3 Day Yosemite Winter Glamping Itinerary
Yosemite National Park is incredible in all 4 seasons. However, experiencing it in Winter is truly stunning and magical. The mist above the snow-covered valley floor meadows, towering snow-capped flat granite rocks the icy rivers, and waterfalls, just make you want to stop and explore every corner. While some parts of the park may not accessible or restricted due to winter conditions, you will have plenty to do here.
If you are lucky like us to have a mid-winter break in February, then you may get to experience the “Firefall” an incredible natural phenomenon created by the setting sunlight reflecting from the Horse Tail Falls and producing an effect of flowing lava!
Tip - Always check with NPS (National Park Services) on closures and conditions. Also Yosemite NPS is doing a phased opening in 2021 due to the pandemic. See the Before you go checklist at the bottom of this post!Trip Highlights
Duration - 3 Nights
Places - Yosemite National Park, Midpines (for Autocamp Lodging)
Best for - Winter Adventure, National Park Glamping
Travel Pace - Active
Season - Mid-Winter (February)
Experiences - Yosemite Firefall, Sunrise at Tunnel View, Half Dome (From Sentinel Bridge), Hike (Bridalveil, Lower Yosemite Falls), Snow play in the valley meadows, Glamping @ Autocamp’s Tiny Homes
Trip Cost - $350/night 3 nights. Park entrance ($33), cost of gas ($100), food and drinks ($200) (all camp grilling)
Trip Route
Day 1 Drive from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park + Explore Yosemite Valley Floor
Day 2 Sunrise @ Tunnel View and Sunset “Firefall”
Day 3 Outdoor Coffee and Hike Yosemite Falls
Day 4 Drive back to San Francisco
Tip: Download Full Itinerary in Google Maps with Pins Itinerary
Day 1 Drive from SF + Hike Yosemite Valley Loop + Check-in @ Autocamp
Drive to Yosemite National Park from San Francisco. Leave by 9 AM so you get all afternoon to explore Yosemite Valley Floor Loop trail. Park your car on the South Side Drive and start the trail hike (2-3 hours) covering Bridal Veil Falls, El Capitan, Beautiful Yosemite Red Chapel, and Sentinel Bridge. Make the best of this time as we got the only snow of the week on the first day. If you are staying outside the park, like we did the fabulous Autocamp Yosemite in Midpines, then factor in the beautiful 30-minute drive back and from the park.
Check-in (usually 3 or 4 PM) and settle down in your modern luxury “Tiny House” cabin. Gather around the fire pit, enjoy campfire dinner, drinks, and roasted marshmallows, gaze at the beautiful starry night sky before retiring into your warm cozy luxurious beds!
Duration: 3.5 hours drive + 3 hours in the park
Activity Level: Low (Flat hikes)
Good To Know: 1. Before departure reserve, a day-use park entrance pass at recreation.gov. 2. You must validate your pass on the day of arrival. Suggest going to the park before check-in into Autcamp as it is located in Midpines, before the Park entrance on CA Hwy 140. 3. Autocamp vista cabins do have a mini-fridge, kitchenette, grilling utensils, cookware, coffee, and tea. 4. Vista cabins have a fire pit and a propane gas outdoor fireplace too which you can use for grilling. Only compressed-wood firelogs allowed on the campsite. Clubhouse sells them but you can take your own.
How to get there:
Drive for about 3.5 (200 miles with 1 stop) from San Francisco to Yosemite Arch Rock Park entrance on Hwy 140.
Afternoon
Upon arriving into Yosemite National Park, follow the road marked “Southside Drive”. It’s the start of the Valley Loop. Park close to Bridalveil Falls (you will see several cars in the area) and start the easy Valley Loop trail hike. We choose to hit Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, The Chapel and Sentinel Bridge over Merced River (to view the half dome). This will take about 2-3 hours, before getting dark.
Evening
Check-in + BBQ + Drinks + Marshmallow Camp Dinner
After spending the afternoon in the Park, drive back to Autocamp Yosemite, which is located in Midpines, just 30 miles from Yosemite’s, Arch Rock Park entrance on Hwy 140. The gated entrance will be on the right side of the highway. After a very friendly and warm check-in at the clubhouse, load your bags on a little cart and roll over to the beautiful Vista Cabin Suite, located by the pond and with great views of the wonderfully lined Silver Airstreams around it and on the wooded hills. Settle in and get ready to start your evening with drinks and campfire dinner and marshmallows.
Tip: Check-in through Autocamps convenient mobile pre-check-in. It helps them to get your cabin /airstream prepared and send notifications to you (though cell signal is very poor in this regions :)Day 2 Sunrise at Tunnel View to Sunset at “Firefall”
Today, rise and shine very early in the morning as you have two great Yosemite bucket list experiences to cover in one day. The first stop is the Tunnel View, where you will experience the first sunrise of your Yosemite trip on a cold, frosty winter morning. It's the "catchall" expansive view of the Half Dome, El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls, and the Meadows down in the Valley! Spend about an hour and then head back to AutoCamp for some delicious breakfast.
Get some rest in the afternoon and then drive back up to the Park again around 3:30 PM, to experience the "Firefall"🔥, an incredible natural phenomenon in Yosemite National Park 🏞️, created by the setting sunlight reflecting from the Horse Tail Falls and producing an effect of flowing lava! This happens only once a year around Mid-February and a lot of things have to align for this to occur.
Head back to Autocamp around 7 PM and enjoy the campfire dinner and drinks and sleep well in the luxurious cabin.
