Yosemite Blog

How to Have a Perfect Day at Badger Pass

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:30:00 -0600

How to Have a Perfect Day at Badger Pass

What would a winter in Yosemite be without skiing at Badger Pass Ski Area? The two have remained united when it comes to exploring the beauty the cold and snow offers visitors. We opened our doors at Badger Pass Ski Area to learners and locals in the winter of 1935. Badger Pass has everything for a perfect winter day: transportation, accessible runs, affordable lift tickets, and easy to rent equipment and lesson signups.

When the weekend rolls around, why don’t you spend a day at Badger Pass Ski Area? We also won’t tell anyone if you decide to play hooky and spend a day on the slopes.

Before Arriving

Wake up well rested and ready to have an enjoyable day in the snow. Head over to the Yosemite Valley Lodge for a breakfast burrito from Basecamp Eatery, before the last shuttle bus picks you up at the Lodge entrance at 8:30 a.m. and again at 11 a.m. The scenic bus route takes about 40 minutes before arriving at Badger Pass. Check out our previous blog post here for more information regarding specific shuttle pick up times.

Gear and Preparations

No equipment? No problem! The rentals are on the first floor of the day lodge. Employees will help find a pair of skis or a snowboard best suited for you and boots to fit accordingly. If you bought your lift ticket ahead of time, you can pick it up at the front desk. This is a great time to get your equipment adjusted if you are not completely comfortable; making sure your helmet is buckled, jacket zipped, boots are tight, or modify anything bothering you. Now you are ready to head out to the slopes!

Beginner Friendly

For brand new skiers or snowboarders, Badger Pass offers Turtle, our tug lift. This lift helps, if you are a beginner, to understand what it feels like to be attached to something gliding across the snow. The Turtle area has practice cones to develop basic skills. Afterwards, you can learn how to ride a traditional chairlift. The Bruin chairlift helps gain experience with downhill speed.

Bruin is designed for our newest ski and snowboard students. The lift moves at slower speed, so you can take the time you need to learn how to get on and off the lift. Once warmed up, channel your inner John Muir and venture into the unknown... the land of harder runs. If you’re looking for a bit more of a challenge as a Beginner or Intermediate athlete, try out your newly learned skills on runs such as Eagle or Rabbit.

Our Favorite Runs

Experienced skiers enjoy riding the Eagle chairlift. Looking for a slightly longer run to take full advantage of Yosemite’s surrounding beauty? Perhaps try the following route: take the Eagle chairlift up to the top, then make a left-hand turn like you are about to head down the main run. When you see signage for Eagle, Rabbit, and Beaver, split off, and continue to the farthest side of the hill, down Beaver. This route has some slow sections perfect for admiring the snowcapped trees. The well-groomed and quiet terrain feels like you have the whole run to yourself.

Getting off the lift, on the right-hand side, explore cutting through the forest; options here to take black Wildcat down to the bottom, or blue Chipmunk. Ending on Chipmunk places you in an advantageous position to ride the Badger lift.

The Badger lift has access to Grey Owl, Badger, and connects back down to the beginner hill, Bruin. The views where Badger meets the top portion of Bruin cannot be beaten! These runs are shorter, but great if you like to catch speed. Just make sure to be aware of your surroundings when you shred near other learners and share the space!

Something for Everyone

If downhill sports don’t entice you, try out cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Trail recommendations, guided snowshoe tours, maps, and gear are all available at the Nordic Center.

For families we have a small tubing area, where the little ones can play and slide, while older siblings take ski or snowboard lessons.

Even if you are not participating in the sports at Badger Pass, you still have access to the day lodge and its added ambiance. We have food options available and a Sport Shop for some light shopping and souvenirs. Keep warm with hot cocoa available for purchase inside and spend the day watching people come down the mountain. The lodge is a perfect location to cheer on your loved ones as they successfully crush their first blue or black run!

No matter what activity you choose, there is always fun to be had in the snow! Yosemite in the winter is a magical place like no other, leaving your family awestruck by the beauty.

Plastic Free July

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0500

Did you know that most of the plastic we consume ends up in landfills, or worse, in our oceans, environment and even inside of us all the while taking up to 500 years to break down? Think about all the single-use plastic items you used today, last week and last month. It adds up quickly. Plastic Free July provides the resources and space for us to reflect on our daily lives and how those habits affect our environment, community, and health.

In a place as beautiful and fragile as Yosemite National Park, it’s imperative we do whatever is necessary to reduce and remove single-use plastic products we consume. That is why we are asking our community of employees who live and work in the park and guests for the month of July to consider a plastic-free July. Whether it’s eliminating all single-use plastics from your life or starting with just one thing, every person and every decision matters.

