Yosemite In December: The Quiet Season Nobody Talks About

There's a version of Yosemite that most visitors never see: a valley draped in fresh snow, waterfalls rimmed with ice, and Tunnel View so quiet you can hear your own footsteps crunch on granite. That's Yosemite in December — the park stripped of summer crowds and traffic jams, replaced by frosted meadows, early sunsets, and a stillness that makes El Capitan and Half Dome feel even more monumental.

December is one of the most underrated times to visit Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Valley and Wawona stay open to cars year-round, so you don't need a wilderness permit or a summer reservation to see the park's biggest icons. But winter also brings shorter days, icy roads, mandatory tire chains, and several major routes shut down completely. Here's exactly what to expect, what's open, what's closed, and how to plan a safe, unforgettable December trip.

Weather and Daylight to Expect

December in Yosemite Valley (elevation around 4,000 feet) is genuinely cold, but rarely brutal. Average highs sit near 40–48°F, with overnight lows dropping to roughly 21–28°F. The month typically brings around 53mm of rain or snow spread across five or so precipitation days.

Don't expect a full day of light to work with. Daylight shrinks to around 9.5–10 hours in December, with sunrise between 6:55 and 7:13 AM and sunset between 4:28 and 4:50 PM depending on the date. The winter solstice falls on December 21 — the shortest day of the year in the park. Plan your driving and hiking around this tight window; many visitors are surprised by how early the valley goes dark.

Higher elevations, like Glacier Point and Tioga Pass, are significantly colder and see far more snow accumulation than the valley floor — one reason those roads close for the season by this point in the year.

Which Roads Are Open (and Which Are Closed)

This is the single most important thing to nail down before a December trip, because Yosemite's road network changes dramatically once winter sets in.

Open year-round, including December:

• Wawona Road (Highway 41 from Fresno / South Entrance)

• El Portal Road (Highway 140 from Merced)

• Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 from Manteca, West Entrance)

• Yosemite Valley roads

• Glacier Point Road, plowed only to Badger Pass Ski Area from mid-December through March

Closed for the season by December:

• Tioga Road (Highway 120 East through Tuolumne Meadows) — usually closed by November, doesn't reopen until late May or early June

• Glacier Point Road beyond Badger Pass — the final stretch to Glacier Point itself is inaccessible by car all winter

• Mariposa Grove Road — closed to general traffic, though it remains open to vehicles with a disability placard when conditions allow; everyone else reaches the grove via the two-mile Washburn Trail

Highway 140 through El Portal is generally considered the most reliable winter route into the park, since it's prioritized for plowing and less prone to chain requirements than Highways 41 and 120. Even so, heavy storms can temporarily close every entrance until crews finish plowing — always call the 24-hour Road Status line at 209-372-0200 (press 1, then 1) the morning of your drive.

Tire Chains: What You Actually Need to Know

California law requires drivers to carry tire chains on Yosemite's mountain roads from November through March, even if the pavement looks completely dry. Rangers do enforce this, and chain-control checkpoints go up quickly once snow starts falling. Highway 41 and Highway 120 West are more likely to require chains than Highway 140.

A few practical rules for December driving:

• Carry chains that fit your specific tire size, even with four-wheel or all-wheel drive — some checkpoints require chains regardless of drivetrain during severe storms.

• Practice putting chains on before you leave home. Doing it for the first time on the side of a dark, snowy road is a bad plan.

• Fill your gas tank before entering the park, since services are limited in winter.

• Check conditions again the morning of departure, not just the night before — mountain weather changes fast.

  
  

Best Things to Do in Yosemite in December

Winter shrinks the activity list, but what remains is arguably more atmospheric than summer's crowded trailheads.

Snowshoeing at Badger Pass. From mid-December through March, rangers lead free guided snowshoe walks, and the Cross Country Center rents equipment for self-guided routes, including the popular trek to Dewey Point overlooking the valley.

Downhill skiing and snowboarding. Badger Pass Ski Area, open since 1935, offers beginner-friendly slopes plus cross-country trails threading through snow-laden forest.

Snow tubing. Badger Pass runs a dedicated tubing hill (typically operating January through March, weather permitting), and Goat Meadow Snow Play Area off Highway 41 offers a more casual, family-friendly sledding and tubing spot.

Photographing Tunnel View and Valley View. Fresh snow on El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall creates some of the most photographed winter scenes in the National Park System, and December's short days mean soft golden light lingers longer near sunrise and sunset.

Ice skating at Curry Village. A seasonal outdoor rink with Half Dome as a backdrop is one of the more low-key, family-friendly ways to spend a winter evening in the valley.

Because December crowds are moderate rather than heavy, you'll generally avoid the timed-entry pressure of peak summer and spring — and reservations for lower-elevation trails and viewpoints aren't required the way they are during Horsetail Fall "Firefall" season in February.

Entrance Fees and Practical Planning

Standard entrance fees apply year-round: $35 per private vehicle for seven consecutive days, $30 for motorcycles, and $20 per person arriving on foot or bicycle. Non-US residents aged 16 and older must also pay an additional $100 per-person fee unless they hold an America the Beautiful Annual Pass for non-residents. Entrance stations accept credit or debit cards only — no cash.

A few more December-specific planning notes:

• Book lodging early. Winter rates inside and near the park are lower than summer, but properties near the South Entrance and in Wawona still fill up around the holidays.

• Layer aggressively. Valley floor temperatures can swing 20–25 degrees between a sunny midday and a clear, cold night.

• Check webcams before you go. NPS and Yosemite Conservancy publish live webcam feeds of Yosemite Falls and the valley — useful for judging current snow and water flow before you commit to a drive.

• Arrive early. With sunset before 5 PM, an early start protects your daylight window for driving, hiking, and photography.

Turn This Guide Into a Real Road Trip

Reading about Yosemite's winter roads is one thing. Actually navigating the South Entrance, Wawona, and the drive into the valley during short winter days is another.

That's exactly what our Yosemite National Park South Entrance Driving Tour is built for — mile-by-mile narrated directions, the history behind Wawona and the Mariposa Grove, and practical callouts for parking, chain checkpoints, and timing your stops before the early winter sunset.

Download the Yosemite National Park South Entrance Driving Tour and turn your December visit into a guided, stress-free journey — from the moment you cross the entrance station to your first view of Half Dome.