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 offers 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 among the trails.

Is Yosemite Nationwide Park crowded within the winter?

Within the winter, anticipate practically all the pieces within the park to be lined 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 submit for extra particulars.)

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

It’s additionally arguably the very best time for photographers, even if you happen to can’t attain all of the park’s distant corners. In winter it’s straightforward to seek 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 lodge and camp reservations fairly simply. 

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

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

• You’ll have much less room to roam (however it’s nonetheless loads): Yosemite is slightly below 450,000 sq. acres, and about 98 % of that’s wilderness (which principally means undeveloped.) As a result of Tioga Go Highway closes only a few miles previous the Crane Flat intersection, practically all the pieces within the park’s large jap aspect is inaccessible. You may entry components of the park from exterior the park through Tioga Go Highway, 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 likely be lined in snow all winter. The overwhelming majority of winter guests keep within the Valley, although it’s potential to entry the Hetch Hetchy, Wawona, and Crane Flat areas of the park, too.
• The climate could 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 could be fairly darn good. Days are sometimes sunny and generally within the 50s F and even low 60s. Nonetheless, anticipate the nights to be fairly chilly (nicely into the 20s), and plan accordingly if you happen to’re winter tenting.
• You may camp: Laborious-core guests can observe the fundamentals of tenting within the snow up round Tioga Go, however if you happen to’re not eager on digging into the snow to pitch your tent, e-book a website 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. You may also get backcountry travel permits in the winter, however you’ll must journey through cross-country skis and be a talented winter backpacker and navigator. Or, you’ll be able to glamp! Some websites even supply pay-by-temperature charges – so that you would possibly even find yourself with a free keep! In case you’re staying in one of many park’s tents at Curry Village, you’ll have a small heater, however you’ll probably wish to carry 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. In case you see trash, choose 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 automobile: Bears are smart and are greater than able to opening automobile doorways and smashing home windows. Bears that affiliate people with meals can turn out to be 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 may have dozens of metallic bear bins – out of doors lockers the place visitors can safely retailer their meals for the day as a substitute of leaving it of their automobile. They’re free and unlocked, so simply discover one with house and toss something with a scent inside slightly than leaving it in your automobile.
• Re-think that selfie: Yosemite has no scarcity of gorgeous vistas, however there are a number of deaths within the park annually from folks getting too near cliffs to seize a photograph. Be extraordinarily cautious, particularly round widespread lookout factors like Vernal Falls. They are often particularly treacherous within the winter, particularly when you’ll be able to’t see that they’re lined in ice.
• Decelerate: Every thing from bears to squirrels to deer and even the occasional mountain lion could run in entrance of your automobile with out warning. Don’t let your negligence trigger an animal’s demise.

Psst: In case you’re planning to go to a number of parks this yr, we suggest choosing 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 may choose up a move online at REI or in individual at any Nationwide Park.

Issues to do in Yosemite Nationwide Park in Winter

In case you learn our different(learn: non-winter) guide to Yosemite National Park, you understand the park’s unimaginable story: it was dwelling to Native People, then ranchers (who generally 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 number 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 by way of defending the park.)

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

In case you 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 annually. Listed here are the very best issues to do in Yosemite Nationwide Park within the winter (and sure, I extremely suggest it!) 

Take a hike

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

Precisely which Valley hikes are accessible within the winter depends upon snow and ice. Many of the Valley trails are open by default, aside from after storms when they might 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. 

