The 11 best things to do in Yosemite in winter

People have been downhill skiing at Badger Pass Ski Area for nearly 100 years. In 1933, a quaint looking sled pulled by cables and called the 'Upski' constituted the first ski lift in the US. Today, five chair lifts bring riders to 10 different runs (35 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate and 15 percent advanced). Tubing takes place during two daily sessions of two hours each.

There are many places in the park to ski, some with glorious groomed trails. If you go to Ostrander Lake or Glacier Point, you can stay in an overnight ski hut (wilderness permits and reservations must be booked in advance) to extend your mileage and see views of the park not found elsewhere. You can also ski at Crane Flat or in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Snowload makes skiing possible mid-December through mid-March most years; carry chains in your car in case chain control is issued.

Yosemite vied to host the 1932 Olympics and the skating rink at Curry Village is testament to that unsuccessful Olympic bid. The original rink was 60,000 square feet and covered what is today’s parking lot. Although it’s smaller now, the rink is still situated in a breathtaking spot at the foot of Half Dome’s glacial face. Non-skaters can watch from the fire pit on the perimeter while prepping the hot cocoa. Weather dependent, the ice rink opens typically in late November and is dismantled in early March

Besides the tubing hill at Badger Pass, the Crane Flat campground transforms in winter into a snow play area. This includes sledding hills, a wide open meadow for building snowpeople and tactical space from which to launch a serious snowball fight. This is a bring-your-own-equipment area; no sled rentals are available. Just outside the southern park gates is the Goat Meadow Snowplay Area in the Sierra National Forest near Fish Camp, which is also an informal snow play area.

If you can time your trip to around the second week of February, there’s a natural phenomenon that occurs where the setting sun hits Horsetail Fall at just the right angle — like Indiana Jones in the Tanis map room — to illuminate the upper part of the waterfall for about 10 minutes. The effect is that the water looks aflame; it’s described as an almost supernatural experience. Hundreds attend the Firefall, so plan in advance.

The park rangers lead year-round interpretive nature and history programs. And if you want to deepen the experience, the Yosemite Conservancy, in association with the park, offers the (expensive—but it all goes to a good cause) chance to have a personal guide customize your winter adventure. For instance, you can snowshoe or take a winter hike while exploring ecology and chatting with a knowledgeable guide. This could be especially useful for those visiting Yosemite solo. Bonus: the webcams on the Conservancy website provide a great window into Yosemite from your home.

Famed photographer Ansel Adams considered Yosemite his muse. As a 14-year-old who saw Yosemite in a book, he convinced his parents to take him here; in later years, he was often the one who would fix the cables for Half Dome ascents. He and his wife later raised two children in the valley. Suffice to say, the park’s lighting, shadows and monumental rock faces make for incredible shots...even with cell phones. You can book photography lessons with the Ansel Adams Gallery, established by Ansel in 1902 and still in operation.

Yosemite offers guided bus tours year-round. In winter, the buses are (thankfully) heated and the panoramic windows let you see more than you can in your car. Park rangers narrate the two-hour tour of the Valley Floor. In summer, this same tour takes place in an open-air tram. Three other tours of varying lengths are offered in warmer months.

The Ahwahnee hotel hosts three big winter events for wine and food lovers. The elaborate, multi-course Bracebridge Dinner 'set' in 18th century England is a Christmas event with music and food; in the past, it has lasted four hours. It’s been held annually since 1927 and availability is limited, with less than a dozen such dinners held in December. 2024 marks the first time the iconic event has returned since 2019. The Vintners’ Holidays celebrates the fall wine harvest with two days of tastings, classes and a five course dinner, held in November and December. At the Chefs’ Holidays in January, California chefs give detailed demonstrations and prepare dinner. Occasionally, attendees are allowed a sneak peek into the Ahwahnee kitchens.

You can choose an upscale glamping tent or cabin at Wildhaven Yosemite year-round, with beautiful mountain views in Mariposa. This location is about 45 minutes from Yosemite’s Arch Rock entrance gate. At its elevation of 2,500 feet (by comparison, Yosemite’s valley floor is about 4,000 feet), Wildhaven only gets one or two small snow events per year, so the land remains green.

Yosemite’s dark skies are beautiful to behold, with several thousand stars visible when the moon isn’t overhead. In the valley, you may find mild light from campfires, passing cars and even the climbers’ headlamps from El Capitan, but try El Capitan Meadow, Cook’s Meadow, Swinging Bridge or Tunnel View. An hour away, Wawona Meadow also offers a good view of the heavens. If you want an official sky tour, night sky programs are offered by the National Park Service, the Yosemite Conservancy and Yosemite Hospitality.