Without the crowds, Yosemite is just better in winter Visitor numbers drop dramatically and you practically have the park to yourself



It may seem counteractive, but some of the vantage points for the park that can be overrun during good weather might be less crowded and even more spectacular during winter conditions. Here, icicles surround Yosemite's famed tunnel view. less Road trip it

It may seem counteractive, but some of the vantage points for the park that can be overrun during good weather might be less crowded and even more spectacular during winter conditions. Here, ... more Road trip it Photo: Bill Disbrow/SFGATE Photo: Bill Disbrow/SFGATE Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Without the crowds, Yosemite is just better in winter 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

Those of us who have grown up going to Yosemite since the '70s and '80s have seen the number of visitors to the park roughly double in our lifetimes. A summer trip to the valley floor these days means traffic backups half way across Northside Drive.

But some locals know that there's a secret: winter.

While snow chains may still make for slow driving, the total number of people in the park during January, February and March is typically about a fifth of what you see during peak summer months. That means fewer people on trails, in line for food or waiting in front of you at the park entrances.

For some, the reduced crowd anxiety can make the park feel more like the place you grew up visiting.

And while you wont be able to summit Half Dome or make the drive out to Glacier Point, there are still plenty of activities to keep you busy.

In the gallery above, we highlight some of the fun things to do in Yosemite in the winter time.