Winter

A dusting of snow on Half Dome in Yosemite Valley. Learn about winter guided tours and explore the beauty winter offers in Yosemite Mariposa County.

Nestled among a forested mountain setting dusted with snow, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite is a picture perfect holiday getaway complete with all the makings for magical seasonal fun. This AAA Four-Diamond Yosemite winter wonder lodge delights visitors with festive décor and a range of activities from epic gingerbread house decorating sessions, to twirling around an outdoor ice rink next to a crackling fire, ensuring that ever every visit is truly wrapped up with a bow.

Yosemite Mariposa County offers year-round recreation across a quartet of seasons, each with signature activities and attractions.  All across this county of nearly 1,500 square miles, weather microclimates forged by elevation and topography further define seasonal theme and variation.

Yosemite is a standout example of our national park system, which author and environmentalist Wallace Stegner deemed “…the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic.” But with rising travel costs, preserving an “affordability for all” ideal can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are ways to make your trip to Yosemite surprisingly affordable. Here are three budget-friendly travel levels to prove it.

Campgrounds full, Valley hotels booked?  No worries!  Yosemite Mariposa County is always open for a spontaneous bout of road trip fever.  Yosemite National Park is ringed by “gateway communities,” golden […]

The alpine alchemy that is the natural Yosemite Firefall has captured visitors’ imaginations from across the globe. Indeed, having the interplay of snowmelt, weather conditions and the angle of the […]

On the face of it, winter in the wilderness can feel a bit daunting. Images of sled dogs and frozen waterfalls come to mind, or that crazy friend who always […]

Chasing Yosemite’s natural Firefall is an annual rite of February when the perfect alignment of clear Sierra sky, luminous sunset light, and ample water flow gives Horsetail Fall a molten […]

As sure as the sun rises over the eastern Sierra, Yosemite shines as one of America’s most popular national parks. From the bounce of spring when Yosemite Valley waterfalls welcome […]

Yosemite Mariposa boasts one particular activity that literally outshines the rest: winter stargazing.