“Perfection is the enemy of progress” - Winston Churchill.

Eliminating single-use plastics from everyday life can be daunting. But you don’t have to start by eliminating every piece of single-use plastic from your life. You can start small with one or two things, then more and more until you have reduced your plastic consumption significantly or even entirely. Grab a reusable water bottle, reach for the non-plastic water bottle always choose the aluminum or paper container option for your drinks, don’t grab that straw, say no to plastic zip-top bags and pick a reusable option. Whatever it is, you can take small steps to make a big difference.

As a part of our commitment to removing single-use plastics long-term, this July we are launching a program at the Yosemite Valley Lodge Gift and Grocery Store to remove single-use plastic containers for water bottles in favor of aluminum cans.

This is just the beginning. Plastic Free July is an invitation to examine single-use plastics and perhaps eliminate even just one for good. After all, we don’t need 100 people doing it perfectly, we need millions doing it imperfectly.

For more information, resources, and support visit plasticfreejuly.org

The Magic of the Holidays at Yosemite National Park

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 13:26:55 -0600

The holidays are always a wonderful time of the year, but this year, you may wish to book a getaway this December to see Yosemite’s holiday décor at Curry Village, Yosemite Valley Lodge and The Ahwahnee ahead of the holiday. Book a stay at one of these properties and make this holiday season one to remember, filled with creative holiday decorations, outdoor adventures, and endless holiday cheer. Make sure to visit the Village Store and Degnan’s Kitchen in Yosemite Village as they are also decorated with festive decor!

Our holiday décor designer Carla has been decorating stores and hotel lobbies in Yosemite for more than 20 years. Each year she picks a specific theme for each location. For example, Base Camp Eatery has a rock climbing themed tree; Degnan’s Kitchen has a Santa themed tree and there is a fun community tree at the Village Store made with handcrafted skunk ornaments from recycled materials by local children.

There are four small windows along the red carpet entrance to The Ahwahnee each decorated with a holiday gingerbread cookie scene. Carla handcrafted many of the elements including a vintage style stove.

We hope you enjoy the holiday décor on your visit to Yosemite National Park this holiday season!

Yosemite: Nothing Else Like It

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 12:00:00 -0600

This article is also available in the following languages: French, German, and Chinese.

Yosemite. One word, four syllables. Not a lot in the way of descriptions, but with Yosemite, it’s all you need.

That one word conjures up cloud-crowned heights with crested waterfalls tumbling over granite monoliths; of deep valleys with quiet streams following their own path through western pines; of meadows with vast views. It can be simply described as Iconic Grandeur.

1,200 Square Miles of Views

When you tell people you are going to Yosemite, you really don’t have to say much more. You can see the longing tinged with jealousy in their eyes, along with the slight glimmer of optimism as they silently hope you will ask if they want to come along.

But with nearly 1,200 square miles of those deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, and a vast wilderness area, the question of what to do once you get there can be a little daunting. But that is okay, that is what we are here for. Here are some highlights that are not to be missed.

Getting There

There are essentially four ways to get into the park, and each have their pros and cons, but for the sake of this article, we will take you in on Highway 140, through the town of El Portal, also known as the Arch Rock entrance. Whichever way you take into the park, however, one thing to consider is letting YARTS do the driving for you.

YARTS, or the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System is a regularly scheduled, fixed route, public transit system that operates year-round in the Yosemite region. YARTS provides service into Yosemite National Park and gateway communities in comfortable, air-conditioned buses. Riding into the park has many advantages like helping cut down on traffic, emissions and congestion; but the best reason to ride YARTS is that you can focus on the scenery instead of watching the road. All YARTS fares into Yosemite include the park entrance fee.

For more information, rates and shuttle stops, check out yarts.com

The Arch Rock Entrance will take you directly into the Yosemite Valley with its views of Half Dome and El Cap. This entrance is also a great way to get to the heart of the park’s informational and social hub, Yosemite Village.

The Village is the site of some public facilities, such as a fire station, a post office, a medical clinic, a convenience store, restaurants, gift shops, and the park's headquarters facilities and main visitor center.

From this point, you have access to just about anything you might want to do in Yosemite.

Adventure Abounds

Feeling adventurous? Check out climbing with Yosemite Mountaineering School.

The climbing school offers climbing lessons and excursions from the rock neophyte to the most experienced of climbers. Classes start each day at 8:30 and can be expected to last about 8 hours.

