What hikes are open in Yosemite in November?

Most of the trails in Yosemite Valley that don't lead up the valley walls are open year round. Bridalveil Fall, Lower Yosemite Falls, Mirror Lake, and the Vernal-Fall-footbridge section of the Mist Trail are all hikable, except after unusually heavy snowfalls.



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November is one of the least crowded times in Yosemite. Parking lots that fill by 9am in the summer are half-empty at noon in November. Nature is quieter too. Bears are typically busy putting on fat for hibernation and, if the snows come early, may even bed down for the winter before the end of November.

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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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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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Tioga Road (Highway 120 through the park, from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass) is usually closed from November through late May or early June.

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One of the advantages of having Thanksgiving in Yosemite is that November is a quiet time of year. In the summer, the valley is full of tourists and accommodation is expensive and sells out routinely. In November, all of these problems are mitigated and visitors can enjoy a choice of accommodation at a lower price.

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However, the vast majority of visitors show up during the 5-month period from May to October, which means that from November to April, the park is largely crowd-free and wonderfully quiet. If you visit Yosemite National Park during March and April or October and November, you'll avoid the crowds.

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Although it's possible to hike the JMT as early as mid-June for those equipped for snow travel, the best time to hike is generally late July through early October.

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Fall Color Daytime temperatures are mild and perfect for hiking. Less visitors in the park compared to the summer months provide a feeling of solitude. Fall color typically starts late September into early October in Yosemite Valley.

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To Get There. Car: The Glacier Point Road is open to cars approximately late May through October or November, depending on conditions.

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Yosemite in autumn is most notable for the absence of two things: raging waterfalls and raging crowds. If you don't mind the former, you'll certainly appreciate the latter. Those famous Yosemite Valley crowds start thinning out after Labor Day and don't recover again until the following May.

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