Winter activities for kids in Yosemite National Park

Snow and ice glisten in the trees and invite families to enjoy the beauty of Yosemite in a whole new way.  The summer crowds thin out and the waterfalls take on a whole new look with their frozen shadows and ice cones at their base.  Many hiking trails in the valley are open and the waterfalls begin to flow after the rains fall.

Yosemite National Park is open year round and has lodging accommodations in the valley.  Snow falls in the higher mountains and in the valley but the park maintains the roads by plowing and keeping them clear.  Wawona and the valley remain open year round but the roads to Glacier Point and Tioga Pass are closed during the winter.  Badger Pass ski area is open and offers downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snow shoeing and tubing.  

Drivers must carry tire chains and know how to use them despite any optimistic weather conditions.

1. The Ahwahnee

1 Ahwahnee Road
Yosemite National Park, California

Comment:

Non-guests of the Ahwahnee are welcomed into it's lobby, gift shop and very large 2 story high lobby rooms flanked with immense fireplaces and comfortable chairs. With picture windows opening out to the beautiful Yosemite Valley, visitors can enjoy board games, puzzles and the warmth of the fireplace as they rest from their snowy adventures.

reviewed on: June 11 2010

"Visit even without being a guest"

We have enjoyed walking through the large living rooms of this beautiful hotel while in Yosemite.  You don't have to be a paying guest to enjoy it's beauty.  The large walk in fireplaces are a "must see".  

We take the shuttle bus from our campground to this hotel, walk past the gift shop and lobby and amazing dining room and then find ourselves in the large rooms that have ceilings 2 or 3 stories high.  The view of Glacier Point and Half Dome framed in the large windows is breathtaking.  

If you visit in the winter, there is a fabulous ginger bread town display with a train set.  One season, we sat by the big windows and worked jigsaw puzzles that were set out on the tables.  Peaceful!

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2. Badger Pass Ski Area

Yosemite National Park, California

Comment:

Teach your kids to ski and snowboard in Yosemite at this, CA's first established ski area. 10 runs and 5 lifts are available with a mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced trails. Lessons and rentals offered. A devoted section of the hill is reserved for snow tubing for 2 hour sessions. Lots of fun for families! Cross-crountry skis and snow shoes are available to rent at Badger Pass with a variety of trails that cross this mountain area. Ranger led snow-shoe and cross country ski walks are a great way to enjoy the beauty of this part of Yosemite. See http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm for more information.

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3. Bridalveil Fall

Bridalveil Fall
Wawona Road, Yosemite Valley Mariposa, California

Comment:

The 1/4 mile trail to the base of Bridalveil Fall is open year round and provides a spectacular view.

reviewed on: June 12 2010

"First stop"

Make this your first stop when coming into Yosemite Valley.  Actually your second... if you come from Fresno because the Tunnel View should be everyone's first stop!  

Bridalveil Fall is beautiful and is a great little walk for cramped legs.  Once you get to your destination in Yosemite Valley (Curry Village, Yosemite Lodge, etc.) and you park your car, it's not easy to get back to Bridalveil Fall.  The shuttle busses don't come here, and when you are driving out of the valley, you have to loop back to get to this fall, then drive through the whole valley again before you can drive home.  Quite a bit of extra driving!

Expect lots of cars in the parking lot and long lines at the bathroom.  We waited for about 20 minutes to use the potty on a weekend.  

The hike is short and a bit steep at the end.  Not a large viewing area but beautiful just the same.  It is stroller friendly but with large crowds, it can be hard to maneuver.  If you can manage without a stroller, it may be more enjoyable.

Take time to explore the trails around the falls because they are less crowded and provide other views of the falls.

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4. Ice-Skating rink at Curry Village

Curry Village
Yosemite National Park, California

Comment:

The outdoor ice rink in Curry Village is one of the most beautiful in the United States with the towering cliffs of Glacier Point and Half Dome within view of every turn on the rink. The rink is open from mid-November to mid-March and offers rentals of all sizes and 2 1/2 hour long sessions. An outdoor fire ring and hot drinks make the experience all the more fun.

reviewed on: May 27 2010

"Ice skating at it's finest"

Imagine ice skating outdoors on a nice ice rink with a 4,000 foot cliff wall rising to your right, and a view of one of the finest domes (Half Dome) in California.  It can't get any grander than this.
Yosemite is a wonderful place to visit in the winter and I highly recommend adding ice skating to your list of things you must do!