Half Dome Village Bike Rental, located directly across the street from Yosemite Mountaineering School can rent you the perfect bike to explore the park with, from a laid back beach cruiser to a downhill beast.

One more thing not to be missed in Yosemite Valley are the stars. Once the sun starts fading to the west, they begin popping out, one by one at first, then it’s as if someone took a bucket of lights and threw them across the sky. But it’s not enough just to be able to see these stars, you should learn about them too.

The Starry Skies program gives you a chance for a cosmic adventure with a dedicated and knowledgeable cosmic guide.

Sleep in Majesty

There a number of places to choose from when picking out a bed for the night and the lodges offer a number of amenities at multiple price points.

The Yosemite Valley Lodge is a great place for families with both traditional and larger family-style rooms. Included on the property are great eateries, a tour desk, swimming pool and phenomenal views of Yosemite Falls.

One hotel that should be on everyone's bucket list is The Majestic Yosemite Hotel. The hotel is specifically designed to highlight the natural surroundings of the valley. It is exquisitely luxurious and at once ruggedly historic with views featuring Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and Glacier Point. The hotel holds a historic heritage as it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Stretch Your Legs

The next day, lace up your hiking boots and head to Tuolumne Meadows.

Located about an hour’s drive from the valley, Tuolumne Meadows is one of the largest high-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada. Tuolumne Meadows, at 8,600 ft., is a great way to see the granite backbone of the High Sierras. With numerous and accessible trailheads leading you into the wilderness, trails can be anything from easy to strenuous and everything in between. One not-to-be-missed hike is Cloud's Rest. Clouds Rest Trail from Tenaya Lake is a 12.3 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail.

The hike to Clouds Rest is epic and some argue it offers a better view than the top of Half Dome.

If Half Dome is on your bucket list, however, make sure you are prepared.

Measuring about 15 miles round trip, the most popular trailhead is from the Happy Isles shuttle stop, accessible from Yosemite Valley.

This trail, however, is not for the casual hiker nor the faint of heart. The hike can be as rewarding as it is challenging but there are some steps you need to take before heading out, including getting a permit. But the effort is well worth the reward.

Sleep in History

A great place to stop for the night is the Big Trees Lodge.

Big Trees Lodge is one of those classic Victorian hotels that make a trip to any National Park so charming.

Established in 1856, the Big Trees Lodge is one of California’s original mountain resort hotels. Situated 27 miles from Yosemite Valley on Highway 41, this National Historic Landmark is near the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and the Pioneer History Center. Which will give you a great base to start from for your next day.

Trees like Skyscrapers

The Mariposa Grove is the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite and home to some of the most quintessentially recognizable sequoias in the world. The Fallen Monarch and the California Tunnel Tree are a few examples.

There are any number of hikes that can take you into the heart of the cathedral-like grove. Perhaps the best, though most challenging, is the Mariposa Grove Trail.

This wide and relatively smooth trail follows a route that people have used to access the grove for generations. The trail winds its way through some of the most spectacular sequoias the park has to offer. Trees like the Bachelor and Three Graces, the Faithful Couple, and the Clothespin Tree grace the grove. This trail can also give you access to the upper reaches of the grove which culminates at the spectacular and historic Wawona Point, an overlook with panoramic views.

A Yosemite Legend

Of course, no trip to the southern area of the park would be, or even could be complete without spending an evening with Tom Bopp.

Tom Bopp is a Yosemite Legend. A gifted and highly entertaining pianist, Bopp has been performing at Big Trees Lodge since the 1980s. He can speak to the Big Trees experience, history of the Lodge and give the opportunity for guests to unplug and relax in this quieter part of the park.

Wonderful, Wild and Amazing

The next morning is a great chance to get a little history with all that fresh mountain air.

The Pioneer Yosemite History Center is located almost right next door to the Big Trees Lodge and will give you a time machine of sorts to travel back into the early days of the Park’s history.

A fun, if slightly macabre, side trip is the diminutive in size but rich in history Wawona Cemetery. With fewer than ten (though nobody really knows for sure) graves, this fenced-in cemetery is the eternal resting place for some of the parks earliest inhabitants. It can be a little tricky to find though, so ask a local.

Yosemite is a park of wonders. From the deep forests and wildflower-strewn meadows of the valley to the sacrosanct solitude of its vaulted granite domes. It’s the only place in the world where the definition of that wonder is defined by the name of the place itself. Yosemite. And if you want, you should bring your friends.

This story has been created in partnership with Visit USA Parks.