12 Stunning Things to do in Yosemite National Park, California in Winter

How lengthy ought to my winter journey to Yosemite be?

Within the winter, a two night time weekend journey is ideal. That provides you a day in your arrival day, a full second day, and the morning of your third day. This will provide you with a style of Yosemite within the winter, get a lay of the land, and get to discover a number of the trails.

Is Yosemite Nationwide Park crowded within the winter?

Within the winter, anticipate almost all the things within the park to be coated in snow, and – hooray! – a lot smaller crowds. (Which additionally means less expensive costs and extra availability for lodging! Head to our where to stay in Yosemite put up for extra particulars.)

December, January, and February are tied because the least well-liked months, collectively bringing in simply 9 p.c of the park’s annual visits. Within the final 15 years, August has averaged greater than 600,000 park company. The park is BUSY in the summertime! The common for January? Simply 108,000. Good. So take pleasure in it – there’s one thing magical concerning the stillness of the park throughout this season, and it virtually looks as if a completely completely different world. 

It’s additionally arguably one of the best time for photographers, even should you can’t attain all of the park’s distant corners. In winter it’s straightforward to search out parking close to trailheads, you don’t have to fret about having a bunch of hikers in your images, and you may make last-minute resort and camp reservations fairly simply. 

The rest I ought to know earlier than visiting Yosemite Nationwide Park within the winter?

Listed here are a couple of key issues to know earlier than you intend your journey to Yosemite Nationwide Park:

• You’ll have much less room to roam (but it surely’s nonetheless quite a bit): Yosemite is just below 450,000 sq. acres, and about 98 p.c of that’s wilderness (which principally means undeveloped.) As a result of Tioga Cross Street closes only a few miles previous the Crane Flat intersection, almost all the things within the park’s large jap facet is inaccessible. You’ll be able to entry elements of the park from exterior the park by way of Tioga Cross Street, earlier than you get to the entry gate (topic to frequent chain control). Nonetheless, you’ll must hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski; all trails on this space will probably be coated in snow all winter. The overwhelming majority of winter guests keep within the Valley, although it’s attainable to entry the Hetch Hetchy, Wawona, and Crane Flat areas of the park, too.
• The climate will be….variable: If there’s a storm within the forecast, anticipate the Valley to be chilly, windy, and have poor visibility. Nonetheless, if it’s not snowing, winter climate will be fairly darn good. Days are sometimes sunny and typically within the 50s F and even low 60s. Nonetheless, anticipate the nights to be fairly chilly (nicely into the 20s), and plan accordingly should you’re winter tenting.
• You’ll be able to camp: Laborious-core guests can observe the fundamentals of tenting within the snow up round Tioga Cross, however should you’re not eager on digging into the snow to pitch your tent, e book a web site on the Upper Pines Campground. It’s the one campground within the park open-year spherical and often doesn’t have any snow on the bottom. It’s also possible to get backcountry travel permits in the winter, however you’ll must journey by way of cross-country skis and be a talented winter backpacker and navigator. Or, you may glamp! Some websites even provide pay-by-temperature charges – so that you may even find yourself with a free keep! For those who’re staying in one of many park’s tents at Curry Village, you’ll have a small heater, however you’ll seemingly wish to convey an additional blanket or sleeping bag all the identical.
• Keep on the paths: Heavy foot site visitors damages pure landscapes, so educated guests must do their half. Yosemite even has a volunteer park-wide clean-up day every September. For those who see trash, decide it up. Don’t step on small vegetation off-trail. And all the time observe Leave No Trace principles.
• By no means go away meals or something with a scent (even lip balm) in your automotive: Bears are smart and are greater than able to opening automotive doorways and smashing home windows. Bears that affiliate people with meals can develop into harmful to people, and bears which might be harmful to people are sometimes euthanized. It’s each guests’ duty to maintain wildlife wild. Each campground and parking zone can have dozens of metallic bear bins – out of doors lockers the place company can safely retailer their meals for the day as a substitute of leaving it of their automotive. They’re free and unlocked, so simply discover one with house and toss something with a scent inside moderately than leaving it in your automotive.
• Re-think that selfie: Yosemite has no scarcity of lovely vistas, however there are a number of deaths within the park every year from individuals getting too near cliffs to seize a photograph. Be extraordinarily cautious, particularly round well-liked lookout factors like Vernal Falls. They are often particularly treacherous within the winter, particularly when you may’t see that they’re coated in ice.
• Decelerate: All the pieces from bears to squirrels to deer and even the occasional mountain lion could run in entrance of your automotive with out warning. Don’t let your negligence trigger an animal’s loss of life.

Psst: For those who’re planning to go to a number of parks this yr, we advocate selecting up an America is Beautiful National Parks Pass. The move is legitimate at over 2,000 Nationwide Parks and 10% of the sale proceeds are donated to the Nationwide Park Basis, serving to to maintain our parks stunning! The common price of admission to a Nationwide Park is $35, which signifies that the move rapidly pays for itself after only a few visits. AND you’re supporting the Nationwide Park Basis. Win/win! You’ll be able to decide up a move online at REI or in particular person at any Nationwide Park.

