Cozy Up To Winter In Yosemite Mariposa County

On the face of it, winter in the wilderness can feel a bit daunting. Images of sled dogs and frozen waterfalls come to mind, or that crazy friend who always rambles on about snow camping. But Yosemite Mariposa County offers an alternative approach. With its all-season highways, a host of indoor activities and toasty accommodations, the path to winter cozy is loftier than your favorite down jacket.

From heated sightseeing tours to hot toddies in the shadow of Half Dome, shopping in a Gold Rush town to an outsized lineup of local museums, here is our guide to staying warm in Yosemite Mariposa County this winter.

Hearth-Warming Things To Do Inside The Park

The challenge: experiencing Yosemite in winter without getting bundled up like the kid from A Christmas Story. The solution: booking the Yosemite Valley Floor Tour. Led by highly knowledgeable drivers, this two-hour tour hits the Park’s iconic locations such as Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome and Tunnel View. From the comfort of your heated motor coach, you’ll learn about Yosemite’s flora, fauna and history while gazing out the panoramic windows. The Valley Floor Tours departs daily from the Yosemite Valley Lodge.

A winter visit to Yosemite Village offers a deep dive into the Park’s offerings while minimizing your exposure to the elements. Located in the heart of Yosemite Valley, this constellation of indoor attractions includes the new ranger-staffed Yosemite Valley Welcome Center with free trail maps, junior ranger booklets and more. A short stroll away is the Yosemite Exploration Center where guests can watch the Spirit of Yosemite film or enjoy exhibits on the Park’s plants and animals as well as its geology and rock climbing history.  Warm up inside the Yosemite Museum with its cultural history of Native American life in Yosemite, including basket-weaving and beadwork, or head out back and walk around the Indian Village of the Ahwahnee with its reconstructed traditional buildings. For the creatives out there, the museum’s art gallery opens with current exhibitions, while the nearby Ansel Adams Gallery pays homage to one of the finest nature photographers of the 20th century and his evocative Range of Light imagery. Parking can be found at the Yosemite Village & Day Use Parking Lot (Northside Drive) or take the free Yosemite Valley Shuttle (Stops #1 and #2).

With its huge picture windows and rustic stone & beam decor, The Ahwahnee brings the outdoors indoors with grand comfort. Opened in 1927 and now a National Historic Landmark, the hotel features the opulent Ahwahnee Dining Room with its 30-ft ceilings, the Great Lounge with its natural stone fireplace and the Ahwahnee Bar where a Winter Club Toddy and tasty bites are sure to keep you warm and satisfied. For those who like some winter pomp and pageantry, the Ahwahnee hosts the annual Bracebridge Dinner every December.  A five-course Christmas feast brings guests back to ye olde England as costumes and traditional music add to the experience. Be sure to book early — this event typically sells out in advance. Note: tickets are available a year and a day in advance at 888.413.8869 or on the website.

Hearth-Warming Things To Do Outside The Park

A foolproof way to keep cozy indoors is to set up camp in a Yosemite Mariposa County resort.  Get a massage in a welcoming health spa while snowflakes gather on the pine boughs outside, or thumb through your favorite spy thriller in an overstuffed chair by the fireplace.  With on-site restaurants, a hot meal on a cold day never tasted so good, and hot chocolate around a crackling outdoor fire pit is the perfect way to chat with other travelers enjoying the moody atmospherics and long shadows of winter.  Resorts such as Tenaya at Yosemite and The Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort (see link below) offer amenities that suit the season, while nightly rates are typically lower in winter when Yosemite transforms into an amphitheater of peace and tranquility.

With its Gold Rush past, Yosemite rock climbing prowess and prominence as one of California’s original counties, Mariposa County excels in the museum department. Kindle your imagination around exhibits that detail everything from the lives of pioneer families to mining precious metals and the enterprises of the local Miwuk. From the Northern Mariposa County History Center in Coulterville to the town of Mariposa’s three museums, there are plenty of options to take refuge from the chill outside.

The town of Mariposa gets downright friendly in winter. People come indoors, thing slow down and there’s time to chat over a beverage about life in this charming gateway to Yosemite.  On the dining front, there are numerous menus to choose from whether that’s fresh-baked pastries for breakfast, a Bootjack Burger for lunch, or a wine-paired ramen dinner.  Stroll the main drag and do some casual shopping.  Vintage stores, art galleries, tasting rooms… you can find the perfect gift for that special someone back home. Can’t decide? Pick up a gift card and encourage your peeps to visit themselves.  Heck, you can be their guide on the next visit!

Winter events in Yosemite Mariposa County are a great way to rub elbows with locals and visitors alike who share your same interests.  From Snow Globe workshops to a New Year’s polar plunge (ok, not so cozy), and songwriting workshops to the annual Merry Mountain Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, there are plenty of ways to experience the warmth of this Sierra community.

A Cozy Approach to Lodging

The best approach to winter travel is finding a spot that is both comfortable and close to the activities you want to enjoy.  Avoid that excessive driving and get cozy at your home away from home.

For spas, on-site dining and nearby activities, resorts are the way to go. Located in the historic hamlet of Fish Camp, Tenaya at Yosemite offers a range of accommodations from suites to Cottages and its popular Explorer Cabins. An Eminence Organic Facial at the Ascent Spa requires only an elevator ride to its inviting treatment rooms and steamy sauna. Grab a pair of complimentary snowshoes and tramp the fire roads of the surrounding Sierra National Forest, then sip a Sentinel Espresso Martini around the communal fire pit at Jackalope’s Bar & Grill. If you still have the energy, fulfill your Blades of Glory fantasy with some graceful turns at the Tenaya Ice Skating Rink.  Quadruple axels (and Iron Lotuses) optional.

Noted for its historic grandeur, the aforementioned Ahwahnee is embraced by the peaceful winter beauty of Yosemite Valley. With suites, view rooms and cottages, there is no spot more centrally located, and the corner fireplace of the Winter Club Room gives off cozy vibes alongside display cases and vintage photos of winter sports in the Park.

Another worthy winter lodging choice is the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort. The Bug, as it’s affectionately called, is located in Midpines along All-Season Highway 140.  It’s a straight shot up the road to Yosemite’s Arch Rock Entrance (22 miles), the closest entry to Yosemite Valley. Sit down and enjoy a hot meal with like-minded globetrotters at the June Bug Cafe, or book an aromatic herbal bath at the Yosemite Health Spa. On site, and on point.

There’s nothing cozier than cuddling around a crackling fire in your Yosemite Mariposa County cabin rental.  Find one with a fireplace and watch your wine glass sparkle while the serene beauty of the Sierras lay just beyond your door.  In Wawona, the Redwoods in Yosemite offer a huge selection that ranges from luxury homes to affordable camper cabins inside the Park, while booking a rental at Yosemite West provides winter visitors with nearby access to Badger Pass Ski Area.

The range of accommodations in the Yosemite gateway town of Mariposa are unrivaled, and with its mild, snow-free winters getting around couldn’t be easier. From known hotel brands to bed & breakfasts and heated tents at Wildhaven Yosemite Glamping, you are always close to the action whether that’s dining, shopping or museum-hopping.

Winter Resources For Cozy Travelers

• From All-Season Highway 140 to driving inside the Park, be sure to check Road Conditions before setting out.
• The Weather Report for Yosemite Mariposa County can help with everything from packing to travel times.
• Skiers and boarders can call the Snow Phone at 209.372.1000 for conditions, weather and Badger Pass information.
• Winter goings-on inside the Park can be found in the current Yosemite Guide.
• Yosemite Mariposa County is known for winter deals, so be sure to check our Special Offers page for ultimate savings.