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5. Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite

Mariposa Grove Road
Yosemite National Park, California

Comment:

The road to the Mariposa Grove of Sequoias is closed during the snowy winter months but you can walk the two miles to the mammoth trees. Come prepared with food, water and proper clothing to keep as dry and warm as possible and enjoy this majestic grove.

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6. Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake
Yosemite Valley Yosemite National Park, California

Comment:

The one mile trail to Mirror Lake is open year round and can be an adventure during the winter months. The trail may or may not be cleared of snow so be prepared for trudging through the cold whiteness. Along the way, there may be some fun place to play in the snow or sled down some hills, but be careful to not play on the semi-frozen Tenaya Creek to the right of the trail on your way up. Mirror Lake is much more of a meadow during the low flowing water months but the view of the flat side of Half Dome is breathtaking.

reviewed on: June 13 2010

"Correct expectations"

Go on this hike with your kids with the right expectations and it will be a great experience.  Wrong ones can lead to big disappointments.

As a teenager, I couldn't wait to get to this lake to go swimming and find a big rock to jump off into the water.  That was the wrong expectation.
As a mom, I knew better and took my kids on this long hike (1 mile one way is long for them) with a steep hill the last half of the hike with the expectation of finding a widened flat stream area to wade in, throw rocks into and explore.  We chose to go on a rather cool day in the summer and that was also good planning.  It can be a rather hot hike with not enough water to swim in at the end.

We were pleasantly surprised with seeing the flat, wide face of Half Dome with a climber on a "port a ledge" half way up the face.  My little ones waded in the water and climbed some big rocks and had a great time.  

I recently saw my friend's pictures of their camping trip to Yosemite on facebook.  I couldn't understand where they had found a big rock with a big area of water to jump into.  Apparently, Mirror Lake is big enough to jump into in late May!  I was shocked and now can't wait to visit this place earlier in the season than August.

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7. Sentinel Meadow

Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park, California

Comment:

This meadow provides a pleasant, flat walk starting near Sentinel Bridge and heading west. It meanders along the Merced River before turning towards a breathtaking view of Yosemite Falls. It's a beautiful walk no matter what weather!

reviewed on: May 27 2010

"peaceful"

This was one of my favorite walks with my husband and young kids last summer.  The trails through the meadow are on a boardwalk at times and a thin path along the river at other times.  There is no incline and no destination.  The object is to try to take in the stillness, quiet and amazing beauty all around.  You can see almost every major dome and waterfall and river from this meadow and usually the crowds are absent.

In the evening, wildlife is abundant.  We saw many bucks and does feeding on the grasses here.  On an early morning drive by the meadow, I saw several brown bears.
Enjoy!

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8. Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite

1122 Highway 41
Fish Camp, California

Comment:

Located just south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park, this mountain resort offers a plethora of winter activities and lodging for families. Ice skating, snow shoeing, sledding and horse drawn sleigh rides are some of the many activities that beckon during the winter months. Coupled with a large indoor swimming pool, 4 restaurants and welcoming hospitality, this lodge is the perfect place for families to enjoy a winter vacation in Yosemite.

reviewed on: September 11 2011

"Family friendly mountain resort"

This mountain lodge is located near one of our favorite places in all of the United States: Yosemite!  Our family loved staying at this resort in the beautiful mountains with so many fun activities to keep us occupied for several days.

What we loved:
- Beautiful location in the mountains near Yosemite National Park.  
- Outdoor and indoor pool that our kids loved to swim in.
- Hikes, rock wall climbing, and archery activities for the whole family.
- A comfortable room that slept all 6 of us.
What we weren’t as keen on:
- Dining options were expensive but the food was good.
- No complimentary breakfast.
- No complimentary WiFi.
- Lots of bees at the outdoor pool.