Issues to do in Yosemite Nationwide Park in Winter

For those who learn our different(learn: non-winter) guide to Yosemite National Park, the park’s unbelievable story: it was dwelling to Native Individuals, then ranchers (who typically violently infringed on the Indigenous Peoples’ rights), then protected as a nationwide park after naturalist John Muir made a private plea to President Teddy Roosevelt. 

Roosevelt and Muir went tenting collectively for a couple of days within the park and shortly thereafter, Roosevelt gave management of it to the Nationwide Park Service. (PS: Count on to see loads of “The Mountains Are Calling, And I Should Go” souvenirs within the park. John Muir could have a complicated legacy, however he’s an area hero when it comes to defending the park.)

Whereas a lot of the park is inaccessible within the winter, the Valley remains to be open, and that’s the place most of the park’s finest cultural websites are. You’ll be able to stroll by means of the Indian Village of the Ahwahnee (Miwok Village) and take the roughly one-mile path by means of a native plant garden, or {photograph} the Yosemite Chapel, which dates again to 1879. The Yosemite History Museum can be open year-round.  

For those who can’t already inform, I really like Yosemite Nationwide Park, and as a full-time out of doors and journey author within the Lake Tahoe space, I’m lucky sufficient to have the ability to make a number of pilgrimages to the park every year. Listed here are one of the best issues to do in Yosemite Nationwide Park within the winter (and sure, I extremely advocate it!) 

Take a hike

Heck sure, you may hike within the winter! The colours of the distant mountains are changed with brilliant, white snow, and evergreens ship wafts of pine resin skirting the air. Your entire park is remodeled, and most trails off the Yosemite Valley trails are accessible, besides after unusually heavy snowfalls. Simply make sure you check the trail closures earlier than planning your day and bundle up on your hike!

Precisely which Valley hikes are accessible within the winter will depend on snow and ice. A lot of the Valley trails are open by default, aside from after storms when they could be icy. At all times obey path closure indicators – full cease. You danger extreme damage to your self and anybody that tries to rescue you. 

Among the finest trails to take a look at in Yosemite within the winter are:

• Mist Trail: So named for the mist that blows onto the path from Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls, this hike options each waterfalls and infinite photograph alternatives – it’s essentially the most iconic hike within the Valley, for a cause. The Mist Path has a safer “winter route” which avoids parts of the paths have overhanging rock the place giant icicles kind and fall onto the path under (as a result of, , loss of life by icicles) and usually slippery passage. You’ll be able to entry this route on any day that isn’t exceptionally snowy, and Decrease Yosemite Falls is nearly all the time open and even occsionally the Higher Yosemite Falls is open.
• Valley Floor Loop: This comparatively mild hike features minimal elevation and will be carried out as a 7.2-mile half-loop or a full loop at 11.5 miles. It passes most of the park’s highlights, like El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, the Merced River, and the Three Brothers rock formation. Take a break or flip round wherever you want. The path runs roughly alongside the perimeter of the valley, ducking into the woods right here and there and crossing a couple of stone bridges over streams. Alongside the way in which are a number of well-marked factors the place you may sit and picnic on the river, and also you’ll usually see plein air painters and photographers within the valley taking pictures or portray on sunny days. If there may be snow on the bottom, it might probably simply be snowshoed.
• Mirror Lake Loop Trail: This 2.4 or 4 mile is brief and largely flat and heads east, main by means of the woods and finally to Mirror Lake, a flat pool that completely displays the picture of close by Half Dome – therefore the identify. Relying on how chilly it’s, this lake may even be froze! Additionally an awesome spot to snowshoe if it’s snowy out.
• Mountain climbing Trails in Wawona: Outdoors of the Valley, you may hike in Wawona (to the south of the park) because it has some moderately flat trails. The Wawona Swinging Bridge Trail  is an easy hike to the bridge, solely about .75 miles spherical journey, after which you may watch the attractive waters of the Merced flowing beneath you. Who doesn’t love a swinging bridge? The Wawona Meadow Loop can be simply hikeable within the winter, and si likelihood to see extra bushes and grass.
• Hike in Hetch Hetchy: Hetch Hetchy is open within the winter, and one of the best ways to see the realm is on the principle path, the five-mile hike to Wapama Falls, a pleasant half-day out-and-back trek alongside the shoreline that crosses the O’Shaughnessy Dam and passes by two waterfalls that spill from 1,400 toes above (in spite of everything, it wouldn’t be a Yosemite hike with out some epic waterfalls). This path is tremendous well-liked and a lot of the path is uncovered to the solar, so going within the winter is a double bonus with fewer crowds and a few warming rays. Notice that should you go to in early spring the water flowing from the falls could make the bridges impassible or on the very least a really moist expertise. Do remember that the gates shut promptly at 5 p.m. every day within the winter, so begin early!
• Mountain climbing among the many Large Seqouias: All three of the sequoia groves are open and accessible by automotive through the winter. The most important and hottest grove is the Mariposa Grove, close to the south entrance, with greater than 500 sequoias. It’s additionally the lowestest elevation grove, which suggests it’s more likely to have the least quantity of snow, although you’ll need to stroll two miles down a closed highway from the parking space to succeed in the grove. However it’s positively an incredible approach to see some actually outdated, actually tall bushes with a lot much less crowds!

