Mather: Camp History and Trails by the Water

If you’re looking for a hotel in Mather, your excursion interests can guide your trip planning. Camp Mather combines historical connections with seasonal offerings; nearby, the Wapama Falls Trail runs along the reservoir shore. This brings together several different themes: camp history, water activities, a hiking route, and viewpoints. Which of these interests is most important to you can shape your plans for each day.

Camp Mather: History and Birch Lake

The Jack Spring Dining Hall was built in 1920 as the Hetch Hetchy Lodge. Today, it serves as the kitchen and dining room for Camp Mather; operations may vary seasonally. Its former name and current function mark two different chapters in the same building’s history. The camp’s name also has a historical connection: Camp Mather was named in honor of Stephen T. Mather, the first director of the National Park Service.

Birch Lake’s history leads back to the Hetch Hetchy Dam. During its construction, the lake was excavated to obtain gravel and flooded after springs were intercepted. Its creation is therefore connected to the work on the dam. If you’re interested in the area’s history, the building and the lake offer two different points of connection: the Dining Hall’s former use and the creation of Birch Lake.

Getting Your Bearings and Seasonal Offerings

Camp Mather is at the intersection of Evergreen Road and Mather Road. This provides a specific landmark to help orient you if you include camp activities in your plans. When Camp Mather is open, the General Store and Soda Fountain carries medications, toiletries, camping supplies, snacks, and drinks. Its offerings are therefore tied to camp operations; keep this in mind when planning a visit.

At Camp Mather, you can swim in Birch Lake and the swimming pool when trained lifeguards are on duty. Swimming is seasonal. If swimming is an important part of your trip, plan around the season and lifeguard availability. The lake and pool are two different places to swim, but the stated condition applies to both.

Hiking and Views

Near Mather, the Wapama Falls Trail follows the reservoir shore for five miles round trip. The distance covers the entire route in both directions. Trail conditions and access can change, so check them before your hike. This lets you plan a specific out-and-back route by the water without confusing the route with a viewpoint.

Sunrise Peak is a viewpoint. From there, you can look out over Hetch Hetchy Valley, O’Shaughnessy Dam, and the deep gorge of the Tuolumne River. The Wapama Falls Trail focuses on the shoreline and the out-and-back route, while Sunrise Peak offers views of the valley, dam, and gorge. Trail conditions can change here too, so factor that into your plans.

Biking and Fishing

At Camp Mather, you can explore old forest roads by bike and reach Inspiration Point. Since trail conditions can change, it’s best to check them before a bike ride. This makes bike-trip planning different from the stated Wapama Falls route: here, old forest roads and an attainable destination provide the points of reference, rather than a specified round-trip distance.

You can also fish in the Tuolumne River near Camp Mather. A California trout license is required. If fishing is one of your travel interests, include this licensing requirement in your plans. Along with seasonal swimming, biking, and hiking, it offers another way to focus your trip, each with its own practical conditions.

Discover more destinations: Twain Harte, Sonora, Columbia, Mi-Wuk Village, Groveland, Tuolumne, Jamestown

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