CLOSE LOCATION TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK:
The Tenaya Lodge is located two miles from the southern entrance to Yosemite, but it will take approximately one hour to drive to Yosemite Valley.  Because we have visited the valley many times, we decided to stay at the Lodge for our 2 night stay and just enjoy the pine trees, hike to the creek and all the other fun activities of the Lodge.

OUTDOOR AND INDOOR POOL:
The beautiful summer weather convinced us that we had to be outdoors swimming in the large pool surrounded by pine trees and beautiful plants.  It was gorgeous!  My little kids really enjoyed swimming in the shallow 2 ½-3 foot deep half circle of the shallow end where they could just barely touch the bottom.  My older boys swam the length of the pool, which got no deeper than five feet.  A nice extra touch was the complimentary swim diapers available poolside.  (Thankfully, my kids don’t need them anymore!)  The only drawback to the outside pool was that the local bees also liked it.  We had to carefully avoid stepping on 5-10 bees as we entered or exited the pool.  They were surrounding the pool in order to drink the water that was collecting on the deck.  Because there is a nearby bee colony, they cannot be eradicated, but I was told that they only come seasonally.  If your family cannot handle bees, or you visit in the winter, the indoor pool is just as great as the outdoor pool.  It is very large with a spacious deck surrounded by comfortable lounge chairs.  Skylights and picture windows let in the beautiful mountain scenery.  My kids loved it just as much!

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES:
Many activities offered by the Tenaya Lodge could keep families busy for days without even venturing to Yosemite National Park or the nearby Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad for an historic train ride.  During our first day, the boys climbed the 25-foot rock wall, shot arrows at targets, and swam in both of the pools.  When I first saw the climbing wall, sitting out in the parking lot, I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t set among the trees or in a mountain setting, but my boys and my husband didn’t care.  My 10 year old told me repeatedly during the afternoon how much fun he had conquering the “easy section” and how he almost made it up the “moderate section.”  Our family took a one-mile hike along a nature trail down to “Big Creek” where we threw rocks in the water and waded in the cold stream.  Along our walk we saw dogwood trees, a lush meadow, and a young grove (100 years old!) of Giant Sequoias that looked relatively small, but will be incredible giants some day.  The dusty climb back up the hill to the Lodge was the hardest part of the hike, but it was still fun.  A five-mile round trip trail from the hotel goes to a waterfall along Big Creek. Mountain bikes in many sizes (down to approximately 16-inch wheels) were available to rent, with the option to take an arduous ride down to a Giant Sequoia grove approximately 12 miles away.  Some of the many other activities that are available are an arcade, a gift shop, flashlight hikes, guided nature hikes, fishing gear, and a kid’s club.  The Kid’s Adventure Club offers five hours of kid activities, a meal, outdoor play, video games, a craft room and many other activities.  It’s a great option to occupy youngsters while parents enjoy time at dinner or the brand new spa.  

COMFORTABLE BEDS AND SPACIOUS ROOMS:
After we had taken our hike down to Big Creek and breathed in as much of the delicious pine scent as we could, we figured that checking into our room would be a good decision!  Our family of six slept very comfortably on two double beds and a pull-out couch in our room.  There was plenty of extra room for a pack-n-play (not needed this time) and suitcases.  We liked using the little fridge in the bathroom for keeping our diet cokes and our leftover dinners cold.  The room had a nice flat screen TV, a couch, a desk, a coffee maker with complimentary coffee, and a porch with chairs to enjoy the mountain air.  Regular suites and deluxe suites with Jacuzzi tubs and dining areas are also available.  WiFi is available in room for $9.95 per day.

