Offseason travel is where I thrive. Landscapes that change with the weather, cheaper gas and accommodations and, best of all, the lack of crowds are what keep me visiting places during less-popular times. I’ve yet to explore around Yosemite National Park because of the hype around it, despite only living a few hours away. But visiting Yosemite in the winter supplied me with more than I expected and proved to be the best time to see the park.
Visiting Yosemite in the Winter vs. Summer
As with most locations throughout the world, summertime crowds flock to the Sierra Nevadas to see the best of what it has to offer. Since I was visiting Yosemite in the winter, I was worried that I wouldn’t get the gist of the park but it turned out better than expected. Lucky for us, snow in the Sierra’s has been light this season and, with warming temperatures, there was barely any snow on the ground during our early February visit.
Although we were blessed with early-summer-like weather while visiting Yosemite in the winter, all of the normal seasonal shut-downs were in effect. The world-renowned view up at Glacier Point was inaccessible, which also includes Taft Point. Some of the cooler trails that have been on my list, like Half Dome or the Mist Trail, were also shut down for the season.
The most difficult winter-closing that affected our trip was Tioga Pass and a few other routes which would allow us to reach the east side of the park easily. Even with all of these closures, there were still multiple must-see spots I was able to delve myself in.
It’s important to note that you must carry tire chains at all times while visiting Yosemite in the winter. Chain requirements can become mandatory at any time.
Check current conditions for Yosemite National Park here
Where to Stay in Yosemite in Winter
I assume that most people visiting Yosemite in the winter want to stay within Yosemite Valley itself. If you’re brave enough to tent camp during this time, there are only 2 campgrounds within the park to do so. Camp 4 is a walk-in site only, requiring you to park and then hike a short distance into your site. The only front-country area allowing for RVs or car campers is at the Upper Pines campground.
Click here to make reservations for camping in Yosemite
While accommodations in Yosemite are cheaper in the winter, they still aren’t backcountry-budget prices, especially if you want to stay within the Valley. The cheapest accommodation in Yosemite Valley during the winter is at the Yosemite Valley Lodge. For a more luxurious accommodation, check out the Ahwahnee.
What to See While Visiting Yosemite in the Winter
As mentioned, the famous panoramic shots up at Glacier Point is inaccessible in the winter, which includes that ever-famous view at Taft Point. Luckily there are multiple other places to discover that will still supply you with epic views of Yosemite.
To access all of the main areas within Yosemite Valley, consider hiking along the full 27 mile Valley Loop Trail. This route will bring you around to most of the places on this list and the most epic spots within Yosemite’s lower half.
Tunnel View
Tunnel View is that one famous snapshot that we’ve all seen before and it is indeed open in winter. When leaving Yosemite Valley, take Wawona Road past Bridalveil Falls for the second-best view to Glacier Point.
El Capitan
The most famous granite wall in the entire world can be easily seen while visiting Yosemite in the winter. Rising over 7500 feet tall, it’s the most popular monument in Yosemite Valley. Along the Valley Loop Trail, you can walk a little closer to El Capitan to really inspect the granite beast.
The meadow across the road from El Cap is another stunning spot to view it. Be sure you’re not walking on vegetation and always follow posted signs.
Valley View
While this spot initially wasn’t on my radar, we stumbled upon the Valley View while driving the loop road, seemingly stunned by the beauty it was showing us.
The Valley View is second-best to the Tunnel View mentioned earlier. With El Capitan to the left and Bridal Falls to the right, the Merced River supplies the perfect reflection of Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite Falls
One of the most popular spots to visit in Yosemite, especially during the winter, is Yosemite Falls. Almost anywhere within Yosemite Valley you’re able to see the Upper Falls flowing heavily from the cliffs above. There is a difficult 7 mile hike you can embark on to see the falls from the top, which is also open in winter.
If you don’t want to embark on a difficult hike, you can see the Lower Yosemite Falls up close via a 1 mile loop trail. On the way back, take the short spur trail for a perfect quiet spot on a bench where you can view both falls over a dry river bed.
Sentinel Bridge
An optimal spot for sunset, Sentinel Bridge supplies you with a perfectly-framed shot of Half Dome. As the sun disappears behind the horizon, the last bit of daylight shines upon Half Dome, turning it a fiery red.
Sentinel Meadow
Sentinel Meadow is the best spot to be for those ultimate Yosemite views. On both sides of the wooden pathway that cuts through the meadow, cliffs rise higher than the eye can see when standing beneath them. Especially at sunset, the sunlight leaves the valley below and continues shining upon Sentinel Dome above.
Bridalveil Falls
One of the more accessible waterfalls in the park is the stunning Bridalveil Falls. While standing at the Tunnel View, we can get a good glimpse of Bridalveil to the right of the shot but there’s also a way to get closer to the falls. A short half-mile trail from the parking lot will bring you to the base to feel the mist of the falls on your face.
Mirror Lake
Hike the worthy 2 mile trail near the Upper Pines campground to the stunning Mirror Lake. While this area is actually a pool in the river, it displays one of the best mirror-like reflections in the park. Since Mirror Lake dries up in the summer and fall, it’s a must-see while visiting Yosemite in the winter.
Before heading into National Parks, it’s imperative that you’re familiar with the “Leave No Trace” principles. Read More: Leave No Trace: The 7 Rules of the Backcountry. Learn more about Leave No Trace on their website here.
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