Elevated & Eventful: Holidays in Yosemite

When the first blanket of snow covers Sierra peaks and snowflakes tumble through the trees, the holidays are here.  Above and below the snowline, Yosemite Mariposa County lights up with a festive glow. Whether you’re celebrating Yosemite Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, the winter solstice, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, or anything in between, seasonal events and activities make Yosemite a magical place to celebrate. And you’ll experience Yosemite National Park during its most “chill” season.

Holiday Dine-Around

Holiday-spiced dining is a Yosemite Mariposa County specialty.  One of Yosemite National Park’s most storybook events, the renowned Bracebridge Dinner at Yosemite National Park’s fabled Ahwahnee transforms the lodge into an Old English-era celebration hall.  The show blends festive music, a multi-course gourmet dinner, and actors in detailed period costumes for an engaging experience.  Bracebridge starts in mid-December and runs right up to Christmas Eve, including special Holiday performances.  A perennial sell-out, Bracebridge tickets generally go on sale at the end of the year for the following year’s Holiday run.

The Wawona Hotel in Southern Yosemite is another hot spot for holiday dining with special menus served on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.  The Wawona Hotel is Yosemite’s oldest and a cherished national landmark property.  It is open for seasonal winter dates; please see the official Wawona Dining Room website for the schedule. A pair of additional Yosemite National Park fetes, Vintner’s Holidays, and Chefs’ Holidays are currently on temporary hiatus but anticipated to return for future seasons.

Outside Yosemite, the bedecked streets of downtown Mariposa glow with holiday lights and historic cheer.  Check out 1850 Brewing Company for tasty holiday ales, small plates and signature dishes, and the Little Shop of Ramen for homemade Japanese cuisine paired with a well-curated bottle from the connected Local Grape wine shop.  Just up Highway 140 in Midpines, the June Bug Café serves a mighty line-up of farm to fork fare, with holiday décor makes the seasonal menus extra bright.

Holiday Glee Camp

Surrounded by the Sierra National Forest at an elevation of 5,000-ft, Tenaya at Yosemite goes all in with a festive mix of holiday goings-on.  This AAA Four-Diamond resort stands just 2 miles from Yosemite’s South Entrance and is the perfect basecamp for your end-of-year merrymaking.

There’s Tree Ornament Decorating and Gingerbread House workshops, Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunts, and guests can even make their own ornament at this mountain resort haven. Tenaya’s accommodation options include cottages, cabins, and the main lodge, where a soaring holiday tree flaunts hundreds of twinkling lights.  Seasonal special-occasion dining menus at Embers, Tenaya’s signature restaurant, run from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve to keep spirits high.  Outside, guided snowshoe hikes from the main lodge set forth along beautiful forest trails, and the Goat Meadow Snowplay Area is just up the road for puffy-coat fun.  

California Ski OG

Skiing in Yosemite is winter wahoo at its finest, from downhill skiing to cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Est. 1935, Yosemite’s Badger Pass Ski Area is one of California’s original ski resorts, and one of just three offering ski lifts inside an American national park. Relying solely on natural snowfall, the season at Badger generally runs from mid-December through March. Since 1935, Badger Pass has been a revered Yosemite holiday destination.

The Badger Pass Ski School (est. 1928!) offers one of the Sierra’s leading learn-to-ski programs – and even sports a guaranteed learn to ski package. Apres-ski, hunker down in the Snowflake Room at the Badger Pass Lodge for a warming holiday toddy. From Badger Pass, a network of cross-country and snowshoe trails (including the epic Dewey Point Trail) fan out in every direction.

Holiday Hiking

Some see winter as a time for indoor human hibernation; others get outside and connect with nature.  Holiday hiking at one of the most scenic places in the world? Check. Yosemite Valley features an elevation of 4,000 feet, where light snow is always possible, though the trails are usually clear and easily followed. As you crunch along the trail, ice-encrusted titans like El Capitan and Half Dome beam on high. Here are a few favorite Valley winter walks:

The Lower Yosemite Fall Trail is one of Yosemite Valley’s best all-weather hikes, with a soaring payoff as the Lower Fall dances in front of the Upper Fall soaring 2,400 feet high in the background.  It’s a short walk from Northside Drive or the Yosemite Valley Lodge to the footbridge at Lower Fall. The path is mostly paved with a slight incline, though it can be icy when holiday temps drop below freezing.  The Lower Yosemite Fall trailhead is Yosemite Valley Shuttle Stop #6. 

Showy Bridalveil Fall is the iconic cataract seen from the classic Tunnel View panorama vista.  Reaching its base is an easy half-mile round-trip hike from the newly-renovated Bridalveil Fall Parking Area – highly recommended anytime, and especially during the holidays, with its easy access and big ooh-aah payoff. 

Rounding out the Yosemite Valley must-do holiday hike trio is the shortest – and the tallest – of all, El Capitan.  Visible from most of the Valley, the best place to wander and marvel may be the El Capitan Picnic Area, located at the very base of this granite giant.  From there, you can share a thermos of peppermint tea and witness El Cap rock climbers up close and personal.  Nearby, El Capitan Meadow offers equally expansive views.

All-Star Skating

Ice skating is a hallowed holiday feat.  The historic Curry Village Ice Rink in Yosemite Valley offers epic glides with Half Dome and Glacier Point beaming down and Sierra stars above.  The ice rink’s fire pits are perfect for hand-warming and s’mores, too. 

Tenaya at Yosemite’s outdoor ice skating rink opens for daily and evening skate-arounds over the holidays.  Fire and ice meet gloriously with oversize fire pits around the rink offering warming havens of mirth and merriment.  Cue rosy cheeks and evergreen memories.

Festive & Bright

Charming Mariposa shines during the holidays with cozy community vibes.  Kicking off the fun is the Merry Mountain Christmas Festival, taking place annually in early December courtesy of the Mariposa Chamber of Commerce. 

The Merry Mountain Christmas Parade features community garland-bedecked floats and special appearances by the silver-haired Xmas boss and his hardworking team.  After the parade, the town’s Tree Lighting ceremony takes place on the grounds of the historic Mariposa County Courthouse on Bullion Street (yes, this is the heart of California Gold Country.  Free hot dogs and hot chocolate in Santa’s Village, too.

The venerable Mariposa Yosemite Symphony Orchestra holds an annual Holiday Concert each December.  Performance venue, location, and dates rotate, check the Symphony website for event and ticket information. Roll over Beethoven!

Holiday Gift guide

In Yosemite Mariposa County, it’s easy to transform holiday gift shopping into a magical winter vacation. You’ll escape shopping mall mayhem and actually savor your experience.  From arts and crafts to local libations and Made in Mariposa items (the Mariposa County Visitors Center even has a Holiday Store!), there are so many creative ways to go.  Check out our Holiday Gift Guide for ideas and inspiration.

All Inn for the Holidays

Travelers all the way back to John Muir knew the holidays were truly “the most wonderful time of the year” in Yosemite Mariposa County.  And they’re even better when you build in a vacation around them.  Discover holiday lodging options that range from national-brand motels to Yosemite resorts and vacation cabin rentals for unforgettable escapes and unbeatable rates.  Check out 10 Reasons to Visit Yosemite Mariposa County During the Holidays and get your vacation started.