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 gives you 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 every part 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 publish 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 visitors. The park is BUSY in the summertime! The typical for January? Simply 108,000. Good. So take pleasure in it – there’s one thing magical in regards to the stillness of the park throughout this season, and it nearly looks as if a completely completely different world. 

It’s additionally arguably the perfect time for photographers, even in the event you 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 pictures, and you can also make last-minute lodge and camp reservations fairly simply. 

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

Listed below are just a few key issues to know earlier than you propose your journey to Yosemite Nationwide Park:

• You’ll have much less room to roam (nevertheless it’s nonetheless lots): Yosemite is slightly below 450,000 sq. acres, and about 98 p.c of that’s wilderness (which mainly means undeveloped.) As a result of Tioga Cross Street closes only a few miles previous the Crane Flat intersection, almost every part within the park’s large japanese aspect is inaccessible. You possibly can entry components 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). Nevertheless, 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 potential 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. Nevertheless, 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. Nevertheless, anticipate the nights to be fairly chilly (properly into the 20s), and plan accordingly in the event you’re winter tenting.
• You possibly can camp: Onerous-core guests can apply the fundamentals of tenting within the snow up round Tioga Cross, however in the event you’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 too can 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 supply pay-by-temperature charges – so that you would possibly 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 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. For those who 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 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 are harmful to people are sometimes euthanized. It’s each guests’ accountability to maintain wildlife wild. Each campground and car parking zone could 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 automotive. They’re free and unlocked, so simply discover one with area and toss something with a scent inside somewhat than leaving it in your automotive.
• Re-think that selfie: Yosemite has no scarcity of gorgeous vistas, however there are a number of deaths within the park every year from folks 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: Every little thing 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 12 months, we suggest selecting up an America is Beautiful National Parks Pass. The go 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 lovely! The typical value of admission to a Nationwide Park is $35, which implies that the go shortly pays for itself after only a few visits. AND you’re supporting the Nationwide Park Basis. Win/win! You possibly can choose up a go 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, you recognize the park’s unimaginable story: it was residence to Native People, 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 just a few days within the park and shortly thereafter, Roosevelt gave management of it to the Nationwide Park Service. (PS: Anticipate 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 most of the park’s greatest cultural websites are. You possibly can 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 be open year-round.  

For those who can’t already inform, I 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 below are the perfect issues to do in Yosemite Nationwide Park within the winter (and sure, I extremely suggest 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. The complete park is reworked, and most trails off the Yosemite Valley trails are accessible, besides after unusually heavy snowfalls. Simply you should definitely check the trail closures earlier than planning your day and bundle up in your hike!

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

A number of the greatest 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 limitless photograph alternatives – it’s essentially the most iconic hike within the Valley, for a motive. The Mist Path has a safer “winter route” which avoids parts of the paths have overhanging rock the place massive icicles type and fall onto the path under (as a result of, you recognize, loss of life by icicles) and usually slippery passage. You possibly can 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 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 just a few 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 typically see plein air painters and photographers within the valley capturing or portray on sunny days. If there may be snow on the bottom, it might 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 might even be iced up! Additionally an important spot to snowshoe if it’s snowy out.
• Mountain climbing Trails in Wawona: Exterior of the Valley, you may hike in Wawona (to the south of the park) because it has some somewhat 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 probability 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 ft above (in any case, 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. Word that in the event 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 Big 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 achieve the grove. However it’s positively a tremendous strategy to see some actually previous, actually tall bushes with a lot much less crowds!

Time-travel at a basic vacation feast

The annual Bracebridge Dinner on the Ahwahnee Lodge in Yosemite is among the park’s most well-known traditions, and for good motive: 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 motive. It’s ridiculous and foolish and irreverant and over-the-top – very a lot a kind 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 music, dance, merriment, 7 programs of traditionally correct gourmand delicacies, and sufficient leisure that you simply received’t notice 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 practice that has been happening each vacation season within the Ahwahnee’s luxurious eating room because the late Nineteen Twenties; in reality, 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 you should definitely 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 arduous 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 properly upfront, that are round $340 per particular person, together with dinner and gratuities.

