We ended up booking two nights at Evergreen Lodge off Highway 120 after checking the driving time to Yosemite Valley and reading reviews of both Yosemite View Lodge and Evergreen Lodge. And I figure we may end up eating dinner there each night.

But it looks like it may snow a bit while we are there. And I just saw the snow chain requirements. So this could be a real problem.

Just talked with a staff member at the lodge, and it sounds like we should be OK if we rent a four wheel drive vehicle with snow tires. So we we'll see.

JanisJ - Coming back to your post, if it all works out we will try to have lunch at the Ahwahnee. Thank you!

Pat-in-Mich - Thank you for alerting me to the snow chains requirement. I saw it on the Yosemite NP website just before seeing your post, but could easily have missed it. And it does complicate things.

Still not sure how it will all work out, but will have to wait and see what kind of weather we have.

Thank you again for your help!

"We ended up booking two nights at Evergreen Lodge"

:( Cancelable I hope ( ? ! ) . . . The Evergreen Lodge is in Groveland and is an hour's drive from Yosemite Valley at the VERY best of times. Longer at night and much longer if there is bad weather. 120 is a very winding mountain road w/ lots of steep bits -- not a place I'd want to stay/drive at this time of year.

Did you try the properties in El Portal . . . a MUCH more convenient location. Yosemite View Lodge id best, Cedar Lodge is OK if budget is a big issue, but not as nice.

We could cancel and forfeit one night's stay. But if we cancelled, we would go to Moss Landing instead. We decided to make that call closer to our arrival -
literally and figuratively. (We will watch the weather, call the lodge, and then decide what to do.)

I chose Evergreen Lodge because it was the option I thought my husband would prefer, and he wasn't worried about the extra drive time. (The actual lodge is 8 miles from the west gate entrance and several people said it was a 45 minute drive to Yosemite Valley but we'll see.)

It is good to know that 120 is very windy w/lots of steep bits. We aren't planning to be driving it at night, and my husband has no issue with driving mountain roads but snowy mountain roads are another matter altogether.

One of my nephews worked at Yosemite for one or two summers, maintaining trails in the backcountry. I may contact him for advice, too.

Thanks again for your helpful input on all of this.

"The actual lodge is 8 miles from the west gate entrance and several people said it was a 45 minute drive to Yosemite Valley but we'll see."

I know exactly where it is. When I am visiting Yosemite from the Hwy49 gold rush area I take 120 (and I have a Mini Cooper 2 seater and LOVE the road . . . in Spring or September when there is essentially no traffic or wintry weather. I would not drive it at other times of year.

people who say it is 45 mins -- well it is sort of like child birth. Afterwards one doesn't remember the scary bits ;)

I am very surprised they have such an onerous cancellation policy. Most places allow full cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

Hi Janisj - Looking at the weather app again it is saying possibility of snow flurries, so perhaps the wintry weather will arrive after our trip. Wish I had asked for more information about the roads before I booked!

I think both Yosemite View Inn and Evergreen Lodge had a more stringent cancellation policy than the norm. I've seen that before in resort areas.

Hoping for the best but preparing for whatever comes our way.

Thanks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHn1DwRTEng

Enjoy (this is via a motorcycle, not an SUV)

Actually - unless they've changed Yosemite View used to have a 3PM same day cancellation policy . . .

You shouldn't have huge problems w/ the weather though. What are your actual dates? The big change is supposed to come in next Saturday. This Wed is forecast to be a high of 50°F and gorgeous, by Sunday it is supposed to be 24°F and snow showers. The problem w/ hwy 120 is it goes up to about 6200 feet so there can be snow up there when it is dry in the Valley.

•••• Just checked their website and it has changed. Cancelation up to 4PM on arrival day but if w/i 7 days, 25% of the deposit . . . so essentially about $35-$50 for the normal (non-suite) rooms

JanisJ - Unfortunately, we were planning to arrive just as the weather changes. Arriving the Monday after the snow and leaving Wednesday. Wish we were arriving this week. Looks like I will be bringing some warmer clothing with me!

I can see why you like driving this road in nice weather! The part shown in the video appears to be a road my husband would be comfortable driving unless it is slippery. We have driven from Breckenridge, CO to Maroon Bells Wilderness to Aspen then back to Breckenridge over Independence Pass - all in one day - a couple of times. We got some snow at the top of the pass - in August.

Did you like Yosemite View Inn? Some of the recent reviews put me off but others have liked it.

"Did you like Yosemite View Inn? Some of the recent reviews put me off but others have liked it."

You mean Yosemite View Lodge? In fact I've never stayed there (several friends have), though I have stopped there a few times. Once I parked there (for 3 days) and took YARTS into the Valley when there was pretty heavy snow and I didn't want to put chains on the Mini. Was staying in the Valley but left my car out at El Portal. (Should have brought my other car - major miscalculation on my part). In snow season I always take hwy 140 since it s the low altitude route along the Merced River and through El Portal.

When visiting Yosemite I ALWAYS stay in the Valley -- normally at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls/Yosemite Valley Lodge but a couple of times at the Ahwahnee. My philosophy is with limited time in the Valley I want to say IN the Valley.

One thing about reviews of mountain properties -- MANY people use standards they'd apply to a Marriott in NYC or Los Angeles. It is by far the best property within a short drive of the Valley.

Heck, some people give the Ahwahnee bad reviews -- It is a very historic/old property (like El Tovar and Old Faithful Inn) with great service and a few rough edges - in a <strike>million</strike> billion dollar location.

But never mind -- you have your booking and driving Independence Pass is MUCH higher than little ol' 120 :) Like twice as high. You'll be fine. Yosemite Valley with a dusting of snow (or a heavy blanket of snow) is magical.

Thank you, JanisJ, for the additional input on Yosemite View Lodge and the Valley in the winter.

We may end up cancelling sooner than later now that I see more snow in the forecast. But I'm sure it is magical in the snow! We have visited Boulder a few times in February and driven up into RMNP. Very cold and windy but very beautiful!

Make sure you are checking the forecast for Yosemite Valley, not Yosemite National Park. Big difference in forecasts as there are elevations in the park. Early November usually does not bring storms of any significance.

Thanks, MichelleY - You are correct in guessing that the weather app is telling me the weather for the NP not the valley itself. Someone at Evergreen Lodge checked this morning and said Tioga Pass may get some snow but that it is unlikely in the valley. So that is a relief! Thanks.

I would not expect any snow at Valley level out of this system. When you might hit snow is around Crane Flat on 120 between Groveland and the park.

Thanks for the heads up janisj !