Winter Travel is More Peaks Than Valleys at Yosemite

Some might ask, why visit Yosemite in the winter? Isn't the grandeur of one of our last great national treasures best experienced in full majesty of summer, when the life forms are affluent and the mountainous terrain beckons you to overcome and flourish within it? Well yes and no. The point of visiting Yosemite in winter is the opportunity to see it new. Yosemite is an amazing example of someplace that too many people have loved too well, and for too long. Quite possibly, those who feel like they've already seen it a thousand times know very little of this place in the winter.

For the unacquainted, Yosemite National Park is located in the majority of east central California, covering an acreage of 761,266, or approximately 1,200 square miles. Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves, and biological diversity (almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness).

Yosemite is visited by over 3.5 million people annually, and although the Yosemite Valley is open year-round, most visitors travel there during the spring and summer months, and many for only a day at a time. Yet for some, Yosemite is the ideal winter destination. It makes little difference that many of the roads in the park are closed due to heavy snow. Downhill skiing is available at the Badger Pass Ski Area, the oldest downhill skiing area in California, which offers downhill skiing from mid-December through early April. Much of the park is open to cross-country skiing, with several backcountry ski huts open for use. Backcountry overnight ski trips are also a favorite option, though it should be noted that a wilderness permit must be obtained to do so.

Another great option for the winter is a naturalist-led snowshoeing trip, which winds through one of the many scenic areas, such as Crane Flat and Mariposa Grove. It's often said that as each winter day at Yosemite passes with its own rhythm, even the most routine and easy nature hike assumes a meditative pace. The splendor of the park as it takes respite from activity is a calming silence that should not be missed, and in many ways offers a welcoming contrast to the faster-pace of the summer months.

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