Yosemite National Park is an area of stunning natural beauty and a visit to the park is a once in a lifetime experience. Each summer, over three million visitors make their way to see its spectacular geological structures, waterfalls and streams, and diverse flora and fauna. Unfortunately, this influx of tourists can lead to congestion on the park’s roads and rest areas. What better way to visit Yosemite than in winter, as part of a day skiing? A trip to Badger Pass Ski Resort, located within the national park boundaries, lets you enjoy the majesty of Yosemite without the summer crowds.

Yosemite National Park was the home of some of the first organized skiing in California. A ski school was founded in the park in the late 1920s and a small ski hill at Tenaya Creek Bridge followed soon afterwards. Attempts were made to bring the 1932 Winter Olympics to Yosemite in conjunction with the summer games in Los Angeles. Despite losing the winter games to Lake Placid, New York, the first ski lift at Yosemite was built at Badger Pass in 1933. By the 1935/1936 ski season, over 25,000 people were coming to Badger Pass Ski Resort.

Today, Badger Pass Ski Resort has ten named runs serviced by five lifts. The vertical drop is 700 feet. The terrain at Badger Pass Yosemite is generally suited to beginners and intermediate skiers — an excellent place to bring a family. There are one or too advanced runs, but nothing to seriously challenge an expert.

Badger Pass’ attraction, for skiers of any level, is its incredible setting. The view across the Sierra Nevada from the top of the lifts is awesome. Perhaps it is the natural beauty that fosters the friendly atmosphere. Skiing at Badger Pass Ski Resort is much more low-key experience than at Heavenly Valley or other Lake Tahoe resorts and with a much more laid-back crowd than at Big Bear or other Southern California ski areas. It is also relatively inexpensive; tickets start at about $30.

In addition to the downhill runs for skiers and snowboarders, Badger Pass Yosemite is the center for a large network of cross-country ski trails, with about 90 miles of marked trails, over 20 miles of which are groomed. Rental equipment and private guides are available for the uninitiated.

Badger Pass Ski Resort is about 230 miles from San Francisco on Highway 120 and about 300 miles from Los Angeles. The road to the Badger Pass is narrow and windy; in heavy snow it is advisable to the free shuttle from Yosemite Valley.

Most visitors will want to spend a few days at Badger Pass Yosemite to soak in the regions beauty. There is some fine accommodation near Badger Pass, including the famous Ahwahnee Hotel and the historic Wawona Hotel. Most hotels in the area survive on their summer trade, so it usually easy to get winter reservations.

Perhaps you’ve seen Yosemite National Park in the summer, behind a caravan of cars. A trip to Badger Pass Ski Resort is a perfect excuse to revisit it under a blanket of snow.