Time-travel at a traditional vacation feast

The annual Bracebridge Dinner on the Ahwahnee Lodge in Yosemite is among the park’s most well-known traditions, and for good cause: the epic vacation feast, full with musical numbers accompanying every course, transports company to the lavish corridor of Washington Irving’s merry olde England, besides in California for some cause. It’s ridiculous and foolish and irreverant and over-the-top – very a lot a kind of quirky must-be-Northern-California traditions.

Based mostly on Washington Irving‘s Bracebridge Hall, this luxury formal dinner optionsover-the-top characters in a stage present that features track, dance, merriment, 7 programs of traditionally correct connoisseur delicacies, and sufficient leisure that you simply gained’t understand the expertise lasts almost 4 hours. The elegant corridor, costumes, set and music will fully transport you again in time right into a Seventeenth-century English feast.

The Bracebridge Dinner is a convention that has been going down each vacation season within the Ahwahnee’s luxurious eating room for the reason that late Nineteen Twenties; in truth, photographer Ansel Adams was the present’s first director, and acted within the present himself because the pagaent jester for a few years!

As is custom, the occasion is formal, so make sure you pack a tux or night robe (or at least a dark suit or cocktail dress) in your bag. Don’t present up in costume: it’s simply not carried out.

Whereas this dinner is an costly expertise (and tickets are onerous to snag) it’s a kind of once-in-a-lifetime issues. I imply, when else are you able to role-play as a personality from a Dickens novel in the course of a snowy Nationwide Park?? To take part within the enjoyable, you’ll must buy tickets nicely prematurely, that are round $340 per particular person, together with dinner and gratuities.

If the Bracebridge Dinner is just a little too steep, think about attending one of many Ahwahnee’s different vacation occasions, just like the seasonal choral concerts, that are fully free to the general public.

Take a scenic drive

It virtually appears pointless to say “scenic drives” in Yosemite since you actually can’t keep away from them. Significantly, each drive in and round Yosemite is a scenic journey by means of the guts of the Sierra Nevada, and majestic mountain surroundings greets you each which method you look.

Keep in mind that Yosemite Nationwide Park is HUGE, so to see as a lot as you may, take a day to discover a number of the park’s beautiful roads, even when they’re considerably restricted by the wintertime and the snow (keep in mind: Tioga Cross and Glacier Level Street are all the time closed within the winter).

Regardless that you may occupy your self with numerous trails and websites within the valley, it’s value attending to see extra of the place your toes can’t take you. Plus, all of those drives move by trailheads, scenic turnouts, and traditional Yosemite sights that you simply gained’t wish to miss.

• Yosemite Valley Loop: On this loop across the Valley ground you’ll see a lot of Yosemite’s iconic websites looming above you, together with El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls, and Yosemite Falls, glistening in pure white snow. When individuals consider Yosemite, this is what they’re picturing. One mile broad by seven miles lengthy, this slim valley homes a variety of Yosemite’s facilities – and subsequently crowds – however fortunate for you, the wintertime sees method fewer individuals. Plan to make a bunch of stops at well-liked turnouts, picnic spots, and trailheads. It’s also possible to take a guided, park-run bus tour – the heated trolley with clear plastic partitions is slow-moving so you’ve gotten loads of time to take images, and since they will reap the benefits of the park’s bus-only lanes. A reside information will fill you in on the historical past of the park, together with Indigenous peoples, the primary non-Indigenous settlers, and the natural world of the park alongside the way in which. 
• Hetch Hetchy Road: This scenic drive will take you away from the crowds, if any, within the wintertime. Within the park’s quiet northwest nook, Hetch Hetchy Valley is far much less traveled, however nonetheless boasts majestic Yosemite surroundings. From Evergreen Street (exterior of the Large Oak Flat entrance station), Hetch Hetchy Street travels 16 miles earlier than ending on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. With its decrease elevation, this space of the park has a protracted mountain climbing season (you’re much less more likely to see snow), so break up your drive with some adventures on foot. There are a number of waterfalls, canyons, and lakes that add to the attract of this scenic drive. Notice that regardless that Hetch Hetchy Street is open year-round, it typically closes as a consequence of snow.

Don’t wish to drive by yourself? For those who’re staying exterior of the park, one other improbable choice is to take a guided tour from San Fransisco. You’ll be able to sit again and calm down as you’re pushed to a lot of the main websites in sooner or later, together with Tunnel View, Tuolumne Grove, and Yosemite Valley, plus lunch and mountain climbing.

It’s also possible to select to go to the park on a guided tour with transportation from Los Angeles. For those who’re involved about transportation, wanting so as to add Yosemite to an current California journey, or don’t wish to mess with the effort of planning, these excursions are a improbable choice.

