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 p.1 #7 · Yosemite in winter. Best time and lodging options. | |
Craig Gillette wrote:
Agree with the idea of staying in the valley. When much younger I was able (and willing) to camp in the valley with little problems for reservations. I believe valley lodging reservations are quite difficult to get and camping has become more difficult, with fewer sites and more interest. Planning ahead and early reservations if possible are strongly recommended. El Portal is the closest (outside the valley), leading to the valley on 140 from Mariposa. Usually open and lowest elevation. I don't rcall anything over 3000 feet on 140 and it drops to and follows the Merced River after leaving Mariposa. However, now and then major rockfalls can occur in the merced river canyon and road closures or delays are possible.
Typically I'd come from the south so use Highway 41/Wawona road. This also has a elevation of over 6000 feet in the vicinity of the Glacier Point Road intersection, a fair amount over 5,000 feet. So snow a potential problem this way, too. In good conditions, I plan an hour or so to get from the Wawona area to the Valley, somewhat longer from the south entrance if looking to lodging out that way.
Be aware that any of the the three west side entry routes, 41, 140 and 120 (the state highway numbers before entering the Park) and Park roads are subject to chain controls. Even if conditions at the time don't require chains, one is supposed to have approved traction devices in the vehicle. The NPS site has the Yosemite Park rules and I believe you can find the state rules by searching, perhaps on the CHP, or CalTrans sites. That's less a problem for locals, we deal with it, if needed depending on where we live, etc. "Car" rentals agencies typically don't rent chains, may not want you to use chains, etc. But if you get to any area with chain requirements, if you don't have the proper devices for your car, you won't be allowed to proceed.
Now, after that dire warning, after several winter trips, I've had to chain up once and leaving the south entrance heading north, the next ranger we saw told us the requirement had been lifted. It can freeze up in the valley and ice up the roads or paved trails, etc., and that can be quite slippery, so walking can be a bit treacherous as well as driving.
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If one rents a vehicle, getting something with 4WD/AWD that looks the part makes in a lot less likely that you’ll be forced to use chains in all but the most abominable conditions. (You probably would rather not be driving in those conditions anyway.) A have a 4WD Toyota 4Runner, and while I carry the legally-required set of chains in winter, I’ve never actually had to use them.
On the other hand… the Yosemite NPS sometimes has chain requirements that seem a bit over done to those with experience driving in snow.* In particular (though this won’t directly affect you during winter months when it is closed) along 120 across the park (e.g. through Tuolumne Meadows and over Tioga Pass) they have been known to temporarily CLOSE the road in the fall for as little as a 1/2” of snow. I’m not kidding! ;-)
* In their defense, I think the park folks understand that there are a lot of people visiting the park who have little or no experience driving n snow and/or mountains.
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