Can you hike Yosemite Falls in winter?

The Yosemite Falls Trail is open year-round, including December 31st! It's a great place to do some winter hiking in Yosemite National Park!



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The Yosemite Falls Trail is open year-round; conditions vary depending on the season. In spring, when the waterfall is at its peak, this hike is stunning, and you may even get wet from the spray of the waterfall during a section of the hike.

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Bridalveil Falls and Lower Yosemite Falls typically freeze in winter, creating gorgeous stalagmites even Queen Elsa would be proud of. Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America.

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Many park employees expect Yosemite Falls, one of the most iconic cascades in the park, to go year-round without drying up, according to Yosemite Conservancy lead naturalist Cory Goehring. The 2,425-foot falls typically peak in May and run dry sometime in July during a regular year, but 2023 may prove different.

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The waterfall grand enough to be called Yosemite Fall surprises many with its ephemeral nature. The roaring spring waters subside in late summer and fall to a bare trickle before being replenished by snow and rainfall during the winter.

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December in Yosemite is typically cold and snowy, although sunny and warmer days are not uncommon. The average temperature in Yosemite Valley and Wawona in December is a high of 47 and a low of 28 degrees Fahrenheit (8/-2 degrees Celsius). On average, it snows seven days in December.

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Top 5 Winter Hikes in Yosemite
  • 1) Lower Yosemite Fall. The classic Lower Yosemite Fall trail is a great winter hike for families as it is a short and easy trail to Lower Yosemite fall. ...
  • 2) Yosemite Valley Loop. ...
  • 3) Mirror Lake. ...
  • 4) Yosemite Falls to Columbia Rock Trail. ...
  • 5) Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.


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May through September is the most popular time in Yosemite Yosemite National Park attracts about 75% of its annual visitors between May and September. These months correspond with the best weather and are also when all the roads, trails, lodging, shuttles and attractions in the park are open.

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The cool season lasts for 3.1 months, from November 21 to February 25, with an average daily high temperature below 61°F. The coldest month of the year in Yosemite Lakes is December, with an average low of 38°F and high of 54°F.

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The winner: The opportunities for wilderness adventure in Yellowstone are many, but Yosemite has it all, from gentle trails along the floor of the valley to spine-tingling ascents of its rock faces. Plus, Yosemite remains open to many activities through the winter, while Yellowstone goes into bear-like hibernation.

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As others have said, there are no places in Yosemite to go off-roading so a 4x4 is not required. In winter when its snowing there may be times where a 4x4 would be useful as you would not be required to put chains on your tires, but I don't think that raises to the level of 'need'.

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All vehicles entering Yosemite National Park during winter conditions must carry snow chains. Call (209) 372-0200, 1, 1, for the most up-to-date road info. See Tire Chains below for more information.

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