Blauert on Outdoors: Winter is the right time to visit Yosemite Valley

Now is one of the best times to visit Yosemite Valley. The summer crowds are gone, and the change of seasons has transformed the park.

During my visit last week, snow lingered on the valley floor in shady spots and capped the surrounding mountains and cliffs. The major waterfalls were flowing, and the sky was clear.

Although the drought seems to have browned many leaves instead of providing a show of brilliant fall colors, we did see a few oaks, maples and dogwoods with nice coloration.

If you visit directly after a cold storm, you might be lucky enough to see snow on the valley floor . The surrounding granite faces often look even more impressive during the winter because the snow that sticks to the ledges further defines the granite.

Lodging reservations are easier to get in the winter. You can also plan a day trip. We stayed in the heated tent cabins at Curry Village. The cabins were spacious and comfortable; the only downside was that the heater in our cabin wasn’t working correctly.

The heated tent cabins are an affordable alternative with restrooms and showers nearby. My only recommendation is that you make sure your heater is functioning correctly as soon as you check in. We weren’t convinced ours was malfunctioning until after midnight, and there wasn’t much that could be done at that point. Our cold night ended when the sun started to reach our cabin far earlier than I expected – about 8:30 a.m.

From November through March, you should plan to carry chains or cables in your car. Drive carefully, because ice may linger in shaded places and on bridges even when the temperature is well above freezing. For information about driving in winter weather, visit www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/wntrdriv.htm.

If you don’t want to deal with chains, an easy alternative is to take the YARTS public transit bus into the park. You can park at any YARTS stop and hop on the bus, and you can pay with credit and debit cards. For schedules and fees, go to yarts.com or call 877-989-2787.

Once you arrive in the park, use the free shuttle to get around. The major parking areas are located at Yosemite Lodge, Yosemite Village and Curry Village. You can find a shuttle map in the Yosemite Guide (www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm) or on the park’s website: www.nps.gov/yose.

Beyond checking the forecast, one of the best ways to know current conditions in the park is to look at the live webcams on the park’s website: www.nps.gov/yose/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.

The webcams also show the ski slopes at Badger Pass.

The Yosemite Guide (also available at the entrance gate) is a great resource for planning a trip this time of year. Services are more limited during the cold months, and many dining venues are closed or only open during the middle of the day or on weekends, though you can always count on food at Yosemite Lodge and the Ahwahnee Hotel.

Get out and walk around the valley. Although the Mirror Lake Trail is usually hot and crowded during the summer, winter is a great time to experience it. If you have time, walk the entire loop to the bridge over Tenaya Creek and back, starting on the paved trail and returning over the recently rebuilt section of trail that climbs over the 2009 rockfall at the base of Half Dome. The total distance is about 5 miles.

My favorite winter activity in Yosemite Valley is ice skating at the open-air rink at Curry. Open daily starting Nov. 20, the rink has one of the most spectacular settings of any in the world. The rink offers a warming hut with storage for shoes, an outdoor fire and lockers.

Parking is available at Curry Village, or use the shuttle and get off at stop 13A. For more information, go to www.yosemitepark.com/ice-skating.aspx.

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Blauert on Outdoors: Winter is the right time to visit Yosemite Valley."