Entire home

Lovely Straw Bale Home with Views of the Yosemite High Sierra!

Holiday home in Midpines with kitchen and patio

Beautiful views whilst dining, reading or relaxing

The granite bar is a perfect place to relax and visit.

Sunset view towards Yosemite. The sunrise is even more fabulous.

Well stocked kitchen with granite counter tops.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location

Exceptional

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6111.5 sq m

Popular amenities

Dryer
Air conditioning
Washer
Barbecue grill
Kitchen

Place, Mariposa County Visitor Center
Place, Mariposa County's Old Stone Jail
Place, Lake McClure Bagby Recreation Area
Airport, Mariposa, CA (RMY-Mariposa-Yosemite)

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Dining area

About this property

Lovely Straw Bale Home with Views of the Yosemite High Sierra!

California has cowboys, beaches and surfing, skiing, hiking and shopping all rolled into one beautiful state. Seeing Yosemite when you vacation in California is a must. For this vacation, expand your mind and enjoy a true California experience by staying in a straw bale home. Unlike those of big bad wolf fame, modern straw bale homes are warm and comfortable. They provide a unique place to rest your soul (and feet) after a day of discovering Yosemite.

Our newly constructed Yosemite Straw Bale vacation home is a wonder. While the straw bales provide incredible R-50 insulation, we are using passive solar heating for preheating our radiant floor heating system with an instantaneous hot water heater as a backup system. Our photovoltaic grid panels are naturally creating clean energy from the sun. We tested these techniques on our own home and perfected them in this vacation rental for your enjoyment. Made to feel like your private second home, design touches include a social kitchen with a granite slab bar height counter, finished dyed concrete floors, and cozy radiant floor heating. Sitting hilltop at 3000 feet elevation (914m), the house includes a private deck perfect for relaxing and enjoying the views. We are also honored to share with you, eight fine art prints by renowned Sierra photographer Howard Weamer.

The gates of Yosemite are a mere 35 minutes away* on a drive that follows the wild and scenic Merced River. (*Your drive may take longer as you stop to put your feet in the river or photograph the wildflowers along the way.)

Check out our profile below, and look at the calendar for booking availability. Call or email to hear more and make arrangements. We look forward to hearing from you.

Keywords: Straw Bale, Home, Yosemite, Yosemite Area, Mariposa , Midpines, Hilltop

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washing machine

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Strict no pet policy

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Strict non smoking policy

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

This property uses solar energy, plus eco-friendly cleaning products

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Midpines

Located in Midpines, this holiday home is in a rural area and in the mountains. Mariposa County's Old Stone Jail and Northern Mariposa County History Center are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Merced River Recreation Area and Butterfly Creek Winery. Windows on the World Books and Art and California State Mining and Mineral Museum are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

View more Holiday homes in Midpines

Midpines, CA

What's nearby

Mariposa County Visitor Center - 16 min drive - 18.8 km
Mariposa County Courthouse - 17 min drive - 19.5 km
Mariposa County's Old Stone Jail - 17 min drive - 19.8 km
Yosemite Ziplines and Adventure Ranch - 18 min drive - 21.6 km
Lake McClure Bagby Recreation Area - 36 min drive - 45.6 km

Getting around

Mariposa, CA (RMY-Mariposa-Yosemite) - 24 min drive

Restaurants

‪Starbucks - ‬18 min drive
‪1850 Brewery - ‬18 min drive
‪Happy Burger Diner - ‬18 min drive
‪Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort - ‬11 min drive
‪Don Rubens - ‬18 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Lovely Straw Bale Home with Views of the Yosemite High Sierra! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Lovely Straw Bale Home with Views of the Yosemite High Sierra!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Lovely Straw Bale Home with Views of the Yosemite High Sierra!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Lovely Straw Bale Home with Views of the Yosemite High Sierra! located?

Situated in the mountains, this holiday home is within 9 miles (15 km) of Sierra National Forest, Merced River and Merced River Recreation Area. Briceburg Information Center and Mariposa County Visitor Center are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Andrea B.

1 Aug 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great communication from the host. The house and surroundings were beautiful and the kitchen was well stocked. The location was remote with amazing views of the Milky Way. We really enjoyed our stay.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Teresa P.

6 June 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Yosemite beauty

What a great place to stay while checking out Yosemite. We totally enjoyed this home, very comfy and had everything we needed. The mornings & evenings on the front deck were just wonderful.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rita J.

16 May 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great house for two couples.

Wonderful house and location. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

LeAnne D.

23 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Yosemite 2024

It was just perfect for our Yosemite visit.

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Harald W.

2 May 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful

Wonderful place, very quiet, stunning views, close to Yosemite. We were very happy for having the opportunity to spend a few days at this fantastic house. Very supportive hosts, everything simply perfect!

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jane Z., San Jose, CA

17 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Clean and comfortable

Lovely place. Clean and comfortable. Great location. My family enjoy the stay! Thank you Kathleen!

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah C.

