Fortunately for lovers of the outdoors, Yosemite National Park is open throughout the winter. The season provides excellent recreational opportunities, and some of the most popular winter activities in Yosemite are skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and ice skating. The year’s coldest months also bring light crowds and peaceful, snow-covered scenery. (Visitors can even get to the famed Glacier Point overlook in winter—if they’re up for a 21-mile round trip on cross-country skis.)
The best places to stay in Yosemite in winter provide proximity to the park, cozy comforts, and experience-enhancing amenities. Local lodges are the best bet for those looking to escape the season’s chill. With comfortable accommodations and easy park access, top Yosemite winter lodging choices include Evergreen Lodge, Rush Creek Lodge & Spa, and Firefall Ranch.
Not only are all three lodges known for their warm and friendly service, they also offer a wide range of daily activities, including nightly fireside s’mores, with No Hidden Resort Fees! If sustainability influences your lodging selection, you’ll be happy to know that all three lodges are social enterprises using business as a force for good. Their profits fully self-fund onsite Youth Development Programs and a variety of leading environmental initiatives. Both Evergreen and Rush Creek are Certified B Corporations, with the brand new Firefall Ranch well on its way to certification as well.
Evergreen Lodge Yosemite Winter Cabins
The park’s eastern (Tioga Pass) entrance is closed seasonally due to snow, so the best area to stay for winter access to Yosemite is near its western entrances, including the Hetch Hetchy and Big Oak Flat (Highway 120) entrances. Evergreen Lodge is located a short distance from both, putting you within easy reach of the area’s top wintertime attractions.
Important note: Evergreen Lodge “hibernates” for the first six weeks of the year. However, outside of this period, the lodge reopens to welcome guests looking for a cozy base for exploring Yosemite in the quieter winter months.
Evergreen Lodge offers a collection of cozy cabins on a serene, 20-acre property filled with tall pine trees:
- Deluxe Cabins with a king bed, a sofa bed, a gas fireplace, a private deck, and space for one to four guests
- One-Bedroom Cottages featuring a king bedroom, a living room with a sofa bed, a fireplace, a private deck, and space for two to four guests
- Two-Bedroom Family Cabins with a king bedroom and a two-twin bedroom, a living room with a queen sofa bed, a private deck, and space for four to six people
- Vintage Cabins featuring a cozy queen bedroom, a small reading area, a covered front porch or deck facing nature, and room for two guests
- One-Room Family Cabins offering a queen bed and bunk beds, a sitting area, a covered front porch, and room for up to four guests
- Rental homes, including the 3-bedroom John Muir House, with space for six to ten guests, and the two-story Kay’s Nest, featuring a king bed, a sofa bed, a game room, and space for two to four guests
Evergreen Lodge Amenities
On-property amenities at Evergreen Lodge include:
- Evergreen Restaurant
- Tavern at the ‘Green
- A saltwater pool with a bar and hot tub
- A general store
- Daily activities
- Guided excursions, including snowshoeing trips through a grove of giant sequoias
Rush Creek Lodge & Spa Yosemite Winter Accommodations
Located on 20 hillside acres less than a mile from Yosemite’s Highway 120 West entrance, Rush Creek Lodge & Spa puts guests in a prime position to explore the Valley during winter. The resort offers more than 140 lodge rooms, suites, and hillside villas, with options including:
- Lodge King Rooms with a king bed, a queen sofa bed, a private balcony, and space for two to four guests
- Lodge Double Queen Rooms featuring two queen beds, a sitting area, a private balcony, and space for two to four guests
- Lodge Suites with a king bedroom, a living room with a queen sofa bed, a gas fireplace, a private balcony, and room for two to four guests
- One-Bedroom Villas with a king bedroom, a living room with a queen sofa bed, a gas fireplace, and room for two to four guests
- Two-Bedroom Villas with a king bedroom, a double-twin bedroom, a sitting area with a sofa bed, a gas fireplace, a private balcony, and space for four to six guests
- Two-Bedroom Villas with two king bedrooms, a sitting area with a sofa bed, a gas fireplace, a private balcony, and room for four to six guests
Rush Creek Lodge Amenities
On-site amenities at Rush Creek Lodge include:
- Rush Creek Restaurant
- Rush Creek Tavern
- A general store
- The award-winning Rush Creek Spa
- A pool and hot tubs
- Daily activities
- Guided excursions, including a snowshoe adventure to Dewey Point, one of Yosemite’s most iconic overlooks
Yosemite Winter Lodging at Firefall Ranch
Firefall Ranch is a 300-acre mountain resort located about 15 miles from Yosemite’s Big Oak Flat entrance. Its peaceful property features comfortable cottages and villas perfect for your winter vacation:
- One-Bedroom Cottages with a king bed, a sitting area with a queen sofa bed, an indoor/outdoor gas fireplace, a private covered deck, and room for two to four guests
- Two-Bedroom Cottages with a king bedroom, a double-twin or queen bedroom, a sitting area with a queen sofa bed, an indoor/outdoor fireplace, a large covered deck, and space for four to six guests
- Three-Bedroom Villas with a king bedroom, a queen bedroom, a loft with two twin beds, a living room with a queen sofa bed, a gas fireplace, a kitchenette, a large covered deck, and room for four to eight guests
Firefall Ranch Amenities
On-property amenities at Firefall Ranch include:
- YOVA Restaurant
- Firefall Ranch Tavern
- A general store
- A saltwater pool and hot tubs
- Daily activities
- Guided excursions, including trips to see Yosemite’s famed Firefall event in February
While winter is the best time to visit Yosemite to avoid crowds, popular lodging spots still fill up fast. Booking your Yosemite-area wintertime lodging as far in advance as possible is helpful if you have your eye on a specific property or cabin, as some accommodations are limited.
For those seeking an offseason escape, Evergreen Lodge, Rush Creek Lodge & Spa, and Firefall Ranch provide ideal home bases for winter activities and exploration in Yosemite National Park. Choose your favorite resort and book your trip today!