Spend the night time on the Glacier Level Hut

The Glacier Point Ski Hut sits excessive on a mountain, with beautiful overviews of Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, and the Yosemite Excessive Nation. Staying up right here feels a bit like being on prime of the world, the place there’s nothing however you, the sky, and the sprawling nature down under. You simply need to get right here!

For those who’re a cross-country skier, you should purchase a day move and discover the 25 miles of groomed (flattened and maintained) cross-country ski trails that begin from the Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area and go the ten.5 miles to Glacier Level Ski Hut by yourself.

Nonetheless, you probably have just a little expertise cross nation snowboarding however would love some assist, you may go along with a information, who will deal with all the small print, together with the meals, snacks, and s’mores (the vital stuff). All it’s important to do is convey your personal items like heat gear and a sleeping bag, which it’s also possible to lease should you don’t have one, and ensure to get acclimated to the altitude earlier than your journey.

In your guided journey, you’ll begin off early in your first morning, and glide your method the ten.5 miles to the high-altitude hut (3,200 toes), passing views like Clark Range and Washburn Point, supplying you with epic views of snow-covered mountains and Half Dome. As soon as on the Hut, you’ll be handled to a scrumptious dinner and luxuriate in a roaring campfire.

When you have the choice to do a one or two-night keep, Visit Yosemite recommends you keep two nights so you may take a look at close by, beautiful trails like Taft Point and Sentinel Dome, with extra sweeping views of Yosemite. Whereas staying on the Hut is extra of a dormitory type of sleeping expertise, you’ll have an opportunity to bond with fellow nature fans and unplug out of your cellphone, as there is no such thing as a cell service.

As cozy because the roomy hut is, you’ll wish to get up early every day to observe the solar begin to peak over Half Dome. You should definitely convey sun shades – the sunshine and morning fog usually casts heat shades of pink, orange, and gold on the snow.

In your ultimate day, you’ll ski down after breakfast and positively go away your coronary heart behind on the hut. There’s all the time subsequent time!

You’ll be able to e book your journey in advance online here.

Go snowshoeing

For those who’ve by no means been snowshoeing earlier than, you’ll be spoiled when you’ve carried out it in Yosemite. Snowshoeing in Yosemite will be an effective way to discover trails in any other case coated in snow. It solely takes a little bit of observe (and a little bit of stability) earlier than you’re snowshoeing like a professional, and also you’d be stunned how a lot simpler it’s than attempting to stroll by means of the snow with simply boots. 

Snowshoeing in Yosemite is a particularly peaceable expertise, and never simply because the footwear can transfer you silently by means of the woods. Snow muffles the sounds of civilization like highway noise and voices, so being even only a mile previous a trailhead will be extremely quiet. You’ll be capable of hear chicken songs, search for footprints from all the things from raccoons to – perhaps! – bighorn sheep, and expertise the wilderness the way in which a winter explorer would have a century in the past. 

All through the winter, the Yosemite rangers run a number of guided snowshoe hikes every day. Most go away from Badger Cross (the ski space), since that’s the one shuttle-accessible a part of the park reliably coated in snow. In fact, you probably have your individual snowshoes, you may discover by yourself wherever within the park, together with any mountain climbing trails which might be open!

You’ll must test the exercise information prematurely for the season you’re visiting to see which lessons are occurring when. Rangers will provide you with a seasonal exercise information while you drive into the park, or you may test the website a month or so prematurely of your journey to obtain essentially the most present information. Excursions run between one and two hours and snowshoes are offered. Tickets are often between $15–$30 per particular person, relying on the situation and problem. 

Hit the slopes

On the Badger Pass Ski Area, you may hit the slopes and shred throughout your Yosemite winter getaway. Properly, kinda: with gently rolling hills by means of snow-dusted evergreens, it’s really an awesome spot for inexperienced persons! The longest run solely has a drop of about 800 toes, making every lap up the chairlift (of which there are 5) fairly fast.

For those who’re not into snowboarding or snowboarding, it’s also possible to go snow tubing – or simply cozy up on the deck whereas watching the motion!

There are ten complete downhill ski and snowboard trails, and charges are fairly affordable by ski resort requirements.

For those who’re exterior the park on the jap facet (by Mono Lake and June Lake), you may drive to Yosemite Ski & Snowboard, although parking is restricted. For those who’re wherever else within the park, you’ll must take the free ski resort shuttle from the Valley. When there’s a variety of snow on the bottom, the timing of the shuttle stops will be extra of an estimate than a assure.

Go ice skating at Curry Village

For those who’re searching for one thing energetic however don’t really feel like lacing up your winter mountain climbing boots, lace up your skates as a substitute! The ice skating rink at Curry Village (often known as Camp Curry and Half Dome Village) opens in December, climate pending.

The massive rink has jaw-dropping views of Half Dome to 1 facet and brilliant evergreens to the opposite sides, making a merely iconic winter expertise – it appears like one thing out of a Nineteen Thirties Christmas film. And that’s type of applicable, contemplating the rink has been an annual incidence within the park since 1928. 

You’ll be able to’t purchase tickets prematurely, however contemplating the small crowds and huge dimension of the rink, you’re unlikely to have a lot of a wait.