16 June 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A superb stay

We met out Canadian family here for a week where we created happy memories. The scenery is breathtaking and we all loved coming back from the crowds of Yosemite Valley to this quiet and tranquil retreat, sitting in the deck with a glass of wine. Everything was perfect, we wished we’d stayed for longer! We are in most nights as the views cannot be matched by any restaurant, the pioneer market in Mariposa is a good place to collect some provisions. One day we’d love to return to this idyllic place.

Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jon N.

20 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Yosemite Base Camp

Very good communication with the host. The home was well kept and clean. Beautiful views of surrounding mountains. Would book again today if our family was heading west.

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erin M.

24 June 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sorry but sweet

We literally only showered and slept at the house, but it was a terrific touchdown spot for our 2 days in Yosemite. Super clean and well appointed. Would definitely choose again for two couples traveling together - perfect setup! Woke to 2 families of baby quail under our window the first morning!

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Kristi M.

15 Aug 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location for Yosemite

Property manager was fantastic and went above and beyond to help make our vacation go smoothly. The house was comfortable and well appointed. Being from the upper midwest, the evaporative cooling ("swamp fan") was a new experience. Not the same cool as traditional AC, but it was definitely cooler inside than the 100 degrees outside. This was a great location for Yosemite and also doable when we decided to take in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks as well. Would recommend this home to others.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kenson W.

10 May 2017

Peace in the midst of green landscape.

The house was carefully designed and was surrounded by a nice green view. The decorations brought some nice touch to the character of the house. We enjoyed the several paintings around the house. The living room was spacious and all the amenities were perfect to make our stay as comfortable as our home.

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2017

10/10 Excellent

Carla W.

17 Apr 2019

Lovely home

My parents and I loved our two nights at this spacious property. It has a good location to get to various parts of Yosemite. We cooked both nights and found it had everything we needed. As a Brit who lives in the US, the sight of an electric kettle in the kitchen was most welcome! My only recommendation would be to bring your own pillows if you like them to be firm. I’ll definitely recommend this house to anyone I know traveling in the area and hope to stay here again myself in the future. Thank you for a wonderful stay!

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Greg H.

16 May 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Everything we had hoped for

We retired in early March of '20 and had reserved the Strawbale House for later that spring. When Covid happened Kathleen gladly refunded our $. We rebooked for '21 and the stay was everything we needed. Solitude, close to Yosemite, stars, wildlife, did I mention solitude. Two Roomy masters, soft comfy sheets wonderful bathrooms. Entire home very comfortable.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Julie V., Altoona

16 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely fabulous!

My husband and I traveled from Pa to visit Yosemite and had the privilege of staying at the Midpines Home. It was remote and private with incredible views of the mountains. The home is absolutely lovely, well appointed, very clean, and comfortable. We loved sitting on the deck with a glass of wine and enjoying the quiet. The drive to and from Yosemite may be longer than some other options, but having a home away from home with everything you need was well worth it. Kathleen and Alex were superb hosts and responded quickly if any questions. Thanks for the restaurant recommendations, the Yosemite Bug breakfast was awesome! Thank you.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jackie M., New Glasgow Nova Scotia Canada

31 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cottage in the woods

Kathleen was fabulous to deal with. The property was easy to find. It is about an hour to 1 of the entrances to Yosemite and the drive was beautiful. It is 15 min from the town of Mariposa with a big grocery store. Bbq on-site. Loads of spices ,condiments like ketchup and mayonnaise, coffee ,shampoo, soap, dishwashing detergent and laundry detergent. View is beautiful if you like being in the country. 2 bedrooms on each end of the home with private bathrooms. Such a bonus. Lots of glasses and plates and cookware. We felt at home. Would highly recommend. Thanks Kathleen for inviting us into your home. We will be back 😀

Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Margy H., Rockville, MD

25 Sept 2016

Beautiful home in a gorgeous setting.

We stayed in the Straw Bale house for 3 nights while visiting Yosemite NP. We were two adult couples, so it was nice to have two bedrooms each with its own bathroom, all on one level. The house is lovely inside with stained concrete floors and comfy furniture. Kitchen is ample and well appointed. The pantry was stocked with spices, sugar, etc. and the refrig had some basic condiments, which we like to see in rental homes. There's a cell tower right behind the house so service was robust. The beds were good. Beautiful bathrooms. All very clean. The house is located about a 65 minute drive from the Yosemite NP entrance. To get there you drive along the Merced River through an amazingly beautiful valley. The travel time to/from the park was perhaps the only drawback, as we had to make the trip one time each day; i.e. it was not realistic to go back to the house and return to the park for an evening ranger talk or star watch. We found some nice restaurants in Mariposa which is about a 10 minute drive from the house. All in all we highly recommend this house as a place to stay when visiting Yosemite NP.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2016

10/10 Excellent

Michael S.

