Cross-Country Skiers and Snowshoers, Here's A Winter Adventure In Yosemite

Few activities in Yosemite National Park can compare with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, which send you slipping quietly through the park’s magnificent forests, enjoying some wholesome exercise while reveling in grand solitude and white-wrapped scenery. Prime Spots While there are many potential spots in Yosemite for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, a few areas offer particularly rich options. Many winter-sports fanatics take to Glacier Point Road to reach the slopes of Badger Pass Ski Area, but there are also plentiful cross-country/snowshoeing opportunities along the route, which is plowed as far as the ski area between December and March. The road itself is groomed beyond Badger Pass—you can ski or snowshoe it all the way to Glacier Point itself—and there are a number of trails of varying difficulty, including Ostrander Lake and the Ghost Forest Loop. Another excellent option with both easy and strenuous routes is the Mariposa Grove, where you can trek through that famous and historic stand of giant sequoias—one of the early federal landholdings that first formed the core of Yosemite National Park. Cruise past such legendary landmarks as the Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree. Crane Flat, meanwhile, has an extensive, ungroomed trail network on which you can marvel at impressive prospects of the Clark Range and visit titanic groves of sequoia and sugar pine. Trail Safety and Etiquette Make sure you've packed plenty of water and food when roaming Yosemite’s snowy wilds—not just to keep yourself hydrated and nourished as you’re exercising, perhaps at elevation, but also just on the off chance that an emergency means you’re hunkering in the woods longer than expected. When snowshoeing, avoid walking in the tracks of cross-country skis—this ensures the trails remain usable by both kinds of users. Finally, remember the best place to relax post-adventuring: the warm heart of a Scenic Wonders cabin!

Make Your Yosemite Reservations Today

If you’re looking to explore Yosemite, start planning your trip with Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders. We offer Yosemite reservations within the gates of the park. With one of our cozy cabins, condominiums, or homes, your Yosemite accommodations will be just minutes from all the wonderful spots in Yosemite. Give us a call at 1-888-YOSEMITE (1-888-967-3648) to learn about our rentals and to make your Yosemite reservations today.

Yosemite National Park Blog

Scenic Wonders’ Yosemite blog provides the latest news related to Yosemite National Park. By reading our blog, you’ll stay up to date on activities, accommodations, and more. Image: thomas pix