Badger Pass is one of Yosemite's best-kept secrets: a small, friendly ski area on Glacier Point Road, about 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley, where families learn to ski under granite peaks. The concessioner calls it California's original ski resort, and its ski school has taught since 1928. The scale is modest by design. The concessioner lists five lifts — a triple chair, three double chairs and a handle tow — serving ten runs that are about 35 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate and 15 percent advanced, between roughly 7,200 and 8,000 feet, with an 800-foot vertical drop and a beginner-friendly terrain park. That makes it ideal for first-timers and young skiers, and for families who want to share the slopes without the crowds and prices of big resorts. Lift tickets are well below those at major Sierra resorts, children six and under ski free with a paying adult, and the area has offered extra-value days such as half-price Thursday tickets and a locals rate on weekdays — check current deals. Beyond the lifts, there is a family tubing area, and the Nordic Center offers groomed cross-country trails, lessons and rentals, including snowshoes. Groomed trails lead toward Glacier Point and Dewey Point for views over the valley. The season normally runs from mid-December to mid-March, weather permitting, with daily lift hours of 9am to 4pm; Mariposa County tourism notes a planned mid-December opening, and the start date depends entirely on snow. A free shuttle from Yosemite Valley runs when the ski area is open, so visitors staying in the valley can leave the car behind. For 2026-27, note that the Glacier Point Ski Hut, the backcountry overnight trip from Badger Pass, will not open because of a lack of power, though the Nordic Center operates as usual.
Skiing came to Yosemite early. The park's promoters wanted winter visitors in the 1920s and 1930s, and the ski school and the slopes at Badger Pass became a training ground for generations of California skiers. Today the lodge has a retro charm, and the area feels like a throwback to a time when skiing was about learning and fun rather than vertical feet. There are no condos or nightlife at the base; most visitors stay in the valley, in Wawona-area cabins, or in Fish Camp and Oakhurst and drive up for the day.
How to plan a day. Check the concessioner's snow phone or website for opening status and conditions, then decide whether to drive or take the free shuttle from the valley. If you drive, carry tire chains — California chain controls are common on park roads in winter, and you may be required to use them even with four-wheel drive. Arrive early on weekends and holidays to get parking, rentals and lesson spots. Beginners should book a lesson; the instructors are experienced with first-timers, and the gentle terrain makes progress quick. Intermediate skiers will find enough variety for a day or two. Lunch is at the lodge's Skiers Grill, and the deck has views of the surrounding peaks.
Beyond downhill. The Nordic Center is the gateway to Yosemite's winter backcountry. Rent skis or snowshoes and follow the groomed track along the closed Glacier Point Road, or try the snowshoe route to Dewey Point for a dramatic view into the valley. Experienced skiers can push on toward Glacier Point itself. With the ski hut closed this season, plan these as day trips and keep an eye on the weather. Families can spend an afternoon on the tubing hill. Whatever you choose, dress in layers, carry water and sunscreen at altitude, and allow extra driving time on winter roads.
What to expect
The experience
A small downhill ski area with five lifts and ten runs, a ski school, a tubing area, and a Nordic Center with groomed cross-country trails and snowshoe routes along the closed Glacier Point Road.
Best time
Mid-December through mid-March when snow allows; weekdays for the shortest lines; clear days after storms for the best views.
How long
Half a day for a lesson or tubing; a full day for skiing or a Nordic outing.
Tips
Check the opening date and conditions before you go. Take the free shuttle from the valley or carry chains. Book lessons early on holidays. The Glacier Point Ski Hut is closed for 2026-27.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and beginners who want an affordable, uncrowded ski day inside a national park.
- Families
- Excellent — gentle terrain, a long-running ski school, kids six and under ski free with an adult, and tubing.
- Couples
- A cross-country ski or snowshoe toward Dewey Point, then dinner in the valley.
- Pair with
- Skating at Curry Village and a winter walk to Lower Yosemite Fall.
- Time needed
- A full day with the drive.
Good questions
When does Badger Pass open for 2026-27?+
The ski area normally opens in mid-December and runs to mid-March, weather permitting. The exact date depends on snow; check the concessioner's site or snow phone before you go.
How big is Badger Pass?+
It has five lifts — a triple, three doubles and a handle tow — and ten runs, with an 800-foot vertical drop between about 7,200 and 8,000 feet. It is mostly beginner and intermediate terrain.
Is there a shuttle from Yosemite Valley?+
Yes. A free shuttle runs from Yosemite Valley to Badger Pass when the ski area is open, subject to weather and road conditions. Space is limited, so arrive early.
Can I cross-country ski or snowshoe?+
Yes. The Nordic Center offers groomed trails, lessons and rentals, including snowshoes, with routes along the closed Glacier Point Road toward Dewey Point and Glacier Point.
Is the Glacier Point Ski Hut open this winter?+
No. The concessioner says the hut will not open for 2026-27 because of a lack of power. Day trips on skis or snowshoes are still possible.
