What time of year, if any, do the crowds go home? We are thinking about a late Feb.stay-snow is FINE as we downhill & cross country
ski-and will hike anything open and not fragile. Any thoughts?
R5

ttt to the CA latenight's

Except for over holidays, Yosemite is much less crowded between Oct and April. feb is a wonderful time - as long as you miss the "President" holiday weekends. It is probably the least crowded month and the skiing at Badger Pass can be quite good.

Seeing Yosemite Falls freeze on the way down and drop as "snow" is amazing.

We have friends who go every January and they love it because there aren't a lot of people around and the scenery is spectacular.

Badger Pass is quite small as a downhill ski area, but still fun. Winter is definitely the quietest time for the valley, especially midweek. Each season has its advantages; the only time I really avoid going to Yosemite is summer holiday weekends.

Yosemite is great in the winter. I usually try to get a winter trip in because at that time of year there are more rangers than visitors.


I also really like the way the frozen ice looks up on the walls next to Yosemite Falls. You can go on a ranger lead snowshoe hike up a badger pass. That's fun.

I agree that winter is a great time to visit Yosemite Valley.There are very few daytrippers,so the only people you run into are the few people actually staying in the valley.If you want to ski at Badger Pass you can catch a free bus up to the ski area.It takes about 1:00 hour to get there.

Thank you to everyone for your confirmation as a good-(although you guys make it sound like a GREAT)- time to be in the park!
R5