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Looking for the best winter family travel guide to Yosemite to plan an epic snow adventure?

Yosemite is one of the best places for a snow play trip with the kids and to see snow near the Bay Area, California (only about 3 hours driving). We’ve been coming back time and again in January and February for our winter family vacations to enjoy (the less crowded) Yosemite National Park and the surrounding area and wanted to share our favorite things to do here. It’s the ultimate place for a family getaway!

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Quick Yosemite Winter FAQs & Tips

Here’s what you need to know to help plan your next Yosemite winter trip:

(1) When should I visit Yosemite if I want to see snow?

Snow doesn’t really come to Yosemite until early December and can last as long as April (depending on the season). We typically like to go in January and February.

(2) How do I get around Yosemite?

There are some shuttles in the winter but we highly recommend getting around Yosemite by car for the most flexibility and best experience. Yosemite has 4 main entrances. Coming from San Francisco, Big Oak Flat entrance will be the closest. If you are visiting from Los Angeles, the Southern entrance is the closest.

Something important to bring when driving in Yosemite are snow chains for your tires even if you have all-wheel drive, which we have. We keep our chains in our trunk just in case it’s required or we need it. Make sure to check road conditions before you visit and the National Park website for the latest updates (e.g. road closures etc.)

(3) How long should I stay in Yosemite? How many days in Yosemite is enough?

You stay for a day or up to a week depending on what you plan to do. We find coming here for the long weekend around 3 nights as a family is perfect for us (we just move a bit slower with the kids) but without kids, you can probably easily stay for 2 nights.

Where to Stay in Yosemite

Rush Creek Lodge: This lodge is located near the Big Oak Flat entrance to the Yosemite National Park and offers a spa, pool and hot tubs, hiking trails and a delicious restaurant. There are rooms, suites and villas which are perfect for any family size.

Tenaya Lodge: This resort is close to the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park and has an indoor and seasonal outdoor pool, hot tubs, game room, ice skating (winter) and s’mores (winter). They offer rooms, cottages and cabins and they have a restaurant, pizza and little snack market on site.

Autocamp Yosemite: This unique and trendy accommodation is a great place to set camp even in the winter! It takes glamping up a notch and offers not only luxury tents but airstreams and cabins. They also include amazing amenities.

Yosemite Valley Lodge: This simple lodge is located right in Yosemite National Park and close to Yosemite Falls. They have shuttle access and multiple dining options.

The Ahwahnee: This is a stunning hotel located right in Yosemite National Park that is a National Historic Landmark.

7 Best Things to Do in Yosemite with Kids in the Winter

(1) Go for a Winter Hike

In the winter, there are still plenty of hiking trails open and accessible to visitors in Yosemite National Park:

• With kids, we love to explore the Valley Floor Loop because there’s minimal elevation gains and we can stop or turn back whenever we want to. We can explore and visit Yosemite Falls, El Capitan and the Merced River and make stops for some snow play.
• If we are feeling a bit more adventurous, we like to do a family hike on the Mirror Lake Loop Trail. It’s mostly flat and leads to beautiful Mirror Lake. We often see people with snowshoes or shoe crampons or snow grips but we found that if the conditions are fair, our snow boots were just fine.
• Hike to Tuolumne Grove to see majestic sequoia trees. The trail is about 2.5 miles roundtrip and starts downhill. Coming back up can be a bit more challenging (400 feet elevation), but totally doable with younger children (they may just need a bit of support).

(2) Visit Tunnel View

Easily one of my favorite viewpoints in Yosemite National Park and it’s even more beautiful in the winter with the snow capped trees. Seriously the best and most epic views and we stop here every time!

(3) Snow play and sledding at Goat Meadow

When we stayed at Tenaya Lodge, we went to Goat Meadow for snow play and sledding since it was a short drive away! We had an epic morning here during a nice snow fall. We got there around 10 a.m. and got to sled on fresh powdery snow. They have a nice steep (but not too steep) hill right near the parking area and then if you venture in, there are small trails that you can explore which our kids (toddlers at the time) loved. People had full set ups with a tent and instant ramen (genius!). Unfortunately, after about 2 hours of snow play, we were asked by the park rangers to leave due to the impending snow fall. But, those 2 hours were clearly memorable since my kids wouldn’t stop talking about how much fun they had!

(4) Walk the short trail to see Bridalveil Falls

Bridalveil Falls a popular waterfall in Yosemite National Park especially in the winter. It’s a short walk and you get amazing views.

(5) Enjoy the scenic drive through Yosemite National Park

And take all the photos! Stop to see El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Cooks Meadow, the Swinging Bridge and the beautiful Yosemite Chapel.

(6) Go skiing and tubing at Badger Pass Ski Area

Badger Pass Ski Area is the perfect place for beginner skiers or snowboarders to get started. The hills are gentle and the runs are fairly short. If you aren’t interested in skiing or snowboarding, they have areas for tubing as well. You can easily spend a full day here with the family!

(7) Go Snowshoeing

We love snowshoeing and have done so in other snowy pastures like Lake Tahoe and Rocky Mountain National Park. But, with little ones, it can get tricky. Too big to carry but too small to snowshoe by themselves. But, there are so many trails to explore on your own and excursions with guides in Yosemite. Once the kids are a little bit older, this is definitely a must do activity on our list!

What to Pack for Winter in Yosemite

Adults

• Merino wool base layer
• Fleece zip up
• Down parka or jacket
• Fleece lined hiking pants
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Beanie or winter hat

Kids

• Snow bib (we really like this one! It’s well made and has kept our kids dry)
• Fleece sweater
• Best winter jacket for kids (fleece lined, water proof and windproof)
• Best winter boots (kids) (these worked well for our oldest; we also have these ones for our little one)
• Snow mittens or waterproof gloves (tip: get gloves in a bright color so it’s easier to spot and make sure to get gloves that are actually waterproof)
• Kid winter hat
• We also brought some of our usual kid travel essentials to keep our boys busy when they were in the car or when we ate at a restaurant

If you are road tripping, consider bringing:

• Sled (we invested in this one to take with us and it has served us for several winters… still going strong!)
• Snow chains for your tires (just in case)
• Snowball maker (for snow play)
• Hiking backpack (for snacks, water, layers etc.)
• Insulated water bottle (stay hydrated!)
• Sunscreen (just because this isn’t a beach vacation doesn’t mean you don’t need sun protection. I’ve tried a lot of sunscreen and this one is my favorite for the face)
• Optional: shoe crampons or snow grips and hiking poles