A few of 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 beneath (as a result of, you understand, demise by icicles) and customarily slippery passage. You may 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 positive aspects minimal elevation and could be finished as a 7.2-mile half-loop or a full loop at 11.5 miles. It passes lots 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 number of stone bridges over streams. Alongside the way in which are a number of well-marked factors the place you’ll be able to sit and picnic on the river, and also you’ll typically 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 could simply be snowshoed.
• Mirror Lake Loop Trail: This 2.4 or 4 mile is brief and largely flat and heads east, main via 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 iced up! Additionally an awesome spot to snowshoe if it’s snowy out.
• Mountain climbing Trails in Wawona: Exterior of the Valley, you’ll be able to hike in Wawona (to the south of the park) because it has some slightly flat trails. The Wawona Swinging Bridge Trail  is a straightforward hike to the bridge, solely about .75 miles spherical journey, after which you’ll be able to watch the gorgeous waters of the Merced flowing beneath you. Who doesn’t love a swinging bridge? The Wawona Meadow Loop can also be simply hikeable within the winter, and si a superb probability to see extra bushes and grass.
• Hike in Hetch Hetchy: Hetch Hetchy is open within the winter, and the easiest way to see the world 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 widespread and many 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. Word that if you happen to 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 Big Seqouias: All three of the sequoia groves are open and accessible by automobile throughout 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 prone to have the least quantity of snow, although you’ll must stroll two miles down a closed street from the parking space to succeed in the grove. But it surely’s positively a tremendous strategy to see some actually previous, 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 without doubt one of the park’s most well-known traditions, and for good cause: the epic vacation feast, full with musical numbers accompanying every course, transports visitors 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 type of quirky must-be-Northern-California traditions.

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

The Bracebridge Dinner is a practice that has been going down each vacation season within the Ahwahnee’s luxurious eating room for the reason that late Twenties; the truth is, 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 to 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 finished.

Whereas this dinner is an costly expertise (and tickets are exhausting to snag) it’s a type 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 midst of a snowy Nationwide Park?? To take part within the enjoyable, you’ll must buy tickets nicely upfront, that are round $340 per individual, together with dinner and gratuities.

If the Bracebridge Dinner is a little bit too steep, think about attending one of many Ahwahnee’s different vacation occasions, just like the seasonal choral concerts, that are utterly 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. Severely, each drive in and round Yosemite is a scenic journey via the center of the Sierra Nevada, and majestic mountain surroundings greets you each which manner you look.

Do not forget that Yosemite Nationwide Park is HUGE, so to see as a lot as you’ll be able to, take a day to discover among the park’s beautiful roads, even when they’re considerably restricted by the wintertime and the snow (bear in mind: Tioga Go and Glacier Level Highway are all the time closed within the winter).

Despite the fact that you’ll be able to 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 lots 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 folks consider Yosemite, this is what they’re picturing. One mile vast by seven miles lengthy, this slim valley homes a number of Yosemite’s facilities – and due to this fact crowds – however fortunate for you, the wintertime sees manner fewer folks. Plan to make a bunch of stops at widespread turnouts, picnic spots, and trailheads. You may also 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’ll benefit from 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 wildlife 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 Highway (exterior of the Huge Oak Flat entrance station), Hetch Hetchy Highway 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 prone 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. Word that despite the fact that Hetch Hetchy Highway is open year-round, it generally closes as a result of snow.

Don’t wish to drive by yourself? In case you’re staying exterior of the park, one other incredible possibility is to take a guided tour from San Fransisco. You may sit again and calm down as you’re pushed to many of the main websites in at some point, together with Tunnel View, Tuolumne Grove, and Yosemite Valley, plus lunch and mountain climbing.

You may also select to go to the park on a guided tour with transportation from Los Angeles. In case you’re involved about transportation, wanting so as to add Yosemite to an current California journey, or don’t wish to mess with the trouble of planning, these excursions are a incredible possibility.

Spend the night time on the Glacier Level Hut

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

In case you’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, in case you have a little bit expertise cross nation snowboarding however would really like some assist, you’ll be able to go along with a information, who will care for all the small print, together with the meals, snacks, and s’mores (the essential stuff). All you must do is carry your personal items like heat gear and a sleeping bag, which it’s also possible to hire if you happen to 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 manner the ten.5 miles to the high-altitude hut (3,200 toes), passing views like Clark Range and Washburn Point, providing 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.