Non-skaters can hang around exterior the rink, warming by the hearth pits and having fun with drinks from the close by Camp Curry Pizza deck and cafeteria. PS: they promote whiskey on the Curry Village guests middle and sizzling chocolate within the cafeteria (simply sayin’!).

Go on a free winter digital camera stroll

For those who thought Yosemite was stunning in the summertime, wait till you see it with a glistening of snow on prime. And even when it’s not snowing, the dew and fog lifting out of the Valley within the mornings will be completely beautiful. That’s in all probability why the Ansel Adams Gallery runs all their images walks within the mornings all winter.

You’ll have to join the stroll as much as three days beforehand on the Ansel Adams Gallery. The precise schedule adjustments each winter, however there’s often one or two lessons a day within the Valley.

Your information will provide you with tips about utilizing your digital camera through the class and present you one of the best vantage factors and angles of the park’s hottest websites. They even provide lessons for smartphone cameras in case you don’t have a DSLR. Primary digital camera walks are free, although extra superior lessons could have a payment and require advanced registration online. 

It is a nice time to convey the widest-angle lens you’ve gotten so you may seize the sunny valley and snow-covered peaks within the distance!

For inspiration, make sure you cease and discover the Ansel Adams Gallery. Ansel Adams was a famed nature photographer, whose black-and-white images of Yosemite had been a number of the first revealed in nationwide newspapers and magazines. He first absolutely realized work is his {photograph} “Monolith, The Face of Half Dome” which he took in 1927 at simply 25 years outdated. (At age 25 I really took a really comparable photograph referred to as “Selfie, the face of me in entrance of Half Dome” however by some means it didn’t catch on.)

Ansel Adams is finest remembered for giving Yosemite a face and serving to to preserve the fantastic thing about Yosemite. The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village has a variety of Adams’ most well-known Yosemite images.

Be taught concerning the park’s Indigenous neighborhood 

The Miwok Tribe inhabited the Yosemite Valley – referred to as Ahwahnee – and low-lying ridgelines within the space for 1000’s of years earlier than homesteaders moved in and encroached (usually violently) on their land and assets through the white encroachment in the 1850s.

For the following 100 years, the Miwok Individuals took a stand for his or her native lands. They inhabited the park till the Nineteen Sixties, however had been finally fully pushed out by the mid-Twentieth century. Whereas Yosemite’s Indigenous neighborhood not lives on their unique land, there are nonetheless about 3,500 individuals across the western U.S. from numerous tribes who’re descendants of the Miwok individuals.

The Yosemite Museum, which celebrates its a hundredth anniversary in 2022, is the cultural gateway to the park and one of the best place to study Yosemite’s unique residents. The museum has a rotating assortment of reveals, however there’s all the time a big part devoted to the crafts, language, arts, and traditions of the Miwok Tribe. 

Simply behind the museum is a simple strolling path by means of the recreated Miwok Village of Ahwahnee, which has interpretive signage alongside the way in which about life for the tribe within the 1870s. The Miwok Village has a number of buildings, a couple of of that are nonetheless often utilized by Native Individuals.

The most important constructing is the assembly home, which was used as a ceremony web site. Different buildings embody kitchens, properties, recreated examples of summer time and winter properties, and native gardens. Contained in the museum, there’ll typically be descendants of the Yosemite Miwok making and displaying conventional crafts and expertise like beadwork or basket-making.

Stroll by means of the historic Ahwahnee Lodge 

The Ahwahnee Hotel is the epitome of a historic nationwide park resort. It first opened in 1927 and was designed to be the American equal of Europe’s grand summer time lodges. Arriving on the park was fairly the journey within the early Twentieth century, requiring a protracted prepare journey adopted by a chronic (and really bumpy) carriage journey from Merced. Friends would keep for weeks at a time for the reason that journey was so lengthy, and the Ahwahnee was designed to be their luxurious dwelling within the Sierra Nevada. 

As we speak, the Ahwahnee is open to the general public, so you may benefit from the majesty (and eerie vibes) at your individual leisure. You’ll be able to take a free self-guided resort tour, which is obtainable on the concierge desk, so you may study concerning the historical past and development of the resort.

In your self-guided tour, you’ll see numerous sitting and “card rooms,” as soon as divided for women and men to socialize however now open to the general public. Two stone fireplaces giant sufficient to stroll into function bookends to the principle salon, and historic images and artifacts line the partitions.

You’ll additionally discover that the Ahwahnee doesn’t match into anyone specific architectural type (until “fabulous” and “for wealthy individuals” counts as an architectural type, and should you’ve ever visited Hearst Castle on Highway One, what I imply). Reasonably, it’s an amalgamation of a number of ideas: stone columns to help the large fireplaces, giant home windows and picturesque shutters as a nod to its European inspirations, and sharp roofs and turret-type options to maintain heavy winter snow from weighing down the roof.

Over time the Ahwahnee has had its justifiable share of famous guests, from Walt Disney to Lucille Ball, Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garland, Queen Elizabeth II, and most not too long ago President Barack Obama.

