Best Winter Activities in Yosemite

Description:

This is a great way to experience the winter beauty of Yosemite and learn how to ski. The more than 30 miles of free marked trails, including 10 miles of free groomed track, makes Yosemite popular with cross-country skiers. A basic package consists of two, two-hour group cross-country ski lessons at Badger Pass Ski Area. The fee includes lessons and equipment rental. Between your classes, you can buy lunch on the deck, a snack, wine, beer or soft drinks at the day lodge. If you don't want/need a lesson, the Nordic shop rents track, backcountry, skate ski and telemark gear, as well as snowshoes.  Best deal: the park offers free bus service from the Ahwahnee, Curry Village or Yosemite Lodge to the Badger Pass Ski Area.

Description:

If you have a zest for adventure and a flair for photography, then this walk organized by Ansel Adams Gallery is a must-do for you. A group of 15 is taken around some of the most scenic spots of the park, where photographs can be taken. The walk is conducted four times a week in summer and twice a week in winter. Make sure to sign up well in advance. So, no matter what kind of camera you have, this is a great chance to test your photography skills and let the results speak for themselves. Happy Clicking!

Our Local Expert Says:

An enthralling stroll for any ability.

Description:

The trail to Lower Yosemite Falls is one of the easiest walks in the park, with the biggest payoff: staring up at a 300' waterfall.  During the spring's snowmelt you may find yourself getting drenched as you gaze at this famous waterfall and listen to the amazing roar of the pounding water. By contrast, if you come in August there may not be a single drop of water - that's a Mediterranean climate; the falls are entirely fed by snowmelt.  Start from Shuttle Stop 6 or Yosemite Village or Yosemite Lodge. This walk is likely to be crowded in summer but if you go early or late in the day, it's just you and the water. There is wheelchair access by staying on the eastern trail, and the trail is open all year.
The trail makes a nice loop, with several bridges over Yosemite Creek.  There are numerous interpretive signs along the way that explain the history and natural history of the falls area through the seasons.  John Muir lived in two different spots along this trail.  A convenient restroom is near the trailhead.  The popular 'Yosemite Frazil Ice' video was all filmed here; look for frazil ice in April.

Description:

Called Camp Curry in the old days, this rustic summer facility in Yosemite Valley pre-dates the establishment of Yosemite National Park.  Scores of tent cabins, cabins without bath, and cabins with bath comprise lodgings for hundreds of people.  There's a swimming pool, large cafeteria, a coffee corner, a pizza deck, a taco stand, and a small camper's grocery/gift store.  The climbing school is based here, within the Mountain Shop.  A large outdoor amphitheater features nightly programs in the summer.  Raft and bike rentals are nearby.  A few cabins are open in winter, as is an ice rink. 

Our Local Expert Says:

Along with Yosemite Valley, Abraham Lincoln protected these trees in 1864; the first time in history that a national government preserved land for the citizens simply because it was beautiful.

Description:

This grove was part of the world's first 'national park,' protected by the US government 8 years before Yellowstone.  It's open all year, but you can only drive in during the summer and fall.  In winter it's a couple mile walk, ski or snowshoe along the access road -very worthwhile.  These trees are huge, up to 300' tall, and 25-30' across at the base.  The Grizzly Giant is a main attraction, a mile's walk from the parking area.  The famous Tunnel Tree fell down in 1969, but there's a second tree with a tunnel cut through it next to the Grizzly Giant. 
Walking trails lace the grove of several hundred trees, and a small museum in the upper grove makes an informative and scenic stop.  Those who don't want to hike on these slopes can take a 1.5 hour tram tour for $26, with headset narration in 6 languages.
Parking is limited so for much of the summer, plan to park at the Wawona Store and take a free shuttle every half hour.  Trailers and RV's should not go up the narrow road into the grove. 

Description:

A Yosemite tradition this huge and elegant dining room somehow feels intimate, despite its 34-foot ceilings. For breakfast, you can choose from frittatas or omelets, or enjoy a variety of salads or sandwiches for lunch. The dinner menu features entrees such as Salmon Ahwahnee served with Dungeness crab with bearnaise sauce and wild rice. The restaurant has an extensive and award-winning wine list. Reservations are essential for dinner, and the evening dress code calls for jackets or sweaters for men older than 12 and dresses or pantsuits for women.

Description:

This trail begins on Glacier Point Road and leads southward into the Bridalveil Creek drainage. This trail is easy, but long. It makes a good weekend backpacking excursion.