Yosemite in January: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 57/100 · #9 of 12 months

January is a quiet month with trade-offs at Yosemite National Park: crowds run 21% of the August peak (115,014 average visits). Weather: highs average 48°F and lows 29°F, with 7.0″ of precipitation and 9.8 hours of daylight. Roads and services are only partly open this month — see the access note below. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Yosemite in January: what the park service says

January visits to Yosemite stay in the lower park: Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are closed for snow from November until late May or early June, the park service says. Yosemite Valley is still reachable year-round on Wawona Road (Highway 41), El Portal Road (Highway 140) and Big Oak Flat Road, but chains may be required at any point between late fall and early spring, so keep a set in the car and check road conditions before you go.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in January

Yosemite averages 115,014 recreation visits in January — 21% of what August, the peak month, draws — this is the quietest month of the year. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Weather & daylight

Days are cool (highs average 48°F), and nights drop below freezing (lows average 29°F). This is one of the wetter months (7.0″ of precipitation on average). Mid-month daylight runs 9.8 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station YOSEMITE PARK HQ, CA US (3 mi from park coordinates, 4,018 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of January.

What to pack for Yosemite in January

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 29°F, below freezing
• Rain shell + pack cover — 7.0″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Headlamp — only 9.8 hours of daylight in mid-January (compare other options)
• Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 7.0″ of precipitation is normal this month

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If your dates are flexible, consider shifting: The computed best months for Yosemite are March and April.

Also at their best in January

Other parks whose computed January verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• Channel Islands in January — 35% of peak crowds, highs 66°F, score 76/100
• Zion in January — 23% of peak crowds, highs 54°F, score 76/100
• Carlsbad Caverns in January — 38% of peak crowds, highs 56°F, score 73/100
• Big Bend in January — 50% of peak crowds, highs 69°F, score 71/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in January · Last verified 2026-09-24