Sledding and Tubing in Yosemite National Park. There are a bunch of winter sports on offer in Yosemite National Park, including cross-country skiing, sledding, and ice skating, but it’s also a great time of year to sightsee. This is a classic Yosemite combination of lung-busting hike and iconic views. Yosemite Snow Play Areas. Yosemite’s even more beautiful when there’s snow on the ground in California – we’re talking snow-covered peaks and frozen waterfalls. The Crane Flat Campground near the junction of the Big Oak Flat and Tioga roads undergoes a transformation in winter, turning into a beloved snow-play area. ... RELATED: Lake Tahoe to get up to a foot of fresh snow this weekend, warm streak to end in Sierra. Yosemite Valley Elevation: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) Total Elevation Gain: 2,700 feet (820 meters) from Yosemite Valley; 1,700 feet (520 meters) descent from Tioga Road Snow Creek trailhead Why hike the Snow Creek Trail? You'll find groomed trails perfect for cross-country skiers, chairlifts that take Alpine skiers to the top of the runs in minutes, a challenging terrain park for snowboarders and skiers to test their limits, and a tubing area where the whole family can experience the thrills together. Crane Flat. Highlights: This family-friendly backpacking trip includes some of the most iconic Yosemite vistas, coupled with fun and relatively mellow hiking. drawbacks of visiting in december. An ascent of Mount Hoffman is an option for those looking for extra mileage and scenery. Highway 140 that runs through the Valley is open year-round, but may have snow chain restrictions. Yosemite Winter Snow – Tuolumne River Tuolumne River in Snow, Near Evergreen Road Without a doubt, the South Fork of the Tuolumne River near the 120 park entrance is a great place to shoot in the snow. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. There are two excellent destinations for all-ages snow play in and around Yosemite National Park. 2 roads inside Yosemite National Park closing Thursday in anticipation of snow. Mirror Lake, Snow Creek, and Upper Yosemite Falls Loop is a 15.8 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Yosemite Valley, California that features a waterfall and is rated as difficult. Yosemite's Badger Pass Ski, Tube and Snowboard Area offers gentle, kid-friendly slopes for snow tubing along with its downhill and cross-country ski opportunities.. A free snow play area is located on the Big Oak Flat Road to the west of Yosemite Valley on Highway 120. Mirror Lake in August is a dry trail, easy hike and at the end of the "lake" (also dry in August) is a stream you can cool off in, with a spectacular view of Half Dome up close. Begin the trip in Yosemite’s high country camping at the base of Mount Hoffman (10,850’) along the shore of May Lake. 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