If the Bracebridge Dinner is slightly too steep, contemplate 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 nearly 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 means you look.

Do not forget 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 attractive roads, even when they’re considerably restricted by the wintertime and the snow (bear in mind: Tioga Cross and Glacier Level Street are all the time closed within the winter).

Though you may occupy your self with numerous trails and websites within the valley, it’s price attending to see extra of the place your ft can’t take you. Plus, all of those drives go by trailheads, scenic turnouts, and basic Yosemite sights that you simply received’t wish to miss.

• Yosemite Valley Loop: On this loop across the Valley flooring 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 folks consider Yosemite, this is what they’re picturing. One mile huge by seven miles lengthy, this slim valley homes lots of Yosemite’s facilities – and due to this fact crowds – however fortunate for you, the wintertime sees means fewer folks. Plan to make a bunch of stops at well-liked turnouts, picnic spots, and trailheads. You too can take a guided, park-run bus tour – the heated trolley with clear plastic partitions is slow-moving so you could have loads of time to take pictures, and since they’ll 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 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 way much less traveled, however nonetheless boasts majestic Yosemite surroundings. From Evergreen Street (exterior of the Massive 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 an extended 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. Word that despite the fact 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 implausible possibility is to take a guided tour from San Fransisco. You possibly can sit again and calm down as you’re pushed to a lot of the main websites in someday, together with Tunnel View, Tuolumne Grove, and Yosemite Valley, plus lunch and mountain climbing.

You too can 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 trouble of planning, these excursions are a implausible 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 under. You simply need to get right here!

For those who’re a cross-country skier, you should purchase a day go 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.

Nevertheless, when you’ve got slightly expertise cross nation snowboarding however would really like some assist, you may go along with a information, who will maintain all the small print, together with the meals, snacks, and s’mores (the essential stuff). All you need to do is carry your personal items like heat gear and a sleeping bag, which you can too lease in the event 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 means the ten.5 miles to the high-altitude hut (3,200 ft), 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 revel 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 may take a look at close by, attractive 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 telephone, 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 carry sun shades – the sunshine and morning fog typically 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 possibly can 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 a good way to discover trails in any other case coated in snow. It solely takes a little bit of apply (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 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 highway noise and voices, so being even only a mile previous a trailhead will be extremely quiet. You’ll be capable of hear chook songs, search for footprints from every part from raccoons to – possibly! – 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, when you’ve got your personal snowshoes, you may discover by yourself anyplace within the park, together with any mountain climbing trails which are open!

You’ll must test the exercise information upfront for the season you’re visiting to see which lessons are occurring when. Rangers gives you a seasonal exercise information whenever you drive into the park, or you may 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 particular person, relying on the situation and issue. 

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 via snow-dusted evergreens, it’s really an important spot for inexperienced persons! The longest run solely has a drop of about 800 ft, making every lap up the chairlift (of which there are 5) fairly fast.

For those who’re not into snowboarding or snowboarding, you can too go snow tubing – or simply cozy up on the deck whereas watching the motion!

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

For those who’re exterior the park on the japanese aspect (by Mono Lake and June Lake), you may drive to Yosemite Ski & Snowboard, although parking is proscribed. For those who’re anyplace else within the park, you’ll must take the free ski resort shuttle from the Valley. When there’s lots 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 (also called Camp Curry and Half Dome Village) opens in December, climate pending.

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

You possibly can’t purchase tickets upfront, however contemplating the small crowds and enormous 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 sizzling chocolate within the cafeteria (simply sayin’!).

Go on a free winter digital camera stroll

For those who thought Yosemite was lovely 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 will 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 enroll in 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 gives you recommendations on utilizing your digital camera through the class and present you the perfect 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. Fundamental digital camera walks are free, although extra superior lessons could have a charge and require advanced registration online. 

This can be a nice time to carry the widest-angle lens you could have so you may seize the sunny valley and snow-covered peaks within the distance!