Whilst you have the choice to do a one or two-night keep, Visit Yosemite recommends you keep two nights so you’ll be able to try 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 sort of sleeping expertise, you’ll have an opportunity to bond with fellow nature fans and unplug out of your cellphone, as there isn’t 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. Make sure you carry sun shades – the sunshine and morning fog typically casts heat shades of pink, orange, and gold on the snow.

In your remaining 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 may e-book your journey in advance online here.

Go snowshoeing

In case you’ve by no means been snowshoeing earlier than, you’ll be spoiled when you’ve finished it in Yosemite. Snowshoeing in Yosemite could be a good way to discover trails in any other case lined 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 making an attempt to stroll via the snow with simply boots. 

Snowshoeing in Yosemite is a particularly peaceable expertise, and never simply because the sneakers can transfer you silently via the woods. Snow muffles the sounds of civilization like street noise and voices, so being even only a mile previous a trailhead could be extremely quiet. You’ll be capable to hear hen songs, search for footprints from all the pieces 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 Go (the ski space), since that’s the one shuttle-accessible a part of the park reliably lined in snow. In fact, in case you have your individual snowshoes, you’ll be able to discover by yourself wherever within the park, together with any mountain climbing trails which might be open!

You’ll must test the exercise information upfront for the season you’re visiting to see which lessons are taking place when. Rangers will provide you with a seasonal exercise information if you drive into the park, or you’ll be able to test the website a month or so upfront 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 individual, relying on the situation and issue. 

Hit the slopes

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

In case you’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 cheap by ski resort requirements.

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

Go ice skating at Curry Village

In case you’re searching for one thing lively 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 at least one aspect and shiny evergreens to the opposite sides, making a merely iconic winter expertise – it seems like one thing out of a Nineteen Thirties Christmas film. And that’s sort of acceptable, contemplating the rink has been an annual prevalence within the park since 1928. 

You may’t purchase tickets upfront, however contemplating the small crowds and huge measurement of the rink, you’re unlikely to have a lot of a wait.

Non-skaters can hang around exterior the rink, warming by the fireplace 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 heart and scorching chocolate within the cafeteria (simply sayin’!).

Go on a free winter digital camera stroll

In case you thought Yosemite was stunning in the summertime, wait till you see it with a glistening of snow on high. And even when it’s not snowing, the dew and fog lifting out of the Valley within the mornings could be completely gorgeous. That’s in all probability why the Ansel Adams Gallery runs all their pictures 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 throughout the class and present you the very best vantage factors and angles of the park’s hottest websites. They even supply 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 carry the widest-angle lens you’ve gotten so you’ll be able to seize the sunny valley and snow-covered peaks within the distance!

For inspiration, make sure to cease and discover the Ansel Adams Gallery. Ansel Adams was a famed nature photographer, whose black-and-white images of Yosemite had been among the first printed in nationwide newspapers and magazines. He first totally realized work is his {photograph} “Monolith, The Face of Half Dome” which he took in 1927 at simply 25 years previous. (At age 25 I truly took a really related photograph known 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 in regards to the park’s Indigenous neighborhood 

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

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

The Yosemite Museum, which celebrates its a centesimal anniversary in 2022, is the cultural gateway to the park and the very best place to study Yosemite’s authentic 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 via 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 number of of that are nonetheless sometimes utilized by Native People.

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

Stroll via the historic Ahwahnee Resort 

The Ahwahnee Hotel is the epitome of a historic nationwide park lodge. 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 experience adopted by a protracted (and really bumpy) carriage experience from Merced. Visitors 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. 

At present, the Ahwahnee is open to the general public, so you’ll be able to benefit from the majesty (and eerie vibes) at your individual leisure. You may take a free self-guided lodge tour, which is offered on the concierge desk, so you’ll be able to be taught in regards to the historical past and development of the lodge.

