Yes, November is a good time to visit Yosemite, as long as you come ready for cold mornings and the chance of snow. Outside of the Thanksgiving holiday, the park is at its quietest, the last fall color hangs on in the oaks and maples, and the meadows settle into a soft hush before winter. In Wawona, where my husband Drew and I have our cabin, November days usually reach the upper 50s and nights drop into the mid 30s.
We're heading up ourselves in a few weeks, and you can already feel winter coming. Tioga Road closed for a few days this month after an early storm before opening again, a small reminder that the season can turn quickly up here.
Is November a good time to go to Yosemite?
For a slower, more peaceful trip, yes. Summer crowds are long gone, parking in Yosemite Valley is easier, and you can often have a meadow or a viewpoint nearly to yourself on a weekday. There is also no entry reservation this year: the park says a reservation is not required to enter Yosemite in 2026.
November is especially lovely for:
- Couples who want quiet trails, early sunsets and long evenings by the hot tub
- Families and friend groups who like a slower trip with cozy cabin time built in
- Photographers chasing low light, frosty meadows and the chance of fresh snow on granite
The tradeoffs are real but simple: shorter days, colder nights, waterfalls at their lowest, and the high country roads closing for the season.
What is the weather like in Yosemite in November?
November is the month Yosemite turns from fall to winter. Wawona sits at about 4,000 feet, about the same elevation as Yosemite Valley. Based on 30 years of historical weather data for Wawona (Open-Meteo, 1996 to 2025):
- Early November: average high about 62°F, low about 40°F
- Mid November: average high about 58°F, low about 37°F
- Late November: average high about 52°F, low about 33°F
- Rain or snow falls on roughly one in four November days
The Park Service's averages for Yosemite Valley tell a similar story: highs around 56°F, lows around 33°F, and about 4 inches of precipitation for the month. Most of the year's storms arrive between November and March, so think in layers: a warm jacket, a hat and gloves for mornings and evenings, and waterproof shoes in case it rains.
Does it snow in Yosemite in November?
Often, yes, though at Wawona's elevation it is usually light. In the same 30-year record, snow fell in Wawona on about one in ten November days, typically an inch or so at a time, and some snow arrived in most Novembers. The odds rise as the month goes on: by the last week of November, there is snow on the ground on about a third of days. Higher up, it is a different season entirely. The Park Service notes that most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May.
What's open in Yosemite in November?
- Yosemite Valley and Wawona are open all year by car, though tire chains may be required after a storm.
- Tioga Road usually closes for the season in November. It closed for a few days for snow in late October before reopening, so check current conditions before planning around it.
- Glacier Point Road is open as I write this, but it closes to cars once the snow comes, usually in November. If Glacier Point is on your list, go early in the month.
- The Mariposa Grove shuttle runs from the Welcome Plaza 8 am to 3:30 pm through November 30, weather permitting. After that, the road closes to cars and the grove is a 2-mile walk each way.
- Waterfalls are at their lowest. Bridalveil keeps a gentle flow, and the first big storms can bring others back to life.
- Dome Fire closures remain in an area north of Wawona as of late October. Check the park's closures page before you hike.
- The Wawona Hotel remains closed for repairs, so plan your meals and stock up in Oakhurst on the way in.
Things to do in Yosemite in November
These are some of our favorite ways to spend a November day from the cabin in Wawona.
- Walk among the giant sequoias. The Mariposa Grove is about 10 minutes from the cabin, and November is your last month to ride the shuttle up. Our post on visiting the Mariposa Grove has the loops we love.
- Circle the Wawona Meadow Loop. An easy 3.5 miles around the meadow, beautiful on a frosty morning when the grass is silver and the oaks still hold a little gold.
- Visit the Wawona Swinging Bridge. About 6 minutes away, and peaceful when the river runs low and clear. Granite can be icy, so watch your step.
- Spend a day in Yosemite Valley. About 40 to 45 minutes from the cabin. Stop at Tunnel View, walk El Capitan Meadow, and see whether a storm has dusted the granite with snow.
- Watch the stars. November nights are long and often crisp and clear. Our guide to stargazing in Yosemite has the best spots near Wawona.
- Stay in. Some of the best November hours happen at the cabin: a slow morning with coffee or tea in the warm cabin, and the hot tub under the pines after a long day in the park.
When not to go to Yosemite?
The busiest times are summer weekends and holiday weekends, when parking in the Valley fills early and entrance lines can be long. In November, the Thanksgiving holiday is the one stretch that feels busy again, so plan for earlier starts that week. November may also not be the right month for you if:
- You want to see the waterfalls at full power. Spring and early summer are their season.
- You're hoping to hike in the high country along Tioga Road. Plan that for summer.
- You don't want to deal with any chance of chains or a weather day. September and October are gentler.
If what you want is quiet, cool air and room to breathe, November is one of the best months of the year.
Tips for visiting Yosemite in November
- Bring layers. This is my one big tip for November: you'll be warmer during the day, but it gets very cold at night. Pack a warm jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof shoes.
- Carry tire chains and drive all-wheel drive if you can. Chain controls can go up after any storm, and the last stretch to our cabin is an unpaved forest road.
- Arrive before dark. The sun sets before 5 pm for most of the month, and forest roads near Wawona are much easier in daylight.
- Get updates straight from the park. Text YOSEMITE to 333111 for the latest alerts from Yosemite National Park. The road line is 209-372-0200 (press 1, then 1), and the conditions page is updated regularly.
- Bring groceries. Dining inside the park is limited, so stock up in Oakhurst.
Stay inside the park this November
November in Wawona is the season of slow mornings, cold clear nights and a quiet that settles over the pines once the day visitors head home. If you'd like to spend it with us, The Wildernest Yosemite is a three-bedroom cabin in Wawona, inside the national park, with room for eight, a forest hot tub and a kitchen made for long dinners. If you're thinking about Thanksgiving here, our post on hosting a holiday at the cabin is coming next week. Booking direct on our site is always the best rate, and we'd love to host you.
Frequently asked questions
Is November a good time to go to Yosemite?
Yes, if you like quiet. November brings thin crowds outside of Thanksgiving, crisp weather and the last of the fall color, and there is no entry reservation in 2026. Waterfalls are low and high country roads close for the season, so it's a month for meadows, sequoias and Yosemite Valley.
What is the weather like in Yosemite in November?
Cool and changeable. Yosemite Valley averages highs around 56°F and lows around 33°F in November, according to the Park Service, and Wawona is similar. Rain or snow falls on about one in four days.
Does it snow in Yosemite in November?
Yes, often. At around 4,000 feet in Yosemite Valley and Wawona, November snow is usually light and comes and goes, while higher elevations get much more, and Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road close for the season once the snow arrives. Carry tire chains, as they may be required after a storm.
What is open in Yosemite in November?
Yosemite Valley and Wawona are open all year, and the Mariposa Grove shuttle runs through November 30, weather permitting. Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road usually close in November, so check current conditions before you go.
When should you not go to Yosemite?
Summer weekends and holiday weekends are the most crowded times to visit. If you want full waterfalls, skip late summer and fall and go in spring instead; if you want to avoid snow and chains, aim for September or October.
