How popular is winter camping in Yosemite?
Joe Walker was the first white man known to have gone Yosemite camping. His tombstone in Martinez, CA, reads: “Camped at Yosemite Nov. 13, 1833.” Things have changed a lot since Walker camped here. Back then he didn’t need Yosemite camping reservations. There are a lot more amenities, but there are a lot more people, too. Yosemite Camping Reservations Many people erroneously believe that Yosemite camping reservations are needed for all spots and far in advance. In summer, about 400 Yosemite camping sites are available on a “first come, first served” basis with no reservations needed, and in winter, only half of the 500 open Yosemite camping sites require reservations. However, if you want to stay in a campground that operates on a “first come, first served” basis, arrive early. Yosemite camping sites can fill up as early as 9:00 AM, although there are sometimes sites available until about noon. There is a maximum of six people (including children) and two vehicles per Yosemite camping
Your hiking and driving options are limited in Yosemite in the wintertime, but the crowds are much smaller. The low winter light and snowy vistas are photographer-friendly, there are lots of winter activities to keep you happy, and lodging is much easier to find. For lots of reasons – but especially that one about the crowds – Yosemite can be more fun in winter than summer. The Tioga Road, which reaches 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) in elevation, is closed altogether in the winter, and the Glacier Point Road, with an average elevation of around 7,000 feet (2,100 meters), is closed to automobiles and transformed into a cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trail. Yosemite Valley, though, at an altitude of 4,000 feet (1,200 meters), is open year round and fairly temperate by High Sierra standards. It gets enough snow that you can find Calvin-and-Hobbes-quality snowmen in your wanderings through the valley, but not enough that you’ll need showshoes or skis (or not often, at least). The Sierra
Even covered in snow, as it will be in a matter of weeks, Yosemite’s world-renowned Yosemite Valley still has much to offer, especially to amateur and professional photographers. The Ansel Adams Gallery, located at Yosemite Village in the valley, offers free photo walks in the winter. Everyone from beginners to experienced pros is welcome. Also an attraction: One of the largest outdoor ice rinks in the West. Located at Curry Village, the ice rink is open from mid-November to March. Hikers are also welcome in the winter. Though the valley centerpiece, Half Dome, is not accessible during the winter, most of the other hiking trails are open. Valley waterfalls, which flow wildly in the spring and continue to flow this week, are reduced to a trickle in the winter, though rain or snow in the high country can keep falls like Nevada and Vernal flowing. The Mist Trail, which leads hikers to the tops of these falls, is closed in the winter.