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 anybody explicit architectural type (except “fabulous” and “for wealthy folks” counts as an architectural type, and if you happen to’ve ever visited Hearst Castle on Highway One, you understand what I imply). Somewhat, 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.

Through the years 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 lately President Barack Obama.

The lodge 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 demise in 1970, purportedly nonetheless lives on the sixth ground, the place her condominium was situated. Shortly after her demise sightings of her apparition turned a traditional prevalence, 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 Resort in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Whereas the Stanley Resort 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 finished exploring, seize an area beer on the Ahwahnee Bar, or have dinner within the opulent mountain view Dining Room, with large log beams working the size of the large room. The menu affords American dishes with a global twist; assume garlic-crusted lamb with mint yogurt sauce and contemporary fish with a miso glaze.

In the course of the winter, the Eating Room is remodeled into an 18th century English manor for the annual Bracebridge Dinner, a superb and enjoyable 7-course meal and costumed Christmas pageant by candlelight full with vacation splendor and reside theatre. The dinner has been working 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 in all six waterfalls within the valley (Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls, Ribbon Falls, and Sentinel Falls are the others) and it’s often neglected by summer time visitors. 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 location of the well-known “Firefall.” It often occurs in mid-February, and the reflection of the sundown makes it look shiny orange – like hearth 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 affords the very best views. You’ll find extra particulars in regards to the restriction and dates here.

Will probably be fairly chilly as soon as the solar goes down, so carry gloves and beanies. Depart your self sufficient time for the stroll and provides your self no less than two nights to see it because it’s not seen on overcast days.

The street working previous Horsetail Falls (Northside Drive) can get sluggish and busy near sundown, so attempt to be within the park no less than 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

In case you can courageous the chilly, lengthy nights, you’ll be rewarded with incredible 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 check the skies. 

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

You may generally see galaxies unaided on very clear nights (which additionally are typically the coldest, so bundle up). All of those could be found with the star apps steered within the ideas beneath!

You may also 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 shiny 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 individual. 

If you wish to stargaze by yourself, strive 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 number of hundred toes or so from a lightweight supply. Visitors are allowed to stroll wherever they need within the park day or night time. You may also discover among the finest stargazing spots here.

Suggestions for stargazing in Yosemite Nationwide Park:

• Don’t cease or stand within the street: The entire lights in Yosemite are shut off throughout the night time, which signifies that the park is pitch black and oncoming vehicles gained’t be capable to see you.
• Convey a headlamp or a purple flashlight: A headlamp is one in all my private favourite camping essentials, however it’s essential if you happen to’re stargazing away out of your automobile. Headlamps are the very 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 could take 20 minutes on your eyes to readapt to the darkish – not ultimate 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 carry 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 you can face your cellphone in direction of a selected star or constellation and it’ll inform you what it’s, and also will have tons of knowledge inbuilt about what you’re looking at. Simply make sure that to show your display screen brightness manner down.
• Photographers will wish to carry alongside a camera tripod (and a phone mount to make use of your cellphone). To take starry night time images, it is advisable to preserve 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 capable of snag cheap rooms throughout the park correct. Yosemite additionally has loads of lodging choices surrounding the park, and costs are a lot decrease throughout the winter than the remainder of the yr.

That stated, although they have an inclination to refill much less rapidly in winter, it by no means hurts to make your reservations as early as you’ll be able to – you’ll be able to all the time cancel them later in case your plans change!

• Keep within the Park: The Ahwahnee is the park’s grandest lodge, on the western aspect of the Valley. The Yosemite Valley Lodge is the closest to Yosemite Falls and is clear and comfy, 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 choose for the very best place to remain close to Yosemite is Rush Creek Lodge close to the Huge Oak Flat entrance of Yosemite Nationwide Park, on the west aspect. We love its nightly free s’mores, guided hikes and actions, and superb spa & massages. Plus, the lodge is a Social Enterprise and authorized B-Company with a social mission and a program that gives jobs to city youth! We’ve acquired a full assessment (and a LOT extra ideas) 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.

