Yosemite in winter or early spring
Oct 24th, 2013 | 05:38 AM
#21
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 0
You can go here for road conditions:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi
I recently dealt with a similar quandry in that I was planning for a mid to late-May trip to North Lake Tahoe. The chances of having to use chains on the way there from San Fran was arguably not likely, but not out of the realm of possibility either. But I was more concerned about our hiking options as I didn't want to have to rule out a bunch of hikes because they were either still snow covered or muddy from the spring thaw. Ultimately, we decided to scrap the plans altogether and are now going up the coast to Mendocino for a few days and to Sonoma County after spending four days in San Francisco. We'll save Tahoe for a late August/early September trip.
If you can content yourself with staying mostly in the Valley, I'd say go for it, but I'd suggest having a Plan B in your back pocket in case driving conditions aren't favorable and/or the Valley is snow covered. I, personally, would prefer to go to Yosemite when the higher elevation trails are open (along with the roads that lead to them), although I'm sure the park is just gorgeous and relatively quiet in the winter.
But all that aside, I do think you're going to have to have some chains with you and know how to use them. Even if the weather is fine on your way there, it could turn on a dime once it's time to drive back. Plus, you may end up be having to have them in the park itself.
Here are some other suggestions for winter activities in Yosemite. http://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemit...-in-winter.htm
http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi
I recently dealt with a similar quandry in that I was planning for a mid to late-May trip to North Lake Tahoe. The chances of having to use chains on the way there from San Fran was arguably not likely, but not out of the realm of possibility either. But I was more concerned about our hiking options as I didn't want to have to rule out a bunch of hikes because they were either still snow covered or muddy from the spring thaw. Ultimately, we decided to scrap the plans altogether and are now going up the coast to Mendocino for a few days and to Sonoma County after spending four days in San Francisco. We'll save Tahoe for a late August/early September trip.
If you can content yourself with staying mostly in the Valley, I'd say go for it, but I'd suggest having a Plan B in your back pocket in case driving conditions aren't favorable and/or the Valley is snow covered. I, personally, would prefer to go to Yosemite when the higher elevation trails are open (along with the roads that lead to them), although I'm sure the park is just gorgeous and relatively quiet in the winter.
But all that aside, I do think you're going to have to have some chains with you and know how to use them. Even if the weather is fine on your way there, it could turn on a dime once it's time to drive back. Plus, you may end up be having to have them in the park itself.
Here are some other suggestions for winter activities in Yosemite. http://www.yosemitehikes.com/yosemit...-in-winter.htm
Oct 27th, 2013 | 07:34 PM
#22
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 20,709
Likes: 0
When I asked when to go, most posters told me, May-June are the best when the waterfalls are full. We've been there in May and October, and May was gorgeous. Try to move your trip as close to May as you can.
Check conditions on NPS website.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
Check conditions on NPS website.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
Oct 27th, 2013 | 11:32 PM
#23
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 0
When we were there in early March two years ago and there was snow in the valley, they had cleared the bike/walking paths in the Valley so you could easily get around to places like lower Yosemite Falls and the meadows. We've been so many times we didn't try any of the other hikes so sorry, don't know how they were.
One year when we were there at the end of December the paths to Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil falls were icy and slippery. We've also been in April and I wore shorts on the Vernal Falls hike and then one May several years later it snowed. That year my teenage son's hiked up to Nevada Falls above Vernal Falls the day after it snowed and they said it was pretty messy.
I told you technically what was required, but I'm sure the majority of the people who rent cars to visit Yosemite in the spring don't have chains.
Utahtea
One year when we were there at the end of December the paths to Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil falls were icy and slippery. We've also been in April and I wore shorts on the Vernal Falls hike and then one May several years later it snowed. That year my teenage son's hiked up to Nevada Falls above Vernal Falls the day after it snowed and they said it was pretty messy.
I told you technically what was required, but I'm sure the majority of the people who rent cars to visit Yosemite in the spring don't have chains.
Utahtea
