Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Winter Walks in the Sierras

Hello, I'm taking a trip over the holidays with my girlfriend through the Sierras, including some time in Yosemite, around Lake Tahoe, and on Whitney. I'm looking for some good information about good day hikes in winter conditions. The guide books I've seen advise not hiking in the snow - not helpful for a December trip! I'm looking for moderate day hikes, we'll have snowshoes, poles, and crampons, but only I have an axe, and anyway my girlfriend is not fond of anything real steep/ with lots of exposure. So we won't be attempting to summit Whitney, but would love to do a good, non-technical snowshoe hike on it. Can anyone recommend a book, a website, or one of your own favorite winter day hikes in these areas?

Hello Cris,

Not sure where you are going to be in Lake Tahoe but on the South shore there is a spot above Emerald Bay called Eagle Falls. You can take that trail head to Eagle Lake and a bit beyond. It is a short hike, if I remember right about 3-4 miles, but I cannot be certain what the conditions are like now. The place is incredible so if you can get there, take a look.

Good Luck,

K

I like the Pear Lake / Alta Peak hike in Sequoia for an easy winter hike. I saw lots of bear tracks there last Thanksgiving.

Mike White's Best Snowshoe Trails of California is arguably the "bible" in this area, see http://www.amazon.com/Best-Snowshoe-Trai...0043&sr=1-4

I have this book, and love it -- some great hikes include Dewey Point in Yosemite and Scotts Lake and Crater Lake in South Tahoe (near Kirkwood, Hope Valley, etc.). With this book, I have tried things that I did not realize ordinary people could do. Routefinding can be interesting, and I do carry a GPS in addition to a compass and topo.

This one is for Yosemite Snowshoe trails, some are very easy.
You can camp in Camp4 all year. But they do not plow the lot there. You can park in the lodge lots.
http://www.amazon.com/Snowshoe-Trails-Yo...1228&sr=1-1
Another fun winter place is Grover Hot Springs, it's a State Park with camping open all year. Camp in the snow and sit in the hot spring fed pool. It's just outside of Markleeville.

The snow level in Yosemite Valley varies greatly over the winter, from a few feet to none at at all.

I've hiked up every trail out of the valley while covered with snow, all quite nice in their own way. No crowds. The trail up Yosemite Falls can be a little spicy, depending on conditions, but you may have it all to yourselves. The Old Big Flat Road (start at the wood pile pull-off just west of El Cap) is an easy stroll (until you hit the big talus) and has great views.

Another easy hike with a great payoff: drive up to Badger Pass and hike down to Dewey Point. The path is generally well-beaten.

The parking lot in Camp 4 has been plowed the last few years that I've been there. It can get a little icy, though. The first loop or two at Upper Pines are open if you want a drive-in spot, first come first served.