Visiting Yosemite National Park

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Winter Activities

Winter Driving

Taking Pictures

Tenaya Lodge

Yosemite View Lodge

Because the Yosemite Valley itself is only at 4,000 feet elevation, often the valley floor is dry but the rocks and mountains above are covered with snow. Winter temperatures range from 53°F (12°C) to 28°F (-2°C). The weather can change very quickly so be prepared for snow anytime you go between October and May.

The park entrance fee is $20 per car, is valid for seven days, and includes all occupants of the car.

Winter in Yosemite

Park Rangers offer a guided snowshoeing hike on the weekends throughout the winter. Check the park bulletin for times. Hikes start at the base of Badger Pass. Park snowshoes are available for $5.

The Mariposa Grove hiking is interesting year round. The road to the grove of giant redwood trees is closed during the winter so you will need to hike up the hill to the grove. The road is steep and can be icy.

Yosemite waterfalls flow most of the winter. When it is warmer, there is more water, when it is colder there is less. If it is very cold they are frozen. There are two major falls that can be viewed from the valley.

Opportunities to view wildlife continue through the winter. The bears are hibernating, but deer and coyotes are active. We have seen coyotes hunting while in the valley both times we visited in the winter.

Two major roads are closed in Yosemite National Park in the winter.

• Highway 120 through the park
• The road to Glacier Point

That means you will not be able to drive from the western side of the Sierra mountains to the eastern side in the winter. The only ways to get to Mono lake or Mammoth Mountain are to the north via Highway 80 through Reno or to the south on Highway 395.

There are three roads that lead from the west to Yosemite National Park. Each one of them has its pros and cons.

• Highway 120 from the north: In the winter, highway 120 often requires chains for a long distance since it is at a high elevation. It is a beautiful drive with lovely views.
• Highway 41 from the south: Highway 41 takes travelers over Badger Pass between the south entrance of the park and the valley floor, you will therefore be likely to need chains.
• Highway 140 in the middle: You will only need chains on this road in the coldest and snowiest weather. Highway 140 had a major rock slide several years ago that has not been repaired yet. A detour has been set up, but it is only one lane wide, so you will likely have to stop to wait your turn to pass.

What are highway 140 road conditions?

Photographers at Tunnel View

Mirror Lake reflecting Mt. Watkins. Keep in mind that during much of the winter, mirror lake has very little water in it and what water is there, is frozen.

Taking Pictures in Yosemite in the Winter

Yosemite Valley is most beautiful after a recent snow. Some of the best places to take pictures in the summer are the same places to take good pictures in the winter. To see a map of where each these pictures of Yosemite was taken look on my Flickr Photo Map.

The winter light shines on Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and much of the valley floor for most of the day. If you are there when the sun is shining, your biggest challenge will be reducing the contrast between the bright sky and snow, next to the dark pine trees.

This is particularly difficult with a digital camera. One way to solve the problem is to use a graduated filter. I also recommend a polarizer when taking photos of blue sky against snow and/or clouds. Another way to reduce the contrast is to take a picture of the snowy mountains when reflected on the Merced River. (See the photo at the top of the page.)

This picture was taken from the Tunnel View parking area. This is just east of the tunnel on Highway 41 as you drive from the southern entrance of the park, into Yosemite Valley.

Winter Camping and Backpacking Hearty soles can camp and backpack in Yosemite National Park all year round. Camping reservations can be made through the normal process; via Recreation.gov Do you need reservations in the winter? Probably not. Backpackers do need to secure a back country permit. Get wilderness information and permits online from the Yosemite Wilderness website. Remember, bear canisters are required in most of Yosemite's wilderness.

Tenaya Lodge

Tenaya Lodge is located south, of the south entrance of Yosemite National Park on Highway 41. This hotel is fairly new and has all of the amenities you would expect in a large hotel. There is an indoor and outdoor swimming pool and a very inadequate indoor hot tub. An ice skating rink operates in the winter.

The hotel is self contained, which is a good thing since there are very few services near-by. The restaurant is higher end and the bar has a nice, casual dinning restaurant adjacent to it.

The picture to the left of Tenaya Lodge doesn't do the interior justice. The architectural design is very nice and reminiscent of an old fashioned lodge, complete with a large stone fireplace; however, this is a new hotel and does not have the charm of the Yellowstone Lodge, in Yellowstone National Park.

Yosemite View Lodge

Yosemite View Lodge is located west of Yosemite Valley on highway 140 in El Portal, California. This very large motel is the closest motel to, but outside Yosemite National Park. They have a variety of rooms, including kitchens and rooms that sleep 6 with some privacy. They call them family suites. The interiors are quite nice, all (I think) have small balconies overlooking the Merced River and gas fire places.

Amenities include two restaurants and two outdoor pools. There is more than one outdoor hot tub, although when were were there they were only warm.

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