In case you’re feeling rugged and outdoorsy, it’s also possible to glamp in a canvas tent at Curry Village Yosemite contained in the park! Simply carry some very heat blankets.

For extra strategies, 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 maintaining you heat as you discover, weatherproof clothes is particularly essential if you happen to’re going to do out of doors actions. So, make sure to bundle up in your favourite cozy sweaters, a heat coat, and waterproof winter boots! We’ve acquired all the small print you want.

We suggest sporting 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 constituted of merino wool. Merino wool is tremendous heat, extremely smooth (nope, it’s not itchy) and rather more light-weight than artificial materials, in addition to being naturally antibacterial, which suggests you’ll be able to 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 do not forget 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 no less than 1 extra layer earlier than your outerwear, like a pair of pants and a sweater. On REALLY chilly days, the place the temperatures are beneath 10 levels, we suggest including on one other base layer earlier than your clothes layer & outerwear. And if you happen to’re doing winter actions, add a water-resistant layer as nicely, like lined snow pants. For extra winter journey packing ideas, 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 similar to lengthy underwear. They’re made of soppy, super-luxurious wool and make your legs really feel like they’re being hugged by a particularly smooth 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 high and backside. If it’s not terribly chilly that day, I can generally 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 to don’t simply have run-of-the-mill acrylic socks on your journey – they gained’t preserve your toes heat when you’re out within the snow! As an alternative, carry socks which might be primarily made of soppy, heat-regulating wool, like these or these.
• Warm Walking Boots: We suggest 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 unattainable, proper? Properly, it’s not. We’ve discovered the very 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’ll be able to stuff them in your bag if you journey. We are able to’t suggest these boots sufficient, they usually’re the one sneakers we carry 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 may 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 pair of of them are zipped and hidden inside different pockets, for additional pickpocket safety. They’re tremendous stretchy and buttery smooth, dry rapidly even after strolling via 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 additional kilos of vacation weight I all the time appear to carry again dwelling with me, they usually’re tremendous cute! We’re each obsessed. You will get a pair of males’s or girls’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 pieces you might ever ask for in a flannel shirt. I’ve been looking for the proper flannel for YEARS (you understand, 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 additional pants on high of my base layer as a result of leggings are actual pants, battle 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 desire a hat that can keep in your head when it’s windy wind and preserve your ears good and heat – bonus factors if it’s lined. Personally I’m a fan of those with poofs on high, like this or this. Jeremy is extra of a purist, and likes to put on beanies like this one, which is constituted of earth-friendly recycled wool and nylon.
• Warm Coat: Your jacket is arguably an important factor you’ll carry on a winter journey aside from your sneakers. It has an enormous job – specifically, maintaining 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 carry this this cozy fleece-lined coat with me, and Jeremy wears a wool-blend coat just like this one and this one.
• Packable Down Jacket: Jeremy and I every carry 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 sporting an enormous heavy coat, and it’s additionally a incredible 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 sporting gloves. Over these gloves we layer on a thicker pair that permits 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 number of well-placed buttons. I’m additionally an enormous fan of scarves which might be large enough to double as blankets, like this one or this one.
• Winter Sports activities Gear: In case you’re planning to go snowboarding or snowboarding in your journey, bringing a number of issues can simply be packed in your suitcase will prevent money on leases. We suggest these goggles and these gloves for snowboarding, and these travel-friendly crampons for snowshoeing.  

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

Printable Winter Packing Record

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

Superior! Test your e-mail for the PDF. Be sure that so as to add contact@practicalwanderlust.com to your tackle 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, Exterior, TripSavvy, Playboy, Lonely Planet, Insider, Frommers, and plenty of extra. Primarily based in northern California, she’s an enormous fan of the out of doors way of life and is the creator of a historical past and path information to the Sierra Nevada. You may observe her on Instagram at @hikeupyourskirt or be taught extra at SuzieDundas.com. 

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