26 June 2018

Well appointed, stocked and decorated stay near Yosemite

This house feels like a million miles from the crowds at Yosemite. It's a great place to come back to after a day battling for parking and the best viewpoints to take selfies. We were there during a brutal heat wave. Each day was over 100 degrees and didn't really cool off lower than 70 in the evenings. Thankfully this house has a swamp cooler. I had heard of these but never used one. It's a more energy efficient form of air conditioning. And while it can only manage to cool the house about 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. It was surely welcome in the heat. We got back to the house each day around 7 or 8 pm and the temperature was still hovering around 90. Turning the swamp cooler on and the inside of the house got down to around 70 in just over an hour. During the night we let it run and it kept the inside of the house at 60 for a comfortable night's sleep. Without this device the house would have been unbearable for the 3 days we were there. Other than the swamp cooler the house has everything to make for a comfortable stay. It's definitely feels like you are out in the country on your own even though there are houses just off in the distance. The cute town of Mariposa is just 10 miles away and an excellent place for dinner and supplies. There is a nice supermarket in Mariposa but we were unable to shop there as the whole town was without power because of the heat, the night we tried to shop. The town was back to normal the next day..Very strange though to have such a lively place full of tourists just shut down completely because of a blown transformer. The beds at the house were very comfortable. The bathrooms were roomy. Good WiFi connection. Lots of options for watching TV. The deck was nice for coffee in the morning and a drink at night. All in all I would stay there again. The only thing that was a bit unexpected was the last mile of road to the home is unpaved gravel and it will make your car pretty dirty. Nothing a car wash won't cure but just something to be aware of.

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Don H.

14 Oct 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

This is an outstanding property, so interesting and well done. You can access electrical outlets everywhere for all your devices. There are a lot of places for luggage and personal items without junk sitting everywhere. Beautiful location. Outstanding hosts who volunteered to help us seniors with our luggage. Instant response to any question. Of our last six rental this one was the most interesting and also the best value.

Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

5 Oct 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely place, great sunsets! Host was very helpful. Would stay again!

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diane H.

13 Sept 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice location. Well stocked.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Pamela G.

27 Aug 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We loved our stay! We traveled with our adult son and his gf and the set up of the house was perfect for us. Bedrooms are separated by the kitchen, each with full bathrooms so privacy was great.The views are lovely, the area is quiet, the kitchen was fully stocked with items we needed to cook, and the hosts were very informative and responsive to any questions we had.They also gave us tips on Yosemite, which we found very helpful. This was a great location for getting to the park. No lines at the entrance. And Mariposa is close enough to grab dinner after a long day of hiking at the park.We highly recommend this property.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Erica F.

6 June 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beatiful setting, comfy home

My daughters and I had a lovely time during our May stay. The weather was great, the flowers were blooming and the home had everything we needed to wind down and rest between our sightseeing. Definitely would love to stay here again!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

john f.

18 Apr 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Yosemite adventure

Fun and pretty

Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark H.

28 Sept 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Superb

Great location for exploring midpines region and Yosemite National park. Property with superb views and facilities.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Adam W.

18 Sept 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful stay near Yosemite

We loved the 2 nights we spent here and wished we had been able to stay longer. A lovely quiet location, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, and wildlife all around. Super convenient for our day in Yosemite as part of our West Coast USA trip. Highly recommended.

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

About the host

Hosted by Kathleen Pfeffer

Kathleen and Alex moved to Midpines sixteen years ago to enjoy the natural beauty of the area and spend as much time in Yosemite as possible. Kathleen is an Architectural Designer and specializes in Straw Bale Home design. She is also very busy raising twin boys. Alex is a trained Engineer and teaches mathematics at the local public school.

Why they chose this property

We chose to build a vacation rental on our thirteen acre hill top to allow family, friends and vacationers the opportunity to enjoy Yosemite and its surroundings.

What makes this property unique

Our hilltop is incredible for enjoying sunsets, sunrises, star gazing, wild flowers and bird watching all from the comfort of your private deck.

Languages:

English, German

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests

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Lovely Straw Bale Home with Views of the Yosemite High Sierra!

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Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

About this property

Lovely Straw Bale Home with Views of the Yosemite High Sierra!

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Have a question?

Similar properties

Trabucco Trails - Stargaze near Yosemite

House Rules

Children

Events

Pets

Smoking

Important information

You need to know

About the area

Midpines

What's nearby

Getting around

Restaurants

Frequently asked questions

Reviews

Exceptional

10/10

10/10

10/10

10/10

10/10

10/10

9.8/10

10/10

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Andrea B.

Andrea B.

10/10 Excellent

Teresa P.

Yosemite beauty

Teresa P.

10/10 Excellent

Rita J.

Great house for two couples.

Rita J.

10/10 Excellent

LeAnne D.

Yosemite 2024

LeAnne D.

10/10 Excellent

Harald W.

Wonderful

Harald W.

10/10 Excellent

Jane Z., San Jose, CA

Clean and comfortable

Jane Z.

10/10 Excellent

Sarah C.

A superb stay

Sarah C.

10/10 Excellent

Jon N.

Yosemite Base Camp

Jon N.

10/10 Excellent

Erin M.

Sorry but sweet

Erin M.

8/10 Good

Kristi M.

Great location for Yosemite