The resort additionally has a visitor that will have by no means checked out. The ghost of Mary Curry Tressider, who grew up in Yosemite Valley and lived there till her loss of life in 1970, purportedly nonetheless lives on the sixth ground, the place her condo was situated. Shortly after her loss of life sightings of her apparition grew to become a standard incidence, and folks see unusual issues on that ground till this present day. (Learn more about Mary Curry and her household, who based Camp Curry.)

The Ahwahnee’s inside, with its Native American patterns and purple elevator doorways, served because the inspiration for the inside of The Stanley Lodge in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Whereas the Stanley Lodge in Estes Park, Colorado was the inspiration for Stephen King’s novel, and the exteriors of the movie had been shot on the Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood, Oregon, the purple and luxurious, barely sinister-feeling exteriors had been pulled straight from the Ahwahnee. Eerie, no?

While you’re carried out exploring, seize an area beer on the Ahwahnee Bar, or have dinner within the opulent mountain view Dining Room, with large log beams operating the size of the big room. The menu presents American dishes with a global twist; assume garlic-crusted lamb with mint yogurt sauce and recent fish with a miso glaze.

Throughout the winter, the Eating Room is remodeled into an 18th century English manor for the annual Bracebridge Dinner, a wonderful and enjoyable 7-course meal and costumed Christmas pageant by candlelight full with vacation splendor and reside theatre. The dinner has been operating since 1927, when Ansel Adams performed the a part of the pageant jester (and I assume El Capitan appeared as itself).

See Horsetail Falls and the well-known “firefall”

Horsetail Falls is one among six waterfalls within the valley (Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls, Ribbon Falls, and Sentinel Falls are the others) and it’s often ignored by summer time company. That’s in all probability as a result of it largely flows throughout winter, beginning in round January, when there’s sufficient each day snowmelt.

Nonetheless, for 2 weeks yearly, Horsetail Falls is the star of Yosemite because it’s the positioning of the well-known “Firefall.” It often occurs in mid-February, and the reflection of the sundown makes it look brilliant orange – like fireplace flowing over the cliff.

If you wish to see it, you’ll must do some superior planning. Along with ensuring you’ve gotten a park entry ticket, you’ll must park at Yosemite Falls and stroll roughly 1.5 miles to the picnic space at El Capitan, which presents one of the best views. You could find extra particulars concerning the restriction and dates here.

It will likely be fairly chilly as soon as the solar goes down, so convey gloves and beanies. Depart your self sufficient time for the stroll and provides your self at the very least two nights to see it because it’s not seen on overcast days.

The highway operating previous Horsetail Falls (Northside Drive) can get sluggish and busy near sundown, so attempt to be within the park at the very least an hour or two earlier than the Firefall is anticipated to start out. If there may be one place that’s busy in winter, it’s to see the Firefall!

Discover the park after darkish

For those who can courageous the chilly, lengthy nights, you’ll be rewarded with improbable winter stargazing in Yosemite. Not solely do smaller crowds imply much less gentle air pollution, however earlier sunsets imply you gained’t have to remain up as late to review the skies. 

From round December to April, it’s extraordinarily straightforward to identify some of the recognizable constellations within the galaxy: Orion’s belt (and really all the cancellation Orion, the hunter). You’ll even be simply in a position to spot constellations like Gemini and Taurus, plus “Sirius,” referred to as the “canine star.” (Trace: it’s the brightest star within the winter sky.)

You’ll be able to typically see galaxies unaided on very clear nights (which additionally are typically the coldest, so bundle up). All of those will be found with the star apps instructed within the suggestions under!

It’s also possible to take part in a group stargazing class. They run most evenings, aside from when there’s a full moon (as that makes the sky too brilliant to identify most stars). Throughout winter, lessons are held within the Valley (the precise location adjustments each day) and you’ll join at any exercise desk within the park. An hour-long stargazing lecture is often about $10 per particular person. 

If you wish to stargaze by yourself, attempt the valley throughout the road from the Camp Curry parking lot or throughout from the Little Yosemite Chapel. However realistically, wherever within the park will do so long as you’re a couple of hundred toes or so from a lightweight supply. Friends are allowed to stroll wherever they need within the park day or night time. It’s also possible to discover a number of the finest stargazing spots here.

Ideas for stargazing in Yosemite Nationwide Park:

• Don’t cease or stand within the highway: All the lights in Yosemite are shut off through the night time, which signifies that the park is pitch black and oncoming vehicles gained’t be capable of see you.
• Convey a headlamp or a purple flashlight: A headlamp is one among my private favourite camping essentials, but it surely’s essential should you’re stargazing away out of your automotive. Headlamps are one of the best as a result of they’re hands-free and you’ll level the sunshine downward to keep away from extra gentle air pollution, which additionally helps you keep away from shining gentle in your eyes (it might probably take 20 minutes on your eyes to readapt to the darkish – not supreme for stargazing!). A red flashlight additionally works extraordinarily nicely and can take much less time on your eyes to re-adjust to the darkish.
• Obtain a stargazing app or convey a chart: Convey a star chart or app that will help you discover constellations and perhaps even planets! Apps like Sky Guide and Night Sky are tremendous useful in that you may face your cellphone in direction of a selected star or constellation and it’ll let you know what it’s, and also will have tons of knowledge in-built about what you’re looking at. Simply be certain that to show your display brightness method down.
• Photographers will wish to convey alongside a camera tripod (and a phone mount to make use of your cellphone). To take starry night time images, that you must hold your cellphone extraordinarily nonetheless and take a really lengthy publicity, which allows a ton of sunshine – and ideally, there’s no different gentle however the stars, so that you’ll get that excellent starry night time shot!

