Panoramic views of Yosemite Valley at Tunnel View.

Yosemite is a beautiful place to vacation during any season. Although you have to battle the cold during the winter months, there are some major perks to visiting during the off-season. We once went to Yosemite on 4th of July weekend and the park was absolutely packed and the traffic was terrible. But this past January we took our toddler Scout on a family trip to Yosemite and we pretty much had the whole park to ourselves!

The main thing to remember when visiting Yosemite is to take it slow and enjoy the scenery. It's truly one of those places filled with so much natural beauty that it takes your breath away. This guide covers all the fun activities and sightseeing that is available during the winter season.

Kid-Friendly Winter Activities Inside Yosemite Park

Wagon Rides

If your kids are still little toddlers and they aren’t able to walk on the trails, Yosemite is the perfect place to bring your wagon. Scout really enjoys the break from her stroller and you can easily bundle them up with blankets in a wagon. There are many paved trails throughout Yosemite where your wagon can easily roll along. Do I suggest investing in an “all-terrain” wagon like the one we have from Radio Flyer.

Your wagon will also come in handy for transporting your picnic supplies throughout the park!

Snow Play

Between the months of October and March in Yosemite will see an average of 29 inches of snow. While predicting which exact weeks will have fresh snow can be difficult, if you’re lucky enough get the timing perfect with falling snow be sure to take advantage.

The best places to find sledding and tubing areas in and near Yosemite Park:

Badger Pass Ski Area
Ask the staff for tips at the Mountaineering Store in Yosemite Valley's Curry Village.
Big Oak Flat Road to the west of Yosemite Valley on Highway 120.
Tenaya Lodge in Fishcamp.
Speak with the staff at Wawona Hotel for advice on where to find fresh snow.

Family Picnic

If the weather is not terribly cold during your visit, Yosemite the perfect place for a scenic picnic. As you’re driving along the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail you’ll come across multiple picnic areas including the Swinging Bridge, El Capitan Picnic Area and Sentinel Beach Picnic Area.

For our picnic we planned ahead of time and purchased our lunch at the Raley’s in Oakhusrt. They have a large selection of ready-to-eat sandwiches, pasta salads and deli-style foods.

I always keep picnic supplies in our car - such as blankets, picnic basket, cups, plates and utensils. See my Etsy collection of favorite picnic goodies.

Dining Options Inside Yosemite Park

If it’s too cold outside for a picnic, there’s some dining options inside the park where you can warm up.

Degnan's Kitchen - A great place for a quick bite. Serves sandwiches, pizza, salads, coffee and baked goods. There’s multiple seating spots available.
The Loft at Degnan's - Upstairs from Degnan's Kitchen you’ll find a BBQ restaurant that serves alcoholic beverages.
Village Grill Deck - Hot food served such as freshly grilled sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs and vegetarian options.
Village Store - This grocery store inside the park is surprisingly large and retails supplies, food and drinks.
The Majestic Yosemite Restaurant - Located inside the The Ahwahnee Hotel you’ll find very fancy 4-star dinning. In fact, it so so formal that there’s a dress code of semi-formal attire (even for children over the age of 4).

Snowshoeing in Yosemite

For families with toddlers, snowshoeing is an ideal winter activity because children as young as 3-years-old can learn. While skiing and snowboarding as fun too, they do require more balance and are better for kids that are a bit older.

Book a guided snowshoeing hike in Yosemite, customizable to any skill level!

Giant Sequoia Grove Hike

It can be a challenge to find kid-friendly hiking trails in Yosemite. Luckily the Giant Sequoia Grove is a moderately easy hike, but it’s still full of beautiful views. The Giant Sequoias grow up to nearly 300 feet high, making them the largest living things on the planet!

In the winter you can snowshoe through the grove, or just walk if there’s no snow. Book a family-friendly tour through the Giant Sequoia Grove!

Tunnel View

Of course one of the best parts of bringing the family to Yosemite is taking photos. Tunnel View is probably the most iconic scenic viewpoint in all of Yosemite. In the summer and springtime this area gets absolutely packed with cars and tour buses. But in the winter it’s very calm with ample parking.

Ice Skating

Probably the most nostalgic winter pastime is ice skating. You’ll find two options in the Yosemite area - Tenaya Lodge Ice Skating or Half Dome Village Rink.

During our winter visit to Yosemite we stayed at Tenaya Lodge and my daughter really loved the twinkle lights adorning the ice skating rink.

Roasting Marshmallows at Tenaya

After a few spins around the ice skating rink it’s time to reward the family with some warm sweets. Inside the gift shop they sell s’more kits (but they’re pretty pricey so I recommend picking up s’more supplies at the store in Oakhurst).

Next to the ice skating rink at Tenaya Lodge there’s a large fire pit with s’more sticks and comfortable seats.

Mariposa Mining Town

Located about an hour outside the center of Yosemite Park is the historical little mining town of Mariposa. On our drive in to Yosemite we stopped in Mariposa to grab lunch and give our toddler a break from her carseat. California Highway 140 turns into the main downtown strip and it’s filled with adorable little shops and restaurants. The town of Mariposa has been preserved to feel like the gold-rush days, so many little areas to explore.

Bring your dog to Yosemite

Many people don’t realize that you are actually allowed to bring your dog into Yosemite Park, we brought our Black Labrador Holly during our summer visit. I wrote a complete guide to bringing your pup to Yosemite and it includes which trails and areas are dog-friendly.

Teneya Lodge is also a dog-friendly hotel!

Family Hiking Tour in Yosemite

I mentioned earlier that it can be a bit tricky to figure out which trails in Yosemite are actually easy enough for young children. If you feel more comfortable having an expert plan and guide your hiking, we love to book child-friendly excursions through Viator.

Viator actually offers a custom Yosemite hiking tour where you can choose the level, time and sightseeing options. Plus you’ll have an extra person to capture a photo of the whole family!

Bridalveil Fall Trail

There’s a short and paved trail leading up to the vantage point to see views of the Bridalveil Waterfall. Another benefit of visiting Yosemite in the winter is that usually there’s plenty of water flowing in the waterfalls (sometimes they dry out in the summer).

We were able to pull our wagon all the way to the top of the Bridalveil Fall trail, and there was plenty of available parking close to the trailhead. When we came to Yosemite in the summer we were not able to get any parking when we went to see the Bridalveil Fall.

Family picnic at Swinging Bridge picnic grounds.

Important Things to Know About Visiting Yosemite in the Winter:

There’s very limited options to purchase food and supplies inside Yosemite Park. Oakhurst is the best place to stock up before you begin the drive into the wilderness.
Driving conditions can be unpredictable during the winter. Make sure your car has 4-wheel-drive and snow chains for snowy and icy weather.
Some areas of Yosemite Park are closed during the winter months. Glacier Point Road (beyond Badger Pass) is often closed in the winter.
Dress very warm for cold weather, especially appropriate footwear. Sorel makes my favorite snow and cold-weather boots for everyone in the family.