Weather in Yosemite National Park

Best for: waterfalls, whitewater rafting and wildflowers. 

Yosemite starts to bounce back to life in spring. The weather gets warmer, flowers bloom, and most hiking trails reopen once the snow melts. It’s also the best time to see Yosemite’s abundant waterfalls, thanks to melting snowcaps and spring showers – we know TLC said don’t go chasin' waterfalls, but in this case, you definitely should! The rivers and creeks are also in full flow, making it a great time to hop into a river raft to brace the white-water rapids. 

Best for: swimming, wildflowers and hiking.

With hot days and loads of sunshine, the crowds flock to Yosemite in the thousands in summer. Don’t let this put you off too much, as you can still have an amazing trip in the peak season. It’s prime time for camping and all hiking trails are open. If you get too hot, you can cool down in the gorgeous Cathedral Lakes or Tenaya Lakes, but it's not a great time to see waterfalls and most of them are completely dry by August. 

Summer is a spectacular time of year to see the valleys and meadows erupt in color, with places like Tuolumne Meadows where you'll find purple shooting stars, pussytoes and little elephant heads – it's a real treat for the eyes (and the nose).

Best for: hiking and smaller crowds. 

Yosemite isn’t as dramatic as other US national parks in fall because most of the trees are evergreen, but you can still find pockets of gorgeous golden color in Yosemite Valley and Wawona Meadows.

The weather can be a little unpredictable in fall, but usually, the days are warm and the nights are cool so you'll need a warm sweater to pop on when the sun goes down. This type of weather makes for perfect hiking conditions as it's not super hot. The hiking trails are also less crowded as most tourists have headed home after the busy summer vacation period.

Best for: winter sports, exploring in solitude and magical winter landscapes. 

Winter is a beautiful time in Yosemite with frost-covered trees, white peaks and blankets of snow in the valleys. The big crowds are long gone and you’ll be able to explore the park in solitude. Some roads and hiking trails are closed due to heavy snowfall, but it's an awesome time to do go on a snowshoeing adventure, hit the slopes at Badger Pass or go ice skating at Curry Village.

For winter trips, you'll need proper winter gear, including thermals, a waterproof winter coat and waterproof pants.