The place to Keep in Yosemite Nationwide Park in Winter

The excellent news about visiting Yosemite in winter is that it’s MUCH cheaper, and you’ve got much more choices! That is just about the one time we’re ever in a position to snag affordable rooms inside the park correct. Yosemite additionally has loads of lodging choices surrounding the park, and costs are a lot decrease through the winter than the remainder of the yr.

That mentioned, although they have an inclination to replenish much less rapidly in winter, it by no means hurts to make your reservations as early as you may – you may all the time cancel them later in case your plans change!

• Keep within the Park: The Ahwahnee is the park’s grandest resort, on the western facet of the Valley. The Yosemite Valley Lodge is the closest to Yosemite Falls and is clear and cozy, however not as fancy because the Ahwahnee. There are additionally trip leases situated INSIDE Yosemite Nationwide Park close to the South Entrance within the small neighborhood of Yosemite West.
• Keep Close to the Park: Our private decide for one of the best place to remain close to Yosemite is Rush Creek Lodge close to the Large Oak Flat entrance of Yosemite Nationwide Park, on the west facet. We love its nightly free s’mores, guided hikes and actions, and wonderful spa & massages. Plus, the lodge is a Social Enterprise and licensed B-Company with a social mission and a program that gives jobs to city youth! We’ve bought a full evaluate (and a LOT extra suggestions) in our full information to where to stay near Yosemite. Different choices are AutoCam, Yosemite Cedar Lodge, and Yosemite View Lodge close to the El Portal entrance.

For those who’re feeling rugged and outdoorsy, it’s also possible to glamp in a canvas tent at Curry Village Yosemite contained in the park! Simply convey some very heat blankets.

For extra recommendations, head over to our information on where to stay near Yosemite.

What to Pack for Yosemite within the Winter

Ever heard that saying, “there’s no such factor as unhealthy climate, simply unhealthy clothes?”  Along with conserving you heat as you discover, weatherproof clothes is particularly vital should you’re going to do out of doors actions. So, make sure you bundle up in your favourite cozy sweaters, a heat coat, and waterproof winter boots! We’ve bought all the small print you want.

We advocate carrying a base layer beneath your clothes on chilly days throughout your winter journey – that signifies that the layer closest to your pores and skin ought to all be created from merino wool. Merino wool is tremendous heat, extremely delicate (nope, it’s not itchy) and way more light-weight than artificial materials, in addition to being naturally antibacterial, which suggests you may re-wear it with out the re-wear funk. If wool isn’t your factor, put on an equally insulating textile like hemp or silk. Keep away from non-insulating materials like cotton, and keep in mind that pure fibers are just about all the time higher than artifical textiles like polyester.

After your base layer, you’ll want so as to add on at the very least 1 further layer earlier than your outerwear, like a pair of pants and a sweater. On REALLY chilly days, the place the temperatures are under 10 levels, we advocate including on one other base layer earlier than your clothes layer & outerwear. And should you’re doing winter actions, add a water-proof layer as nicely, like lined snow pants. For extra winter journey packing suggestions, head over to our Cold Weather Packing Guide.

Listed here are our tried and true journey necessities for winter journey.