For inspiration, you should definitely cease and discover the Ansel Adams Gallery. Ansel Adams was a famed nature photographer, whose black-and-white pictures of Yosemite have been a number of 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 really took a really related photograph known as “Selfie, the face of me in entrance of Half Dome” however in some way it didn’t catch on.)

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

Study 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 assets through 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 Nineteen Sixties, however have been in the end completely pushed out by the mid-Twentieth century. Whereas Yosemite’s Indigenous neighborhood now 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 hundredth anniversary in 2022, is the cultural gateway to the park and the perfect place to find out about 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, just a few 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, houses, recreated examples of summer season and winter houses, and native gardens. Contained in the museum, there’ll typically be descendants of the Yosemite Miwok making and displaying conventional crafts and abilities like beadwork or basket-making.

Stroll via the historic Ahwahnee Lodge 

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 season lodges. Arriving on the park was fairly the journey within the early Twentieth century, requiring an extended practice journey adopted by a chronic (and really bumpy) carriage journey from Merced. Visitors would keep for weeks at a time because the journey was so lengthy, and the Ahwahnee was designed to be their luxurious residence within the Sierra Nevada. 

At the moment, the Ahwahnee is open to the general public, so you may benefit from the majesty (and eerie vibes) at your personal leisure. You possibly can take a free self-guided lodge tour, which is obtainable on the concierge desk, so you may study in regards to the historical past and building 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 massive sufficient to stroll into function bookends to the principle salon, and historic pictures and artifacts line the partitions.

You’ll additionally discover that the Ahwahnee doesn’t match into anyone explicit architectural type (until “fabulous” and “for wealthy folks” counts as an architectural type, and in the event you’ve ever visited Hearst Castle on Highway One, you recognize what I imply). Somewhat, it’s an amalgamation of a number of ideas: stone columns to assist the huge fireplaces, massive 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 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 loss of life in 1970, purportedly nonetheless lives on the sixth flooring, the place her condo was positioned. Shortly after her loss of life sightings of her apparition turned a standard incidence, and other people see unusual issues on that flooring 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 pink 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 have been shot on the Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood, Oregon, the pink and plush, barely sinister-feeling exteriors have been pulled straight from the Ahwahnee. Eerie, no?

Whenever 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 provides American dishes with a world twist; assume garlic-crusted lamb with mint yogurt sauce and contemporary fish with a miso glaze.

Through the winter, the Eating Room is reworked 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 in every of 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 season visitors. That’s in all probability as a result of it largely flows throughout winter, beginning in round January, when there’s sufficient every day snowmelt.

Nevertheless, 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 could have 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 provides the perfect views. You could find extra particulars in regards to the restriction and dates here.

It is going to 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 highway operating 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 predicted 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 implausible winter stargazing in Yosemite. Not solely do smaller crowds imply much less mild air pollution, however earlier sunsets imply you received’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 crucial 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,” known as the “canine star.” (Trace: it’s the brightest star within the winter sky.)

You possibly can typically see galaxies unaided on very clear nights (which additionally are usually the coldest, so bundle up). All of those will be found with the star apps prompt within the ideas under!

You too can take part in a group stargazing class. They run most evenings, apart 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 every 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, strive the valley throughout the road from the Camp Curry parking lot or throughout from the Little Yosemite Chapel. However realistically, anyplace within the park will do so long as you’re just a few hundred ft or so from a lightweight supply. Visitors are allowed to stroll wherever they need within the park day or night time. You too can discover a number of the greatest stargazing spots here.

Ideas for stargazing in Yosemite Nationwide Park:

