Yosemite worth it in December? (Mendocino, Yosemite Valley: rent, car, best place)

[beth100]

Our family is leaving from Seattle, WA, to Kentucky leaving the second week of December. We're going to be taking our time b/c we have two small kids. We were thinking of maybe driving down to Yosemite and taking the southern route towards the east coast.

My question is, is it worth the possible bad driving conditions/weather to risk going into Yosemite at this time of the year?

Suggestions? Thanks.

[Snort]

If you're a good driver and used to the possible road conditions, Yosemite is worth it. It's much more tranquil that time of year.

[esmith143]

Winter is not the best time to visit Yosemite. Highway 120 across Sierra Nevada is closed, so is Glacier Point Road (the road that you can take to the summit high above the valley). Waterfalls, one of the main attractions of the park, are down to a trickle or completely off. But it's still pretty and fairly deserted. Whereas during the early summer there are people everywhere.

Also consider the route through Lake Tahoe and Death Valley.

[family first]

If you have never been to Yosemite, find a way to visit. Rent an AWD vehicle or bring chains as the snow could fly anytime. If you're lucky enough to see snow covered peaks, you'll never forget it! Usually there is less people traffic in the winter as well. Have fun and enjoy one of the many wonders of CA.

[gmkarr]

Winter is a fantastic time to visit. Growing up, my family would to to Yosemite most winters. It is a great place for hiking, for ice skating (at the outdoor rink in Yosemite Valley), skiing, sledding, and just playing in the snow and making snowmen. It is a better trip if you are prepared, just like visiting any other snowy place. It is also hard to tell if it will be snowy in late December. I think January is when it gets the most snow. It is such a gorgeous park, it is always an inspiration to visit.

Here is a link with information about the park - you can check road conditions, etc.

Yosemite National Park - Visiting in Winter (U.S. National Park Service)

You usually need to put on chains on your car in the winter as well.

-gmkarr

[Adriatica]

Originally Posted by beth100

Our family is leaving from Seattle, WA, to Kentucky leaving the second week of December. We're going to be taking our time b/c we have two small kids. We were thinking of maybe driving down to Yosemite and taking the southern route towards the east coast.

My question is, is it worth the possible bad driving conditions/weather to risk going into Yosemite at this time of the year?

Suggestions? Thanks.

Definitely! It will be beautiful! Bring your chains and warm clothes.

[beth100]

thanks so much!!

[Kibbiekat]

Yes. It is gorgeous in the snow!

[ferretkona]

Yosemite is worth seeing at all times of the year.
When I first read this thread a few days ago I did not read it thru. If you are taking highway 10 east it would well be worth the trip thru. Just take the southern exit toward highway 41. You could take 58 east to avoid LA. I enjoy getting trip tics from the auto club.

Also note worthy is the coastal redwoods in Mendocino and Big Sur.
Off highway 4 is Calaveras Big Trees, larger in width redwoods. These are the redwoods Mark Twain wrote about.

[Mach50]

Yosemite is definitely worth it, it is one of the best places in the world in the winter.