West Gateway: Highway 140, the all-season road.
Thanks to its lower elevation, Highway 140 offers a driver-friendly route to Yosemite National Park year-round, through the heart of Mariposa County. Its beautiful countryside and charming towns offer a relaxed and pleasurable journey. In fall, Mariposa’s golden foothills offer wineries and rustic roads beckoning explorers to stop and taste the regions blends. In winter, the hills are lush and green; a perfect time to roam back roads and byways. Spring brings an explosion of wildflowers and waterfalls and festivals carry right through summer. Stop on your way home to explore the many shops and art galleries, or try Class IV river rafting, the many outdoor sports, and the surprising nightlife.
BADGER PASS:
Since 1935, Yosemite’s Badger Pass—California’s first established ski area—has been a favorite family destination.
The unintimidating slopes and casual atmosphere make it perfect for beginning skiers and provide a fine setting for a relaxing family day in the snow and sunshine. And when you’re ready to relax and warm up, slide on over to the Badger Pass Day Lodge and enjoy the sweeping views in cozy comfort.
The Yosemite Ski & Snowboard School
Established in 1928, this is a great place to gain or sharpen skills.
Classes are available for everyone ages 4 and up. With the help of our talented instructors, you will quickly build confidence and improve your skills—all in a fun and safe learning environment. For details on classes, season passes and more, call 209-372-8430.
Downhill Skiing
A favorite of downhill skiers for its uniquely peaceful and stress-free setting, Badger Pass offers ten runs with a mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced trails. Plus, with five lifts, you’re never more than a few minutes away from your next run.
Snowboarding
Badger Pass features a terrain park with 15 features and plenty of room to try new moves. With 85% of its trails devoted to beginner and intermediate levels, this is a perfect place for novices to learn and more seasoned boarders to hone their skills.
Cross-Country Skiing
Yosemite offers some of the best cross-country skiing in California, with more than 90 miles of marked trails and 25 miles of machine-groomed track. Proficient skiers can make their way across the nearly 350 miles of trails and roads available throughout the park. In addition to tranquil day trips, there are heated overnight ski huts and lounge areas available at Glacier Point. Call the Yosemite Association at (209)372-0740 for reservations.
Snowshoeing
Leave the beaten path behind. Snowshoes provide an easy, low-impact way to get around, and can be rented from multiple locations within the park.
GLACIER POINTE
A 32-mile drive from Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point is unquestionably a “must see” for visitors with limited time. Within 200 yards of the parking lot is the top of the sheer southern wall of Yosemite Valley. Not only does the valley lie 3,200 feet below you, but also the entire park is revealed with astounding vistas in every direction. Most of Yosemite’s major peaks are identified, and exhibits explain the geologic processes that created this amazing landscape.
There is probably no better view of Yosemite Valley and the surrounding high country that can be reached by automobile. Not only does the point provide an overwhelming panorama, but it’s accessible by car. The commanding views of Yosemite’s high country, Half Dome, Yosemite, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and the valley below are unequaled. The road to Glacier Point is closed in Winter.
