Yosemite National Park: Road Less Traveled to Amazing California Park
In the off-season, Yosemite National Park offers a variety of activities, more reasonably priced hotels, and fewer tourists.
Winter, autumn, and spring are the best seasons to visit some of Yosemite’s less-frequented locations. Take the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS), reserve a guided tour for an insider’s view of this well-loved natural monument, or use the free Yosemite Valley shuttle to explore the park on your own.
Hiking Hetch Hetchy
Hetch Hetchy Valley is “a wonderfully exact counterpart of the great Yosemite [valley]” without the crowds, according to 19th-century naturalist John Muir. Walk eight kilometers to Wapama Falls by circumnavigating Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. All fitness levels can easily complete this short walk, and in the spring, winter melts the snow, bringing the 366-meter-tall falls tumbling down.
Stunning mountain views of Hetch Hetchy
Trail-Happy in Tuolumne Meadows
There are several trails in Tuolumne Meadows that are accessible via Tioga Road while it is open, which is usually from mid-May to mid-November. One of the routes is the well-known John Muir Trail. Skilled trekkers can attempt snowshoeing the strenuous Snow Creek Trail, accessible year-round and leading to Yosemite Valley’s edge. Check out Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides’ tour options for a full-service, unforgettable adventure.
The verdant expanse of Tuolumne Meadows
Tooling around Tenaya Lake
Fishing is great at Tenaya Lake, which is easily accessible by automobile and has an abundance of brook trout. Try canoeing, kayaking, or sailing on the calm waters of the lake if all you want to do is get out on the water. As you stroll down the walking track, keep an eye out for photos of the amazing granite rock formations that encircle the lake on three sides.
Paddling around in a kayak on Tenaya Lake
See the Giant Sequoias
Don’t pass up the opportunity to view towering trees that are over a millennium old. The largest of the park’s three groves is called Mariposa Grove, and it’s close to the south gate in the ancient town of Wawona. Smaller in size and accessible only by parking and hiking, the Tuolumne and Merced Groves provide even less crowds and more natural beauty.
Wandering among the bases of towering sequoias in Mariposa Grove
Winter Escape: Cross-Country Skiing
Enjoy a range of snow sports, including cross-country skiing, when you visit Yosemite in the winter. Glacier Point Road’s machine-set tracks make it the perfect path for a more leisurely ski. You can choose to turn around earlier (the last few kilometers of the return trip are uphill) or go the entire 33-kilometer out-and-back route to Glacier Point. Spend some time enjoying the breathtaking views of the Clark Range and make a lunch stop at one of the charming meadows along the way.
The Ski Hut at Glacier Point, which overlooks Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and Yosemite High Country
Getting There
The closest airports to Yosemite National Park in California are Mammoth Yosemite Airport and Fresno-Yosemite International Airport. Yosemite can be reached by automobile in a few hours from international airports in San Francisco and Sacramento, which also provide more international travel possibilities. Amtrak, Greyhound, and YARTS offer seasonal public transit from all airports into Yosemite, with the exception of the west gateway, Highway 140, which is open year-round. Seasonal bus service from Merced, Mariposa, Sonora, Groveland, Lee Vining, Mammoth Lakes, Oakhurst, and Fresno is provided by YARTS. The service connects to major hotels in the vicinity of Yosemite.
YARTS Public Transportation to Yosemite, which makes it easy to see all the park’s incredible sights
