Yosemite National Park has a special place in the canon of American National Parks, the granite peaks carved millenia ago by glaciers are twice as tall as the Empire state building. Designated a National Park in 1890, it attracts over 4 million visitors a year and aptly so.
I decided to visit in winter, over Thanksgiving, as I wanted to see the famous granite peaks capped in snow. It was certainly an impressive sight to behold. However, because it is winter and there can be considerable snow fall in the area, it is important to ensure that you are prepared to enter the park.
where to take photos
Tunnel View
Classic view made famous by Ansel Adam’s wonderful black and white photo series on the park. The view is classic and has become a must stop when you visit the park. This viewing point is very easy to reach by car and is just outside the Wawona tunnel. Just park and walk over and ta-da! You can see El Capitan and half dome. If you visit in the Spring or Summer, you should also be able to see Bridal Veil falls. This view is particularly beautiful with the snow capped El Capitan and Half Dome.
Valley View
This beautiful view at the bottom of the valley is actually one of my favorites, as you get the reflection of the granite peaks on the Merced River.
Sentinel Bridge
On Sentinel Bridge
The bridge itself is quite pretty, made of stone spanning the river. It is a little hard to get a shot of the bridge itself, but it the view from the bridge of the snow capped peaks draped in clouds is quite stunning.
Mirror lake
Being comforted at lack of lake at Mirror Lake/ Mirror Meadow Snow fieldThis seasonal lake boasts lovely reflections of the mountains all around in the spring and early summer. I didn’t realize the lake is seasonal and dries up in summer and is frozen over/dried in winter. At the end of a leisurely 30 minutes snowy hike, I found myself in a snowy field, where the lake would have been. I suppose, it’s a good reason to come back in Spring! The entrance to the mirror lake trail head is right by Sentinel Bridge, so it’s nice to do them together.
El Capitan Meadow
The meadow is a classic place to take photos of El Capitan, in the winter the snow covered field against the El Capitan is very pretty!
Redwoods
There are redwoods dotted all around Yosemite, the most famous grove is Maripos Grove. It was closed when we visited due to the snow fall, so we made do with a giant redwood that we found on the way back from Mirror lake! I think the Redwood groves are a must do in the spring, or when the driving conditions are less dangerous.
Tips for Visiting Yosemite in Winter
Transport
Driving in Yosemite can be challenging in winter as there can be several feet of snow. If you do decide to drive to the park, be prepared to put snow chains on your car. There are signs to tell you to put snow chains on your car, snow chains are mandatory at certain times, and there are fines if you try to enter the park without them when they are required! You may also want to rent a car with snow tires on, as most areas of the park will require snow chains or tires after snowfall and you can drive a little faster with the snow tires, rather than chains (where the top speed is 35 mph). There are rangers at a number of checkpoint on entry to the park, who will check your tire tread and that you have snow chains on. If you are not properly equipped, the rangers will send you back. So it really is best to just be safe and have appropriate tires or chains on your car!
Shuttle buses run in Yosemite Valley all year around and take you to all the scenic photogenic spots and hiking trails that are still open in winter. If you decide to drive to Yosemite and Park your car, and take the shuttle bus around the park, it is certainly an option and makes for a much less scary drive!
Clothing
It gets very cold here in winter with snow falls that can get as deep as 3 feet even in the valley. So it is imperative to dress warmly and with the properly snow shoes (but Peony – why are you in a gown and what shoes did you wear?). I only took off my down coat for photographs for a few minutes at a time and if I were to visit again, would invest in properly snow boots to walk, as sneakers really were quite dangerous, despite the fact that the paths are ploughed, they do get very icy and slippery!
Stay
There are a few options to stay in the park, perhaps due to the time of the year that I wanted to visit, I found it quite pricey and ended up staying at a really well priced and affordable Best Western Hotel in Oakhurst. The drive from Oakhurst is about an hour to the park. If you decide to stay outside Yosemite and want to drive in, I highly recommend Oakhurst, it has a lot of amenities – all your regular fast food restaurants and some local gems (I really enjoyed the Barbecue restaurant there, Smokehouse 41 BBQ), there is even a well stocked AutoZone there for you to get snow chains or anything you need for your car and chargers for your Tesla!
Others have stayed at Yosemite Lodge, inside the park. The location for the lodge can’t be beaten, as it is right inside the park. Make sure you book early!
I think Yosemite is beautiful in all seasons, but winter snow and the cold conditions made an especially challenging and interesting location to visit and take photos of. Hope that you find the guide helpful!
Peony xoxo