• Don’t cease or stand within the highway: The entire lights in Yosemite are shut off through the night time, which implies that the park is pitch black and oncoming automobiles received’t be capable of see you.
• Deliver a headlamp or a pink flashlight: A headlamp is one in every of my private favourite camping essentials, nevertheless it’s essential in the event you’re stargazing away out of your automotive. Headlamps are the perfect as a result of they’re hands-free and you’ll level the sunshine downward to keep away from extra mild air pollution, which additionally helps you keep away from shining mild in your eyes (it might take 20 minutes in your eyes to readapt to the darkish – not superb for stargazing!). A red flashlight additionally works extraordinarily properly and can take much less time in your eyes to re-adjust to the darkish.
• Obtain a stargazing app or carry a chart: Deliver a star chart or app that will help you discover constellations and possibly even planets! Apps like Sky Guide and Night Sky are tremendous useful in you can face your telephone in the direction of a selected star or constellation and it’ll let you know what it’s, and also will have tons of knowledge inbuilt about what you’re looking at. Simply ensure to show your display brightness means down.
• Photographers will wish to carry alongside a camera tripod (and a phone mount to make use of your telephone). To take starry night time pictures, you might want to preserve your telephone extraordinarily nonetheless and take a really lengthy publicity, which allows a ton of sunshine – and ideally, there’s no different mild however the stars, so that you’ll get that good 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 throughout 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 12 months.

That stated, although they have a tendency to replenish much less shortly 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 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 positioned 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 perfect place to remain close to Yosemite is Rush Creek Lodge close to the Massive 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 licensed B-Company with a social mission and a program that gives jobs to city youth! We’ve received a full overview (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.

For those who’re feeling rugged and outdoorsy, you can too 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 conserving you heat as you discover, weatherproof clothes is very essential in the event you’re going to do out of doors actions. So, you should definitely bundle up in your favourite cozy sweaters, a heat coat, and waterproof winter boots! We’ve received all the small print you want.

We suggest carrying a base layer beneath your clothes on chilly days throughout your winter journey – that implies 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 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 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 under 10 levels, we suggest including on one other base layer earlier than your clothes layer & outerwear. And in the event you’re doing winter actions, add a water-resistant layer as properly, like lined snow pants. For extra winter journey packing ideas, head over to our Cold Weather Packing Guide.

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

• Merino Wool Base Layer Leggings: These tremendous comfortable 100% wool leggings perform identical 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 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 to don’t simply have run-of-the-mill acrylic socks in your journey – they received’t preserve your ft heat when you’re out within the snow! As an alternative, carry socks which are 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 comfy sufficient to stroll in for HOURS. Sounds darn close to unimaginable, proper? Properly, it’s not. We’ve discovered the perfect 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 comfy, 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 whenever you journey. We will’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 price each cent. Listed below are my boots and Jeremy’s boots. You possibly can 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 further pickpocket safety. They’re tremendous stretchy and buttery smooth, dry shortly 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 airplane, stretchy sufficient to accommodate that 5 further kilos of vacation weight I all the time appear to carry again residence with me, they usually’re tremendous cute! We’re each obsessed. You will 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 mainly every part you might ever ask for in a flannel shirt. I’ve been trying to find the proper flannel for YEARS (you recognize, like one which didn’t give me that annoying button-down boob hole and allowed me to really cross my arms) and that is The One. I find it irresistible! 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 below my denims (I’ve additionally worn them with out further pants on high of my base layer as a result of leggings are actual pants, struggle 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 may 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 crucial factor you’ll carry on a winter journey apart from your sneakers. It has a giant job – particularly, conserving you heat however not sweaty, permitting you to really transfer your arms, and letting you probe for hours with out feeling heavy or restrictive. Plus, it’s gonna be in nearly your whole pictures.  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 good for these days after I need the liberty of not carrying a giant heavy coat, and it’s additionally a implausible 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 telephone with out carrying 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 like this super soft scarf from Royal Robbins, which is mixed with wool and turns right into a cute scarf or infinity scarf with just a few well-placed buttons. I’m additionally a giant fan of scarves which are large enough 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 just a few 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 under and we’ll ship a guidelines straight to your inbox.

Printable Winter Packing Listing

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

Superior! Test your e-mail for the PDF. Ensure so as to add contact@practicalwanderlust.com to your tackle e book so we do not find yourself in spam!

About the Creator: 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 life-style and is the writer of a historical past and path information to the Sierra Nevada. You possibly can observe her on Instagram at @hikeupyourskirt or study extra at SuzieDundas.com. 

Are you planning a Yosemite winter journey? Which a part of Yosemite Nationwide Park within the winter do you wish to discover first? Tell us within the feedback under.

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