Yosemite Weather in November

November is Yosemite's off-season hinge point, the last quiet stretch before winter properly sets in. Valley highs average 58°F with lows near freezing, crowds have thinned to the lowest point of the year, and the first real storms start moving through the high country. It's not a month for chasing waterfalls or high-elevation views; it's a month for having the Valley floor mostly to yourself, walking under bare granite walls in cold, clear air, and accepting that a few days will bring rain, wind, or an early dusting of snow. If you want Yosemite without the lines and don't mind planning around the weather, this is a good window.

On the Valley floor, expect a daily high near 58°F and a low around 33°F, with about 10 hours of daylight and roughly 5 inches of precipitation for the month, including around 3 inches of snow. Weather swings more than it did in October — a clear, cold morning can give way to a storm system a few days later, so check the forecast close to your trip rather than trusting an average. Up in the high country around Tuolumne Meadows, sitting near 8,600 feet, temperatures typically run 20 to 30°F colder than the Valley, and by November that elevation gets enough snow that most of it is already closed off for the season rather than just cold.

November earns a strong rating for crowds — this is the quietest stretch of the year in the park. With high-country roads typically closing or already closed, the visitor base narrows down mostly to Valley-floor day-trippers and photographers, and even popular pullouts and short walks feel calm compared to summer or the October color rush. Weekdays in particular can feel close to empty. The trade-off is the one built into every quiet month here: fewer people, but also fewer open options, shorter daylight, and weather that can turn from sun to rain or snow without much warning. If solitude matters more to you than having every trail and viewpoint open, November delivers it.

With Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road typically closing or already closed for the season, and the Half Dome cables normally down since mid-October, November's activity list stays close to the Valley floor. Photography is the strongest draw — bare granite, early snow dusting the rim, and clear cold light make for some of the best images of the year. Easy Valley-floor walks and short waterfall viewpoints are the reliable options, and a scenic drive around the Valley loop still works even when the high country doesn't. Treat anything above the Valley as a bonus rather than a plan, and check current road and trail status before you build a day around it.

Pack for a Valley morning that starts near freezing and warms into the 50s by afternoon: real layers, not just a light jacket, plus a warmer fleece or insulated piece for the coldest hours. Sturdy, broken-in hiking boots matter more now that trails can be wet, muddy, or lightly snow-dusted after a storm. Bring sunscreen for the clear days — November's low sun angle doesn't mean no UV — and pack for rain given the month's average of about 5 inches of precipitation. If there's any chance you'll drive toward higher elevations, check road-closure status before you go, since conditions up there can be entirely different from what you packed for in the Valley.

Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road typically close for the winter as snow arrives, and by November that closure is usually already in effect or imminent — treat both as unavailable and confirm current status at nps.gov/yose rather than assuming. The Half Dome cables normally come down for the season in mid-October, so the cable route isn't an option this month regardless of conditions. Elsewhere, expect a real temperature and snow gradient between the Valley floor and anything at elevation — bring traction if you're heading toward higher trails after a storm. Tire chains are sometimes required elsewhere in the park during storms, so carry them if snow is in the forecast for your drive.