11 Top Yosemite Attractions in Winter

While not everyone associates Yosemite with wintertime, the national park turns into a sparkling snowy paradise when the fluff begins to fall. The national park is truly a gem in the colder months, with the snow blanketing the hulking forms of El Capitan and Half Dome, the golden waterfalls, and a plethora of outdoor activities. However, the best bit about our visit to the many Yosemite attractions in winter was that the visiting crowds was a fraction of those in the summer! So, we didn’t have to worry about increased footfall on the trails, clamoring to get amazing photographs, or peak hours reservation — unless one is visiting during the Firefall weekends in February. So, grab your wintertime gear and get ready to ice skate, snowshoe, downhill ski, and experience this amazing season in Yosemite National Park, home of the Ahwahneechee People.

Wildhaven Yosemite

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We begin with one of the best activities one can possibly indulge in Yosemite in wintertime — glamping. One of the best year-round glamping takes place at Wildhaven Yosemite, which offered superb mountain views in Mariposa. Around 45 minutes from the Arch Rock entrance gate, this “glamp” sat at a much lower elevation than the Yosemite Valley floor. So, not only did it get just one or two small snow events annually, but also the landscape remained green. Hence, it’s the best way to experience wintertime in Yosemite but without all the snow.

We had a choice of small platform tents and home-style cabins, which are fun and offbeat but with all modern comforts. Think plush beds, well-stocked kitchenettes, picture windows, spacious decks with firepits, and even modern bathrooms. What’s more, all come with views of the rolling hills and mountain peaks.

If that wasn’t enough, the property had tons of common spaces. Our favorite was the hilltop pergola where we could sit by the fire and gaze at the stars. Moreover, there was even a hiking loop, live music acts, complimentary Saturday morning yoga, and even a fleet of gas barbecue grills. Despite there being no onsite restaurant, hot cocoa, tea, and coffee would be available at reception every morning. Plus, we could buy an assortment of s’mores kits, frozen foods, soft drinks, and snacks too.

Also, our favorite glamping brand Under Canvas is opening an outpost in Yosemite in April 2025, and they’ll be taking bookings starting May 2025. So, watch out!

Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite

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If you want to enjoy Yosemite and wintertime but comfortably, then one of the best places to visit is Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. The elegant and cozy lodge, which sits just 2 mi (3.2 km) outside its southern Fish Camp entrance, is one of our favorite wintertime resorts. Besides being a luxuriously serene winter retreat, the lodge has a bunch of winter activities lined up for families. These include snowshoeing, hiking, ice-skating, sledding, and even indoor swimming and board games for some indoors fun. Plus, there’s a game room, two hot tubs, and even an indoor pool, which kept the kids entertained for hours as we enjoyed some time at the spa.

We also had a wide range of excellent accommodation options. Since we were with the kids, we chose the Explorer cabins sitting on acres of land just north of the lodge. Our two-bedroom cabin had a kitchen and living room, a fireplace, and a private balcony to soak in the fresh mountain air. That’s why staying at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite is one of our favorite things to do as a family in wintertime.

Hetch Hetchy

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A sister valley to the mighty Yosemite, Hetch Hetchy is a hidden gem in the quieter Northwestern corner of the national park. Since it sits at a lower elevation than the rest of Yosemite, the road is open in wintertime, with the trails often being clear of snow as well. Since we had a personal 4×4 vehicle, we drove 16 mi (25.7 km) from the Oak Flat entrance along Evergreen and Hetch Hetchy roads to the reservoir and the O’Shaughnessy Dam. Even with several feet of snow beside the road, there were many chances and places for photo ops, even though they were more limited than summer. On that sun-kissed winter day, the Hetch Hetchy reservoir was sunny and cool, and we were even able to take a walk along it. Heading to Hetch Hetchy is one of the best ways to spend a snowy day in Yosemite.

Pro tip: While Hetch Hetchy is usually open in the winter, it might be shut sometimes due to severe storms. So, it’s best to call ahead and enquire before setting out on a planned Hetch Hetchy excursion.

Ahwahnee Hotel

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One of the best things to do in Yosemite during wintertime is to stay at the gorgeous Ahwahnee Hotel, a 1927-built Yosemite grande dame. The stunning snow-covered stone exterior set the tone for our cozy visit to this place, which boasts unique views of some of Yosemite’s most famous sights, including Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point (shut in wintertime), and Half Dome. That’s why the best thing about Ahwahnee is its location, as it’s less than 10 minutes from places like El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and even the Yosemite Village and the Valley.

On the inside, the Persian rugs, Art Deco decor, and Native American designs were warmth infinite. The freestanding cottage was perfectly private for our romantic winter sojourn. It was comfy, spacious, stocked with all modern amenities (including turndown service), and we were still surrounded by the stunning park’s beauty. The amenities were extremely impressive too, especially its bar and dining room, one of the most stunning in all of California.

Check out this detailed guide to a 3-night stay at Ahwahnee Lodge at Yosemite.

Tunnel View

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Two of the most magnificent sights in Yosemite are Half Dome and El Capitan. While the former is a well-known rock formation at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, the latter is a vertical rock formation on the Valley’s western end and is one of the world’s most breathtaking monoliths. What if there were a vantage point from where you could see both these stunning attractions? There is! This famous perch is called Tunnel View and it overlooks the mesmerizing Yosemite Valley. Not only did we spot incredible views of El Capitan and Half Dome, but also when the winter sun rose, the light fell on both these imposing rock formations, making for a jaw-dropping sight.

“Soaking in views of El Capitan and Half Dome from Tunnel View was perhaps the best thing we’d done in Yosemite in wintertime.”

WOW Travel

Not only these, but you’ll also spot the stunning Bridalveil Falls that plunge off its granite precipice. There’s a reason this iconic granite duo is so famous, and we think they look all the more beautiful in the winter.

