I've seen. Below a Baroque-rippled rock face, the lake has a pentagon shape. An extensive scramble is needed to reach the water but the trail wraps around the lake and delivers plenty of bird's eye views. The bluish-green water also provides motivating sights while making the final ascent to the pass. Kearsarge Pass (4.8 miles, 11,760') is an absolutely phenomenal vista - not necessarily looking back towards Independence but forward to Kings Canyon with a broad basin filled with multiple reflective lakes in front of rows of piercing mountain ranges. I'd share a picture but I couldn't rightly capture the enormous beauty.

    Got to the pass via the onion valley trailhead. Really pretty waterfalls and lakes along the way…read more Been awhile since I was there but remember it being beautiful.

    Ediza Lake

    Ediza Lake

    (2 reviews)

    Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Mammoth Lakes…read moreLength: 13 total miles Elevation Gain: 1,700 feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Skill Level: An overall elevation gain of about 1,700 feet makes this a challenging hike. Duration: 7 to 8 hours, though 2 days is preferable. Season: Late June through mid-October. Trailhead Elevation: 8,300 feet Top Elevation: 9,300 feet Other Uses: Equestrians and leashed dogs are welcome. Bikes are not allowed in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. In a region of exceptionally stunning lakes, Shadow and Ediza are two of the loveliest. Both harbor views of the Ritter Range that are among the finest mountain landscapes in the Sierra Nevada. Rolling through green meadows, conifer forests, and rocky outcrops, the trail rises by gradual degrees up the valley of Shadow Creek in view of Volcanic Ridge, to the left (south). Some stretches have been finessed through rocky benches by the vigorous application of picks, shovels, and maybe a surgical stick or two of dynamite. The best of company, frolicsome Shadow Creek entertains us with music and assorted pretty little tricks, including a very clever cascade around an island of polished granite

    Ah-May-Zing! I…read moreheard about Lake Ediza last year while on my way to Garnet via Shadow Creek. Fortunately I had a chance to trek up to Ediza this year. I was told that between the split off from the JMT to go towards Garnet and Lake Ediza there was a piece of Heaven on Earth. Truly the scenery was enlightening. Shadow creek was booming (even in this drought). Like all the high elevation lakes it's quite a trek to get there but the payoff is well worth the pain. When we arrived there wasn't too many good camping spots. We had to go around the lake towards the southwest section and camped a little off the trail. If we had just gone a bit further crossing a small creek to the "island" we would have found an even better spot by the beach area under the cover of some trees. My advice: Get there early and grab a good spot. As beautiful as Lake Ediza is it can get busy. Not Thousand Island Lakes busy, but busy nonetheless.

    Mt Williamson Motel and Base Camp - hotels - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...