8 ways to play in Yosemite this winter
If you’ve only visited this jewel of a national park during its heavily congested summer months, you can’t imagine the blissful air of contemplation that blankets Yosemite Valley when the crowds vanish, the Fall air is crisp and the snow starts to fall. Icicles dangle from tree branches, snowflakes dance and everything is calm and bright.
No matter how you find your Yosemite bliss, the beauty of the fall and winter season will burnish the experience, especially for those of us who love getting all swaddled up in scarves and mittens, sipping hot cocoa and breathing in the joy of the season. If you’ve got tykes in tow, be sure to allow some leisure time for short hikes on those Indian Summer days or making snow angels, hurling snowballs and sculpting a Frosty or two, as you gaze up at the glories of Half Dome and El Capitan, magically dusted in white.
There is so much solitude to savor, it’s easy to imagine all this natural splendor is just for you. Here are eight ways to play — old school and new wave — in Yosemite’s wonderland.
1. Stargaze
Learn how to spot Polaris, the famously constant North Star, and soak up the mythology of the Seven Sisters, tossed high up into the night sky, where they became known as the Pleiades cluster. Immerse yourself in celestial lore during the hour-long Starry Skies Over Yosemite walking tour, offered yearround by park rangers. In the summer, you can lie on your back in the meadow, gazing up at the inky sky, unpolluted by city lights. In the winter, remember to bring your parka and mittens. And if you’re toting children along, don’t forget the cocoa.
Details: Tickets ($10) can be purchased ahead of time at any tour-and-activity desk in the park, but not on the tour itself. Wear warm, layered clothing and bring a flashlight, water and snacks. Learn more at www.travelyosemite.com/ things-to-do/evening-programs.
2. Valley Floor Tour
A refreshing antidote to bus tours where your posterior falls asleep and your brain wanders off, the Valley Floor Tour is both entertaining and educational. An accompanying ranger shares the colorful history of the valley’s many scenic vistas, from the Tunnel View Lookout to El Capitan, with frequent stops so visitors can stretch their legs and snap as many selfies as they’d like. The twohour tour operates yearround. From April through October, you ride aboard an open-air tram. From October through March, you take a heated bus — but you’ll want to bundle up for any selfie stops.
Details: Tickets ($38 Adults) can be purchased online or through any tourand-activity desk in the park. Pick up your tickets from the Yosemite Valley Lodge tour desk at least half an hour before tour time. Find more information at www.travelyosemite. com.
3. Picture perfect
Everywhere you look in Yosemite, the perfect shot awaits. There are so many jaw-dropping vistas you could overload your Instagram account the first day. Still, you haven’t really seen the park until you’ve viewed it through the eyes of one of the insightful photography guides from the park’s Ansel Adams Gallery. Shutterbugs should be sure to sign up for one of the free camera walks that happen several mornings a week, in almost any weather.
Shooting in snow can be magical, the radiant light revealing the glamour of nature. Be forewarned that it can be chilly out there, not to mention wet. If you happen to waterlog your iphone during a rainstorm, make sure you have a bag of rice stashed away in your luggage.
Details: The Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite National Park offers free camera walks led by staff photographers several mornings a week. Reservations are a must; www.anseladams. com/camera-walk.
4. Rink time
Ice skating has been part of the Yosemite experience since 1928 and it’s no wonder why. You can lace up your skates and practice your figure-eights while basking in the spectacular views from the Curry Village Ice Rink. This kid-friendly outdoor skating rink is in the center of valley, just in the shadow of Half Dome. Cozy up aprèsskate near the warm glow of the fire pits.
Details: Tickets are $9.75 for adults. Skate rentals are $4 and helmets are free. The rink is open daily please check for times and more information at www. travelyosemite.com.
5. Heavenly hikes
Stroll to the base of one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. Yosemite Falls is about 10 times taller than Niagara Falls and twice as tall as the Empire State Building. A fast and kid-friendly hike, which clocks in at a mile roundtrip, brings you to the 2,425-foot falls. Another easy trek is the half-mile trail to the always mistenshrouded Bridalveil Fall. (We’d suggest you test your mettle on the strenuous 15mile hike to Half Dome — not for the faint of fitness! — but the climbing cables won’t go up until late May.)
Details: Check out the trail possibilities at www.nps. gov/yose/planyourvisit/ valleyhikes.htm.
6 Big-screen break
If you need a little down time after a day of exploring the gigantic 761,266acre park, head to the Valley Visitor Center, with its ingenious interactive exhibits that will keep the kiddos busy for a while. Best of all, there are also a few wonderful short films to catch, including the stirring “Spirit of Yosemite,” which makes you realize that the ecosystem of Yosemite is as fragile as it is famous. This is a great way to take a break, put your feet up and have some big-screen chill time before continuing your travels.
Details: The Valley Visitor Center is open year-round at 9035 Village Drive; www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/yv.htm.
7. Snow play
Badger Pass Ski Area has it all, and makes it easy— from getting here to renting equipment to taking lessons. You’ll find groomed trails perfect for crosscountry skiers, chair-lifts that take Alpine skiers to the top of the runs in minutes, a challenging terrain park for snowboarders and skiers to test their limits, and a tubing area where the whole family can experience the thrills together.
Details: December 13, 2019 - March 29, 2020 (conditions permitting). Please call the Snow Phone at 209.372.1000 for conditions, weather and ski area information.https://www. travelyosemite.com/winter/ badger-pass-ski-area/
Sledding gives you the excitement of skiing and snowboarding — without any need of skill. Just bundle up, grab a disk or sled and swoop down the kiddie hill or big hill at Tenaya Lodge.
Details: Open during the winter months, weather permitting, at 1122 Highway 41, Fish Camp. Admission is free. Sledding disc rentals are $15 for a half day; $25 for full day; www. tenayalodge.com
Karen D’souza is a writer for the Bay Area News Group papers, covering healthy living, Bay Area culture and other lifestyle topics. She is a four-time Pulitzer juror, a former Usc/getty Arts Journalism Fellow and a longtime member of the Glickman Drama Jury and the American Theatre Critics Association. She has a Master’s Degree in Journalism from UC Berkeley.