Yosemite in January and February: What to Expect and a Travelers Tip

Bharath writes:

“Hey i am a traveler from India. I will be in California during the month of February. Does Yosemite get frigid in that period? How easy/tough would it be to get a reservation for a room in January for the same.”

Well Bharath I’ll answer the first part of your question with a photo. This was taken during late January a couple of years ago and is typical for Yosemite at that time of year.

As for the second part of your question, generally it’s easier to get reservations during the winter months. You should still try to get them as early as possible though to ensure you’re not scrambling for a place to stay.

Since you’re planning on coming up in winter you’ll need chains in your car and having this URL handy is a good idea: http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi. That URL will take you to the California Department of Transportation page. You simply enter the highway number you plan on using to enter the park (41, 140, 120) and it’ll tell you whether or not chains are required and if the road is open. Also adding the Yosemite Information Line (209-372-0200) to your phone is a good idea.

Hope that answered your question. Good luck and have a great trip.