Winter in Yosemite
Driving Conditions
Chains may be required at any time during the winter, so you must carry tire chains, even if you have a 4WD or AWD vehicle.
Seasonal Road Closures
Tioga Pass: This road is closed seasonally from the first major snowstorm until May or June.
Glacier Point Road: This road is closed for winter until the summer snowmelt, which varies each year’s snowpack. You can drive up to Badger Pass Ski Area for winter sports along Glacier Point Road (snowshoeing, skiing, snow tubing, and downhill skiing/snowboarding).
Mariposa Grove: This road is closed until sometime in April and opens a free shuttle service between the Mariposa Grove Welcome Center and the Mariposa Grove Trails. When the road is closed in winter, the Washburn Trail provides a two-mile route to the Mariposa Grove. The trail may be snowy or icy and skis or snowshoes may be appropriate.
Badger Pass Ski Area
Badger Pass is home to the oldest downhill skiing area in California. The site offers downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and tubing/sledding from December through March.
Visitors with their own skis or snowshoes can drive to Badger Pass and go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
Glacier Point Road is groomed from Badger Pass to Bridalveil Creek Campground, and offers trails to Glacier Point, Dewey Point, and more.
Glacier Point Winter Trails for Snowshoeing, Hiking, or Cross Country Skiing:
Old Glacier Point Road
Dewey Point via Meadows
Dewey Point via Ridge
Summit Meadows
Ostrander Lake
Ghost Forest Loop
Best Winter Trails from Yosemite Valley for Snowshoeing, Hiking, or Cross-Country Skiing
Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
Cook’s Meadow Loop
Mirror Lake Loop
Valley Loop Trail
Mist Trail/John Muir Trail to Vernal/Nevada Falls
Snow Creek Trail
Yosemite’s Firefalls
One of Yosemite’s famed attractions, The Firefalls, occurs during the first two weeks of February (and sometimes October if there is adequate rainfall that year).
This time of year allows for winter travel challenges, so plan ahead, be prepared and be careful. Firefalls is extremely popular, so be wary of crowds and the fact the park closes many of its turnouts at this time for preservation and crowd management.
If you are planning to visit Yosemite during February 8 - February 28, you will need a day-use reservation to enter the park.