Snowshoeing to Dewey Point (Yosemite National Park) - Trip Report
Snowshoeing in Yosemite National Park is a great way to enjoy the winter conditions and get a stunning view of the Valley below. At 3.7 miles one-way, this snowshoeing trail is long enough to take up half your day, but you’ll be earning that view. This trail takes you on the snowed over Glacier Point Road and then over to Dewey Point, along side snow meadows and beautiful trees.
Hiking Information
Location: Yosemite National Park (at Badger Pass, along Glacier Point Road)
Trailhead & Parking: Google Maps
Date Hiked: February 12, 2021
Trail Type: Out & Back
Elevation Change: 1,239 ft
Distance Roundtrip: 7.4 miles
Nearest Restrooms: at the trailhead
Fees: There is a fee to enter Yosemite National Park, here is information Yosemite entrance park fees. Currently due to COVID-19, you can only enter the park through the reservation system, all helpful information on the reservation system found here.
Season Accessibility: November - April for snowshoeing / end of May - October for hiking
Trail Tip: Going after a recent snowstorm will bring the prettiest views to this trail, but may require you to break the trail which can slow down your pace a bit.
Additional Hiking Information
I hiked the Meadows Route to Dewey Point so all the information on this blog post reflects that trail’s information. There is the Ridge Route option as well, but the distance and incline varies a little bit.
The Drive/Parking
The trailhead for this snowshoeing trip is at Badger Pass Ski Area which is along the Glacier Point Road. This road can be icy after a recent storm so be prepared for winter driving and check to see if there are any chain restrictions. It is a few miles up Glacier Point Road, the rest of the road is not plowed and used for snowshoeing, cross country skiing and backcountry skiing. Badger Pass is a ski area, which was closed this year due to COVID, so the parking lot is rather large. Use this google map for reference when getting directions to this area.
The Snowshoeing Hike
I headed out in the afternoon and the trail starts by jumping back onto Glacier Point Road (but the unplowed part) with a mellow and gradual incline. The last time I was on the Glacier Point Road was back in the summer of 2016 with my boyfriend James, so it felt like a new experience especially with the fresh coat of snow from the day before’s snowfall.
After about a mile, I approached a snow meadow and the left turn for the Meadow Route to Dewey Point. To my surprise, it looked like only one or two people had gone before me. With the amount of cars in the parking lot, I expected more traffic on this trail.
Snowshoeing with limited foot traffic slowed my pace a bit but allowed me to take in more of the views. I always kept an eye on the trees I passed, looking for the yellow markers indicating I was still on the #18 trail, I didn’t want to get myself lost out here.
The trail passes through two snowy meadows and lots of snowy trees, many of them looking lush and green with healthy mosses on them.
A mile out from Dewey Point, the trail merges with another route to Dewey Point (Ridge route, #14). I was getting excited to see the grand view but at the same time, I started to see clouds in the distance.
Soon those clouds came in low and hugged the trail. I always love moody trail view even if it covers the view, which is exactly what happened. I arrived at Dewey Point completely engulfed in clouds and it was such a magical view.
I got glimpses of El Capitan and the Cathedral rocks, but the rest of the view remained draped in clouds. I enjoyed watching the clouds dance around with the wind for a while until the wind chill was a bit too much. I was the last person up here, heading back just in time to reach my car just after sunset. The trail continued with the moody, foggy views, which just got even more eerie with the sun going down. No complaints from me, I find days with moody weather to be more memorable and unique. I hope you enjoyed the write up and/or my video, and as always… Happy Trails!
VIDEO OF MY ADVENTURE
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Tiare Kirkland
Hi! My name is Tiare, but you can just call me ‘T’. I’m a California based hiker and I spend most of my free time taking photos and videos of some of my favorite hikes. You can usually find me ‘Out Hiking’ in the Sierra Nevada mountain range or road-tripping to new areas. Read more about me here and follow along with my adventures by subscribing below!