Tip: Dress up warm and take snacks and hot drinks as you will spending a lot of time outdoors in the cold all dayDuration: Full Day
Activity Level: Moderate
Good To Know: For sunrise at Tunnel View, get there by 5:45 AM, and for viewing the “Firefall” get there 1-2 hours before sunset as you have to walk 1.5-2 miles from the parking area to the viewing site
How to get there: From Autocamp in Midpines, Take Hwy 140 East and enjoy the scenic drive about 35 miles to the Arch Rock Park entrance.
Morning
Sunrise @ Tunnel View
Rise and Shine! Tunnel View offers a spectacular opportunity to see the sunrise, especially on a cold, frosty winter morning. It's the "catchall" expansive view of the Half Dome, El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls, and the Meadows down in the Valley!
Make it the first sunrise of your Yosemite trip!
Tip: Get there in the "blue hour" of sunrise. In February sunrise was around 6:20 AM. It will also be very cold, so dress up warm!
2 - 3 Hrs
Breakfast of Champions!
Head back from Tunnel View to AutoCamp for some sumptuous breakfast - high protein wheat pancakes, coffee, and milk!
Evening
Experience the “Firefall” phenomenon
After a well-deserved afternoon nap, head back to the Yosemite National Park around 3:30 PM to experience the "Firefall", an incredible natural phenomenon created by the setting sunlight reflecting from the Horse Tail Falls and producing an effect of flowing lava!
This phenomenon occurs once a year around mid-February and conditions for this to happen are very specific. Read More in my post on Yosemite Firefall Guide
Tip - Get there early (2 hours before sunset) and park in designated areas around Yosemite Lodge. You need to hike 2 miles from there to find the ideal spot near El Capitan Picnic area to view.Note: Take a blanket, snacks, hot drinks, and flashlight to keep you warm as you will be spending several hours in the cold!3 - 4 hours
Campfire Patio Dinner!
Head back to AutoCamp around 7:30 PM (45min drive) to enjoy a delicious campfire grilled turkey melt sandwich with the wine of course!
Tip: Keep your dinner prepared before you head out, as by the time you come back it will be dark and cold! Alternatively, you can pick some pre-made food from AutoCamp’s clubhouse!Day 3 Outdoor Coffee + Hike Lower Yosemite Falls
Today, start the day with an amazing outdoor coffee brewing experience at the campsite. All you need is hot water, MiiR portable pour-over kit (Pourgami), Miir Camp cups, and fresh ground coffee (nicely provided by AutoCamp).
After enjoying the fresh coffee with french toast, head to the valley and first stop to explore the beautiful Merced River, then follow the Valley floor loop and stop at the Sentinel Bridge to photograph and enjoy the magnificent view of the Half-Dome. Finally, wrap up the afternoon with a short hike of Lower Yosemite Falls.
Tip - If time permits, you can start a bit early to hike to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls if no icy conditions.Duration: 4 hours (Half Day)
How to get there:
From Autocamp in Midpines, Take Hwy 140 East and enjoy the scenic drive about 35 miles to the Arch Rock Park entrance.
Morning
Outdoor Coffee @ AutoCamp
Brew some fresh pour-over coffee at the fire-pit, just outside the cabin and facing the pond, under the clear blue winter skies!
60 - 90 Min
then drive about 35-40 Min to Yosemite National Park
Afternoon
Merced River
As you enter the Park at Arch Rock entrance, drive up 2-3 miles and make the first stop to enjoy Merced River. There was enough snow this season, so the river was full and looked beautiful with snow-capped rocks!
45 Min
Half Dome from Sentinel Bridge
Make your next stop at Sentinel Bridge to view the iconic Half Dome. This is a popular spot has you get to see the full reflection of the Half Dome on the Merced River.
30 Min
Hike Lower Yosemite Falls
Continue your drive-up on Northside Dr., of the Valley Loop towards Lower Yosemite Falls. Park at the trailhead and hike this short and easy 1-mile loop trail. Enjoy the spectacular views of both the lower and upper Yosemite Falls. Take time to relax at the bottom of the falls by the rocks and the footbridge.
60 Min
Evening
‘Wine Down’ Campfire Dinner!
Wrap up the last evening with sumptuous grilled salmon, wine, and campfire!
Before You Go
Always check with NPS on closures and conditions. Badger Ski Area closed for 2020-21 season. Glacier Point and Tioga road are closed in winters.
Reserve your day-use park entrance pass on recreation.gov. Note: in Feb 2021, the Park was doing a phased opening due to Covid-19.
Food & Drinks - Take camp grilling food for your 3-day meals from home. You can always buy some pre-made goodies from AutoCamp’s fantastic clubhouse or nearby grocery stores.
Gear - Staying at AutoCamp allows you to pack light. Still recommend taking one extra sleeping bag. Winter layered clothing - Micropuff Jacket, Fleece, Merino Wool Baselayers, Beanies, Winter gloves, Heat Warmers (hand & toe), Snow socks, Balaclavas. In the car, carry snow chains, a warm blanket, hot water for cocoa/coffee - you never know if you get stuck in a snowstorm!
Online Reservation confirmation - take a picture as accessing email at the AutoCamp and Yosemite Park is difficult - no signal!
Map It!
This map is a day-by-day list of pins of experiences, glamping sites, hiking trails, and places along the winter road trip route.
Download and use it for your trip. Have fun
Recommended Alternatives
Here are some helpful alternatives to add /swap to this winter itinerary
Snow-Shoeing and Fat Tire Biking (Badger Ski Area)
Snow playing & ice skating⛸️ (Goat Meadows)
Standup Paddle Boarding in Merced River (near Sentinel Bridge) - you need to bring your own board
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Plan Your Trip
Take this itinerary as is or if you like to make some tweaks you can consider swapping with the recommendation additions above. If you have questions on planning your trip or have feedback on this itinerary, leave us a comment below.
