Yosemite is one of the more popular national parks to visit and is known for getting very crowded. Since we have a love for nature and exploring but not crowds, we decided to go during the offseason.

Offseason for Yosemite is typically around October-March but the closer you go to winter, the less busy it will be. We have gone during fall and winter, both of which were amazing trips.

It has quickly become one of our favorite national parks. We enjoy the park more when we go during the offseason since we get fewer interruptions while relaxing in nature. If you truly love nature then you should go during the offseason.

Yosemite is in Central Eastern California and is one of the first five National Parks in America. It is the 4th most popular park in America and it boasts tons of awesome features.

This place is worth visiting for so many reasons. It not only has the biggest waterfall in the continental US but a seven-mile long canyon. If you love hiking, it has over 800 miles worth of trails.

The main difference about going during offseason is that some of the roads, hiking and other amenities (including some of the campsites) aren’t operational. But it’s a tradeoff that's worthwhile to spend a little more time in nature with fewer crowds.

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Camping

Since 95% of Yosemite is designated wilderness, the areas for camping can be very crowded. Probably the coolest campsites are in the valley. This is where most of the coolest stuff is and you can easily access most trails. The views are also amazing, as with all of Yosemite.

Upper Pines Campsite

So far we have only stayed at the upper pines campsite. This is mostly because we went once in March then again in December and during these times most campsites are closed.

Upper Pines is open all year long which makes it very convenient. Keep in mind the campsite is still located at 4,000 feet of elevation, even though it's in a valley.

The campground has running water and bathrooms. The sites are decently close together but in the off-season, you typically have fewer neighbors.

The sites cost a little under $30 a night and you need to reserve a spot in advance. When we went in December we did not reserve a spot in advance and were okay but on the website, it does say reservations only.

Of course, camping during the offseason means having to be prepared for colder weather. We feel the trade-off is more than worth it.

Why Its Better In The Offseason

The only downside to the campsite, as with many of the Yosemite campsites, is just how close the sites are. We could not even imagine what it must be like when all the sites are full because there is minimal personal space and privacy.

Going during the offseason means more space between campers. Once camp is set up you can really enjoy the solitude. There are fewer people around you so you can really take in the views.

Hiking

We were able to hike all around Yosemite Valley which was amazing. One of the benefits of camping in the valley is being by so many trails.

Valley Loop Trail

The full loop is about 12 miles and mostly flat. This trail is great because it allows you to explore a lot of Yosemite and truly sightsee.

While on the loop trail you check out both El Capitan and Camp 4, which are big climbing spots. Keep in mind, climbing is limited during the offseason due to Peregrine Falcon nesting.

We did a total of 18 miles when we hiked the loop, mostly because we go off-trail a lot and explore.

We did run into a bit of a problem going in spring. Parts of the trail were flooded so we had to improvise a trail at times. This probably added to our overall mileage.

Clarke Point

We also went to Clark Point via the Mist Trail. This had a spectacular view of Half Dome which we want to hike at some point.

It looks pretty daunting but we think that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Since Half Dome is so busy you have to enter a yearly lottery to be cleared for the trail.

Even after a couple of trips to Yosemite in the offseason we barely explored the park. There is still so much we did not get to see!

Yosemite has such a cool feel and vibe to it as you’re surrounded by huge cliffs, winding rivers, and beautiful waterfalls. Make sure that at some point in your life, you make an effort to visit Yosemite and explore the beauty of it for yourself!