Reader Sarah Asks About Tent Camping Over President’s Day Weekend

Sarah writes in:

I am planning a trip up there next month during President’s Day weekend. I have been looking at accommodations and saw a great deal for unheated tents in Curry Village for those days. I was wondering if you knew the general weather conditions for that time of year, and whether or not an unheated tent would be bearable for a night.

Also, are most of the trails open during that time of year? I read somewhere that there are often closures during the winter months, and I wanted to be sure there were still a lot of hiking and sightseeing opportunities. I haven’t been to Yosemite in over a decade, so I really appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks for the email, Sarah. February in the park is usually pretty cold and this year seems colder than most. There’s normally snow on the ground through February and into late March/early May with thick frost every morning.

Don’t let that deter you though. If you’ve done some winter camping and have good, cold-weather mummybags and warm clothes you should be ok. Some people like to bring partially filled Nalgene bottles of hot water into their sleeping bags but for me that’s too much of a risk of having a wet sleeping bag which is bad all around. I prefer to use a couple of the pocket hand warmers. Just snap them in the coldest part of the morning and you have a quick warm up. Be sure they’re in your bag with you though because you definitely don’t want to let the cold air in from outside. Also plan on getting out of the tent early to warm up at one of the lodges or stores.

As for siteseeing, there’s always plenty of beautiful things to see. Most of the trails leading up to higher elevations (read: Mist Trail, Upper Yosemite Fall and 4 Mile Trail) are closed due to ice and snow. But the loop of trails around the Valley, up to Mirror Lake, Vernal Fall, and Lower Yosemite Fall make a couple days good exploring. You can also venture up to the Mariposa Grove and check out the Giant Sequoia. If you’re into skiing or want to try or would rather get some snowshoes then Badger Pass on the Glacier Point Road offers a great opportunity for you to see some of the less seen country of Yosemite.

Good luck and have a safe trip!