Yosemite Weather in December

December is Yosemite at its quietest and coldest, the month when the crowds that clog the Valley in summer are gone and the park feels like a different place entirely. Snow dusts the granite walls, Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall often run rimmed in ice, and Half Dome and El Capitan take on a stark, gray-white look against bare winter trees. It isn't easy weather for long days outside, with storms rolling through and daylight in short supply, but for anyone who wants Tunnel View or the Valley floor mostly to themselves, this is the month to come.

Expect a Valley-floor high around 47°F and a low near 27°F, at the cold end of winter's 47–53°F high / 25–29°F low range. December is also one of Yosemite's wetter months, averaging about 6.5 inches of precipitation and roughly 10 inches of snow, often falling as a mix of rain and snow depending on elevation. Sunshine runs around 9.3 hours a day, with skies frequently overcast or actively storming. The Valley floor sits near 4,000 feet, but temperatures in the high country above 8,000 feet run 20–30°F colder — largely academic in December, since the roads up there are closed for the season anyway.

December rates a 5 out of 5 for crowds, the best score of the year if solitude is what you want. Parking areas that fill by mid-morning in summer sit empty, popular trails are quiet, and even Tunnel View can feel like you have it to yourself. The trade-off shows up elsewhere in the rating: weather scores just 2 out of 5 and activities score 2 out of 5, reflecting cold temperatures, wet storms, and roads that can close with little notice. Overall the month lands at a 3 out of 5 — cold, quiet, and genuinely scenic, but built for visitors ready for winter conditions rather than casual sightseeing.

December's best activities stay low and easy: the Valley Loop Trail, the flat path to Lower Yosemite Fall, and the meadow loop near Cook's Meadow all stay walkable through winter storms. Tunnel View is one of the best stops of the month — snow on the cliffs above Bridalveil Fall and El Capitan, usually with almost no one else at the pullout. Photography is a highlight on its own, from ice-rimmed waterfalls to fresh snow on granite. In good snow years, Badger Pass Ski Area and the old Glacier Point Road open for downhill and cross-country skiing, though opening dates shift year to year with snowfall, so check current conditions before planning a trip around it.

Pack for real winter: daytime highs near 47°F drop into the high 20s after dark, so bring layers you can add as the sun goes down.

• Insulated jacket, plus a warm hat and gloves
• Microspikes or another traction device for icy sections of Valley-floor trails
• Waterproof boots to handle slush and wet pavement
• Tire chains if you're driving in — some park roads require them during storms

Layer up rather than relying on one heavy coat; sunny breaks between storms can feel noticeably milder than the overcast, wet stretches in between.

Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are closed for the season by December, typically shut down sometime between November and late May depending on snowpack, so there's no car access to Tuolumne Meadows or Glacier Point until the following spring. On Valley-floor roads, tire chains are often required during storms, so check current conditions at nps.gov/yose before you drive in. Trails can turn icy fast, especially in shaded spots and on the paved sections near the waterfalls, which is where traction devices matter most. If you do head into the high country on skis or snowshoes, remember temperatures there run 20–30°F colder than the Valley floor, even on a mild-looking day down below.