• Merino Wool Base Layer Leggings: These tremendous comfortable 100% wool leggings operate identical to lengthy underwear. They’re made of sentimental, super-luxurious wool and make your legs really feel like they’re being hugged by a particularly delicate sheep. Jeremy has this pair. You’ll wish to put on these beneath your pants on chilly days throughout your journey.
• Merino Wool Base Layer Undershirt: Laying is essential when it’s this chilly, and also you’ll want to start out with a layer of insulation on prime and backside. If it’s not terribly chilly that day, I can typically get away with a short sleeved and even sleeveless wool base layer. I additionally defintey simply put on my lengthy sleeved base layer as a shirt somtimes! This is mine and this is Jeremy’s.
• Wool Socks: Be sure you don’t simply have run-of-the-mill acrylic socks on your journey – they gained’t hold your toes heat whilst you’re out within the snow! As a substitute, convey socks which might be primarily made of sentimental, heat-regulating wool, like these or these.
• Warm Walking Boots: We advocate boots that may face up to ice or snow, are weatherproof and waterproof, and are snug sufficient to stroll in for HOURS. Sounds darn close to inconceivable, proper? Properly, it’s not. We’ve discovered one of the best boots for winter, and we’re OBSESSED with them (and sure, we each have the identical ones. As a result of we’re kinda gross like that). They’re cute, they’re insanely snug, they’re waterproof leather-based with heat thermal insoles, they usually’re extraordinarily light-weight and foldable so you may stuff them in your bag while you journey. We will’t advocate these boots sufficient, they usually’re the one footwear we convey on chilly climate journeys. They’re made to final they usually’re value each cent. Listed here are my boots and Jeremy’s boots. You’ll be able to learn extra about them in our round-up of our favourite travel shoes for women or for men.
• Travel Jeans:  My favourite journey denims have 6 POCKETS. 6!! And a couple of of them are zipped and hidden inside different pockets, for further pickpocket safety. They’re tremendous stretchy and buttery delicate, dry rapidly even after strolling by means of the snow, and roomy sufficient to layer over an insulating base layer (or two). They’re cozy sufficient to put on on a aircraft, stretchy sufficient to accommodate that 5 further kilos of vacation weight I all the time appear to convey again dwelling with me, they usually’re tremendous cute! We’re each obsessed. You may get a pair of males’s or ladies’s denims on the Aviator USA website.
• Warm Flannel Shirt: I’m in LOVE with the MerinoLux flannel button-down from Royal Robbins. It’s stretchy, it’s cozy, it’s blended with merino wool (yassss) and most significantly, it’s heat AF and tremendous breathable. It’s additionally wrinkle-resistant, odor-resistant, and moisture-wicking, and has a hidden zip pocket – so principally all the things you possibly can ever ask for in a flannel shirt. I’ve been looking for the right flannel for YEARS (, like one which didn’t give me that annoying button-down boob hole and allowed me to truly cross my arms) and that is The One. I adore it! Right here’s mine and Jeremy’s.

• Lined Leggings: On very chilly days, I add an additional layer of insulating heat by throwing a pair of lined leggings on over my base layer and beneath my denims (I’ve additionally worn them with out further pants on prime of my base layer as a result of leggings are actual pants, combat me). I’ve two pairs of heat lined winter leggings, one lined with merino wool and one lined with fleece.
• Warm Hat: A heat hat is an absolute necessity. It additionally doubles as a brilliant cute accent! Did I simply rhyme? You need a hat that may keep in your head when it’s windy wind and hold your ears good and heat – bonus factors if it’s lined. Personally I’m a fan of those with poofs on prime, like this or this. Jeremy is extra of a purist, and likes to put on beanies like this one, which is created from earth-friendly recycled wool and nylon.
• Warm Coat: Your jacket is arguably crucial factor you’ll convey on a winter journey apart from your footwear. It has an enormous job – specifically, conserving you heat however not sweaty, permitting you to truly transfer your arms, and letting you probe for hours with out feeling heavy or restrictive. Plus, it’s gonna be in virtually all your images.  I convey this this cozy fleece-lined coat with me, and Jeremy wears a wool-blend coat much like this one and this one.
• Packable Down Jacket: Jeremy and I every convey two jackets every on our winter journeys: our heavy/cumbersome coats, and a light-weight, travel-friendly packable down jacket. It’s excellent for these days once I need the liberty of not carrying an enormous heavy coat, and it’s additionally a improbable added layer of heat on tremendous chilly days. For this journey, I introduced this down jacket and Jeremy introduced this down jacket.
• Gloves: Don’t go exterior within the winter with out gloves on! Jeremy and I each have these wool gloves that work with touchscreens, as a result of let’s face it, I’ve a tough sufficient time utilizing my cellphone with out carrying gloves. Over these gloves we layer on a thicker pair that enables us to do issues like throw snowballs at one another.
• Scarves:  I LOVE a chunky scarf. They’re my favourite accent! I really like this super soft scarf from Royal Robbins, which is mixed with wool and turns right into a cute scarf or infinity scarf with a couple of well-placed buttons. I’m additionally an enormous fan of scarves which might be sufficiently big to double as blankets, like this one or this one.
• Winter Sports activities Gear: For those who’re planning to go snowboarding or snowboarding in your journey, bringing a couple of issues can simply be packed in your suitcase will prevent money on leases. We advocate these goggles and these gloves for snowboarding, and these travel-friendly crampons for snowshoeing.  

Whew! That ought to hold you heat and toasty. Oh hey, need a printable model? Simply join under and we’ll ship a guidelines straight to your inbox.

Printable Winter Packing Checklist

This FREE 3-page printable packing record will assist be sure you do not forget something on your subsequent winter journey. We’ll additionally ship you our favourite journey suggestions!

Superior! Examine your e-mail for the PDF. Be certain so as to add contact@practicalwanderlust.com to your handle e book so we do not find yourself in spam!

About the Writer: Suzie Dundas is a contract author and editor with bylines in Forbes, the SF Chronicle, Outdoors, TripSavvy, Playboy, Lonely Planet, Insider, Frommers, and plenty of extra. Based mostly in northern California, she’s an enormous fan of the out of doors life-style and is the creator of a historical past and path information to the Sierra Nevada. You’ll be able to observe her on Instagram at @hikeupyourskirt or study extra at SuzieDundas.com. 

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