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In order to get here, head to the Tunnel View parking lot on State Highway 41, just outside the eastern side of the Wawona Tunnel.

Yosemite Museum and Yosemite Valley Chapel

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When it’s cold, why not get inside for some quick respite? In this case, it’s a rather interesting respite, too. We’re talking about the Yosemite Museum, which is open throughout the year and showcases the culture of Yosemite’s indigenous inhabitants, including the Paiute and Miwok people. We especially loved The Ansel Adams Gallery, which nature lovers and photographers will especially love. It showcases the best work from the beloved landscape photographer and is open year-round (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days). In fact, there are even lectures on Adams and walks with staff photographers during which we could even try our hands at landscape photography.

Another oft-overlooked landmark in the Yosemite Valley is the Yosemite Valley Chapel, which looked absolutely idyllic surrounded by snow. We took a leisurely wander around the historic structure, with gorgeous views from the side of the chapel.  

Curry Village

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One of the best winter sceneries is at the Curry Village ice skating rink. Sitting right beneath the snow-dusted face of Half Dome, it’s the perfect place to spend a gorgeous sun-kissed winter afternoon. The historic 1929-built rink has been around since when Yosemite hoped to host the then-Winter Olympics and is now open from mid-November to mid-March with skate rentals.

This age-old park tradition and extremely family-friendly attraction boasts cozy fire pits and some of the best views of Half Dome and Yosemite’s famous cliffs in the Yosemite Valley. After a thrilling bout of ice-skating, settle down with your camping food and supplies for s’mores, gather around the firepit, and roast marshmallows. It’s the perfect post-ice-skating treat. Purchase the tickets online or at the kiosk, which opens 15 minutes prior to every skating session.

Badger Pass Ski Area

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The Badger Pass Ski Area is one of the most popular family-friendly areas that are open throughout the year in Yosemite. Not only does it have a large network of marked trails for Nordic or cross-country skiing but it’s also a very popular area for snow tubing. We rented our winter gear at the Badger Pass Ski Area Nordic Center before hitting the trails. While some were groomed for both regular cross-country skiing and skating, the others were ungroomed, and we had tons of fun on both kinds of trails. Have you never tried cross-country skiing before? The Center even offers lessons!

If you’re visiting with kids, then what better a way to enjoy the snow than to race down a slope on a tube? Adults and kids of a specific height can rent tubes for two-hour sessions and snow tube down the fluffy snow-filled trails. Interestingly, the ski area offers some of the only lift-accessed riding and skiing amongst all national parks in the U.S.

Horsetail Falls

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It’s quite unusual to see not one but two waterfalls on a winter attractions list, but the Horsetail Falls are absolutely unmissable. In fact, they’re one of the best reasons to visit Yosemite in the snowy season! That’s because the falls’ “firefall” event is very unique. While it isn’t a guaranteed sighting or the fact that it’ll happen, experiencing it is an extremely lucky, once-in-a-lifetime experience indeed. When the sun’s rays strike the edge of the “natural firefall” at Horsetail Falls, they turn the cascading waters into a stream of molten gold, straight out of Lord of the Rings! This is when your photography skills are put to the test, so make sure that you choose the right camera for travel. This event typically takes place in the latter half of February.

Lower Yosemite Falls

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The mighty Yosemite Falls are not only one of the world’s most amazing waterfalls, but they’re also one of the world’s largest waterfalls. If hiking the icy trails of Upper Yosemite Falls doesn’t appeal to you, then do what we did and stick to seeing the Lower Yosemite Falls. Not only was it a quick and easier hike, but also the falls with the greenery and the snow surrounding them is one of the most unique sights ever.

On our snowy morning hike, the temperatures were below freezing, and the streamflow was high, so we got to see frazil ice flowing down Yosemite Creek. It forms when the mist freezes, flowing down the creek. What’s more, it’s a fun hike for the entire family and the trail is both pet-friendly and wheelchair accessible when not covered with ice or snow. That’s how easy the hike was, and it was one of the best languorous yet outdoorsy mornings we’d spent.

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

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One of the best things about the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, besides it being gorgeous in winter, of course, is that it’s one of the easily accessible attractions. It sits at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza, near the park’s extremely popular and accessible South Entrance. We enjoyed a uniquely Yosemite wintertime experience at this gorgeous grove of red giants, which featured a blanket of snow on the ground — snowshoeing! Our ranger-guided snowshoeing tour began after a steaming hot cup of coffee (hot chocolate or tea) as we began our ascent toward the grove. passing the “Fallen Monarch” and the “Bachelor and Three Graces” within the first mile. We passed famed trees like the “Bachelor of Three Graces,” “Fallen Monarch,” and even the “Grizzly Giant,” Yosemite’s oldest and tallest tree. After lunch, we looped back, descending the same way we came, after a thrilling 8 hours.

Please note that Mariposa Grove Road closes to cars from late November to April, opening only to skiers and snowshoers. So, this adds around 2 mi (2.4 km) to the hike. After parking your car in the lower parking area just off Highway 41, walk the Washburn Trail/Mariposa Grove Road to enter Mariposa Grove. Since snowshoeing at this elevation feels like a workout, do wear layers like waterproof hiking pants to stay dry.

What is open in Yosemite in winter?

Most attractions in Yosemite are open in wintertime, including Badger Pass, Wawona, the Hetch Hetchy area, and even the Yosemite Valley too.

When does it snow in Yosemite National Park?

Snow begins falling at the start of November, with some small storms in September/October and which stop by March. For most of wintertime, Yosemite Valley isn’t covered in snow.

Do I need a reservation to visit Yosemite National Park in wintertime?

Even though the crowds are less, you do need permits to visit during certain specific February dates. Check out the reservation information.