United States
Yosemite in December
🧥 WinterCold and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: winter coat, gloves & hat · compact umbrella or rain jacket
Why December scores 7.9What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort6.2
- !Cold (8°C highs / -2°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point -9.1°C)
- !Wet: ~142 mm rain, ~5 heavy-rain days
- Air quality10.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~3 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Jun | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.9 Very good | 9.6 Excellent |
| Season | 🧥 Winter | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 8° / -2° | 27° / 11° |
| Rain | 142 mm | 12 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt -9° | dew pt 1° |
| PM2.5 | 3 µg/m³ | 6 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Yosemite Park HQ weather-station normals. Rainfall: Yosemite Park Headquarters weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Yosemite
- Snowy daysIn DecemberTypical datesSnow likely Dec–Mar (most in Jan: ~2 days)
Average number of days with snowfall at Yosemite Park HQ. About 43 cm of snow falls in an average Jan.
Source: Yosemite Park HQ weather-station normals (national weather service, via Wikipedia climate table)
Explore YosemiteEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA national park in California's Sierra Nevada, known for granite cliffs such as El Capitan and Half Dome, waterfalls and giant sequoias.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
Horsetail Fall firefallDate variesUsually mid to late February
Sunset can light the waterfall orange-red.
Why go: Requires clear sky and water flow; reservation rules may apply.
Where: El Capitan's east side
Waterfall seasonDate variesUsually April to June
Snowmelt brings peak waterfall flow.
Why go: Mist trails are slippery.
Where: Valley waterfalls
Yosemite Valley
The glacier-carved valley overlooked by El Capitan and Half Dome.
Yosemite Falls
One of the tallest waterfalls in North America.
💡 Flow peaks in spring and often dries by late summer.
Glacier Point
A viewpoint over the valley.
💡 The road is usually closed from about November to May.
Mariposa Grove
A grove of over 500 giant sequoias near the south entrance, including the Grizzly Giant.
Tioga Road and Tuolumne Meadows
A high mountain road crossing the park to subalpine meadows and lakes.
💡 Usually only open from about late May or June to November.
Half Dome hike
A strenuous hike with cables on the final section.
💡 Requires a permit by lottery.
Lodge dining
American dining in historic park lodges.
💡 Ahwahnee and Yosemite Valley Lodge
Picnics
Most visitors picnic in the valley's picnic areas.
💡 Valley picnic areas; store food in bear lockers
Ansel Adams prints
Prints of the famous photographs.
💡 Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village
National park merchandise
Books and maps from the park nonprofit.
💡 Visitor centre shops