Yosemite National Park in December 2026: Snow, Chains, and What's Open

Half Dome above a snowy meadow on December 22, 2019. Main image: photo by Rachelle Haun, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped, with text added.

Yes, if you'll carry tire chains and you're happy with a Valley-centered trip. December gives you granite under snow, quiet days before Christmas, and none of summer's parking fights. It doesn't give you Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows, or big waterfalls, so skip it if the high country is the reason you're going.

Here's December as of November 5, 2026. If you'd like the days already worked out, my guide to Yosemite National Park gives every plan a backup for storms, snow, or closed roads.

Is December the Best Time to Visit Yosemite?

For a quiet Valley, the first three weeks of December are my pick. The park warns of traffic and tight parking in late December and early January, so the calendar matters more than the weather. Snow on the Valley floor isn't a given: a storm at 4,000 feet can bring rain instead.

Choose May for waterfalls, July through October for the high country, and late February for Horsetail Fall. My Yosemite winter guide covers the whole season.

Weather and Daylight in December

Yosemite Valley averages a high of 46°F and a low of 28°F in December, ten degrees cooler by day than November, with 5.6 inches of precipitation (NPS). Snow is usually on the ground around 6,000 feet and above.

By my calculation (approximate, Pacific Time), the sun rises about 6:55 a.m. and sets about 4:40 p.m. on December 1, and about 7:15 and 4:50 on December 31. That's under 10 hours of light, and less on the Valley floor once the cliffs block the sun.

Low clouds along Yosemite's cliffs on December 22, 2019. Photo: Rachelle Haun, CC BY 2.0, via source.

What's Open and Closed in December 2026

• The park: open 24 hours a day. No entrance reservation is required in 2026 (NPS).
• Tioga Road: temporarily closed for snow as of November 5, and it usually stays shut until late May or June. With it closed, you can't enter from the east; from Mammoth Lakes, the drive around is 410 miles and about 8 hours (NPS).
• Glacier Point Road: listed open on November 5, but it usually closes sometime in November. From about mid-December, only the five miles to Badger Pass are plowed, so you can't plan on driving to Glacier Point.
• Mariposa Grove Road and shuttle: close on or about November 30. The Washburn Trail stays open: two miles each way, with 500 feet of climbing.
• Hetch Hetchy Road: sunrise to sunset, and closed when it's snowing or snow is forecast overnight (NPS conditions).
• El Capitan Bridge: 15-minute weekday delays, and the trail over the bridge is closed on weekdays through December.
• Dome Fire closure: as of November 5, an area south of Glacier Point Road stays closed. Check the park's map before snowshoeing nearby.
• Wawona Hotel: closed. The Yosemite Madera County visitors bureau calls it a multi-year repair project.

What to Book and When

Rooms. Lodging reservations open 366 days ahead, so book holiday weeks early. The Ahwahnee and Yosemite Valley Lodge are open all year (NPS).

Campsites. Upper Pines takes reservations all year, and every December date has already been released, so watch for cancellations. Camp 4 takes reservations until November 29, then goes first-come, first-served. The park's camping page lists Wawona and Hodgdon Meadow as first-come, first-served in winter too, and says they can fill on weekends and holidays.

Bracebridge Dinner. This holiday dinner runs eight evenings at The Ahwahnee, December 8 to 22, and December 12 had sold out as of November 5. Tickets don't include a room.

The Best Things to Do in December

• Walk the Valley. Good short choices are the 1-mile Lower Yosemite Fall loop, the 1-mile Cook's Meadow loop, and 2 miles out and back to Mirror Lake (NPS). Yosemite Falls picks up after rain and snow, though not to spring levels.
• Skate at Curry Village. The outdoor rink runs mid-November to mid-March, conditions permitting.
• Ski at Badger Pass, if it's open. The park says mid-December at the earliest, and no 2026–27 date is posted as of November 5 (NPS). Don't count on tubing: the operator anticipates January through March.
• Go indoors on a storm day. The Valley Visitor Center has an exhibit hall and two free films, and the Yosemite Museum's Indian Cultural Exhibit is open all year.

El Capitan above still water in Yosemite Valley. The file's camera data is dated December 25, 2016. Photo: James Donovan, CC0, via source.

Where to Look for Wildlife in December

Mule deer are common in the Valley, and the park says they've injured more people than bears have, so give them room. Along the Merced River, watch for the American dipper, a small bird that dives under ice for food in winter. Nothing is guaranteed.

Bears were still active across the park as of November 5. Stay at least 50 yards from any you see away from development, store food properly, and never feed any animal. My bear post has the food rules.

Holidays, Events, and Crowds in December

Christmas falls on Friday, December 25, and New Year's Day on Friday, January 1. There's no fee-free day in December on the 2026 list. Entry is $35 per private vehicle for seven days, cards only, and non-U.S. residents 16 and older pay $100 more each without an annual pass (NPS). The park usually adds new ranger programs to its calendar in early December.

Safety and What to Pack

• Tire chains. Expect them even if you're staying in the Valley. When controls are on, every vehicle must carry chains or cables, four-wheel drives and rentals included. Rental companies generally don't supply them, strap-on devices don't count, and a citation can reach $5,000. Buy a set that fits your tires before you leave town (NPS).
• Your way in. Highway 140 needs chains less often than Highways 41 and 120. YARTS buses run on Highway 140 all year if you'd rather not drive it (NPS). My San Francisco day trip post compares Highways 120 and 140, and it calls winter the riskiest season to try this in one day.
• On foot. Bring traction devices and trekking poles, wool or synthetic layers, and a headlamp with spare batteries. Tell someone your plan and pack an extra jacket, hat, and snacks; the park says the consequences of an unplanned night out are more severe in winter (NPS).

How Many Days Do You Need in Yosemite in December?

One day covers Tunnel View, Lower Yosemite Fall, and Cook's Meadow. Two days add Mirror Lake and the rink, plus a spare if a storm takes out a day. That's my pick. Three days make sense once Badger Pass is open, or if you want the Mariposa Grove on snowshoes. My Sierra Nevada road trip covers what stays reachable at Sequoia and Kings Canyon in winter.

My Yosemite guide has nine one- to three-day itineraries at easy, moderate, and strenuous effort. In December, use the backup on any day that needs Glacier Point or Tioga Road. My Yosemite itinerary post shows one of those swaps, and my California collection post does the same for an easy two days.

A Simple One-Day Plan for December

1. Before you drive: call 209/372-0200, then press 1 and 1, for roads and chain controls.
2. 9 a.m.: stop at Tunnel View if you're coming in on Highway 41; otherwise head straight to the Valley.
3. 10 a.m.: walk the Lower Yosemite Fall loop, then Cook's Meadow.
4. Noon: lunch at Degnan's Bakery in Yosemite Village, then the visitor center.
5. 1:30 p.m.: walk to Mirror Lake and back, or skate at Curry Village if it's icy underfoot.
6. 4 p.m.: find a view of El Capitan or Half Dome for the last light.

Before You Go

Check the road line the morning you leave. For the full plans, see my guide to Yosemite National Park.

Before you go: see Yosemite National Park alerts and current conditions, checked daily, for current closures and what they mean for your trip.

This is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Conditions change; check the park's current alerts before you go.