WINTER ACTIVITIES:
We visited in August, and I must say that I was almost jealous of winter visitors when I heard of all of the fun activities offered to guests and families when the weather turns cold.  Topping our family’s “wish list” would be to skate at the outdoor ice rink, sled down the sled run, take a ride on a horse drawn sleigh, and participate in the gingerbread house building projects in the large ballroom and conference rooms.  Many other holiday programs, crafts, and activities, such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and dinner with Santa, are offered when the snow glistens on the trees.  The 5,000-foot elevation of Tenaya Lodge promises lots of months of snow and winter activities.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES:
Several special events occur during the summers that families will love.  The Summerdale BBQ invites visitors to the Wild West for an outdoor feast with live music, a campfire and s’mores.  Evening Ranger talks take place on Monday and Friday evenings to share stories, legends, and fun.  Check the website for details.

DINING OPTIONS:
There are four restaurants and a deli to choose from for meals at the Tenaya Lodge.  Our family’s favorite was the Timberloft Pizzeria for it’s family-friendly atmosphere, delicious pizzas, and reasonable prices.  The Jackalopes Bar & Grill and the Sierra Restaurant offer a variety of meals and their patios are more family friendly than the quiet interior.  The average price for an entrée was $17 and a kid’s meal was $7.95, drinks included. The Sierra Restaurant provides a great looking breakfast buffet, but we saved some significant dinero by bringing bananas and granola bars from the grocery store. Embers Restaurant is the perfect place for mom and dad to enjoy an elegant dinner if your children are visiting the Kid’s Club.  The mountain town of Oakhurst is less than 30 minutes down the hill and offers many good dining options as well.

ASCENT SPA:
Down in the lower level of the Lodge resides the brand new spa that invites guests to relax and refresh themselves.  For this visit, I didn’t experience a treatment, but I did get to tour the facilities.  The beautiful spa is decorated in a mountain color theme and offers facials, massages, pedicures, and more to women, men, couples and groups.  What fun it would be to come with a group of moms and get pampered!  A steam room and sauna encourage relaxation at Ascent, but the Tenaya Lodge also offers a second steam room and sauna on the main level next to the arcade and indoor pool for all the guests.

ECO-FRIENDLY:
During dinner at the Timberloft restaurant, we noticed that the heavy-duty paper plates we were served with were labeled “tree-free.”  We had quite an interesting discussion, trying to figure out what they were made from and it led to being able to teach our children the value of using recycled materials before other resources.  The company that runs the Tenaya Lodge (DNC) also services many National Parks with the goal of encouraging recycling and using resources efficiently through it’s “Green Path” program.  I thought it was a great way to run a resort and I was thankful that it wasn’t too heavy handed.

STROLLER TIPS:  Walking through the Lodge and along the few sidewalks is very stroller friendly.  However, if your family goes to the Summerdale BBQ, it would be helpful to know that it is down a mountain path that starts with a double flight of narrow steps.  Not stroller friendly.  The trail to Big Creek would be jogger stroller friendly and the path to the Timberloft Pizzeria is regular stroller friendly, but families will have to walk on the side of the street that leads to the Lodge.  There is no separate sidewalk.

BOTTOM LINE:
The Tenaya Lodge is a great family-friendly destination for a getaway or for an exciting adventure.  Whether families visit in the summer or winter, they will find more activities than they could ever hope to participate in.  Great fun awaits!

This review is based on a complimentary stay at the Tenaya Lodge with archery and rock climbing included. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not request that I express a particular point of view. The opinions I write are entirely my own.

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9. Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Valley
Yosemite National Park, California

Comment:

The trail to Yosemite Falls remains open year round and is a perfect winter outing for families. The falls may be frozen solid with a large snow cone gathered at the base, or the mix of snow and rain may allow for the beginnings of the large flow of water to rush over the edge of the falls. Either way, it is a sight not to miss on every visit to Yosemite Valley.

reviewed on: May 27 2010

"Dry waterfall also beautiful"

We have visited these falls in August of many years and still find them spectacular!  So don't miss a visit just because there may not be much water coming down.

Another thing to note is that if the falls are somewhat dry and you have older children who you feel comfortable letting scramble over the often slippery rocks, there are many pools to explore and discover, including a deep one just at the base of the lower falls.  

Bring a picnic lunch and eat on the rocks across the bridge or under the bridge.  Our kids had a great time splashing in the little pools under the bridge and floating sticks down the little "waterfalls" created by the many rocks.

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