The Free Badger Pass Shuttle from Yosemite Valley

How it works

During winter ski operations, Yosemite Hospitality runs a free shuttle bus from designated stops in Yosemite Valley directly to Badger Pass and back. The shuttle is free for anyone with a paid lift ticket, lesson booking, or rental reservation. You don't pre-book — show up at the stop with proof of your booking and board.

Pickup locations and timing

Pickup is at multiple stops along the Yosemite Valley shuttle route, typically including:

• Yosemite Valley Lodge — usually the primary pickup; check daily schedule
• Curry Village
• The Ahwahnee

Departure is typically mid-morning (8:00-8:30 AM range) with one or two trips depending on demand. Return shuttle leaves Badger Pass in mid-to-late afternoon. Exact schedule changes seasonally and during the year — confirm same-day at your hotel's front desk or via the official Yosemite Hospitality information.

Why the shuttle is the right choice from the Valley

• No chain control hassle. The bus handles chains; you just sit there.
• No parking concerns. Badger Pass parking can fill on weekend mornings; the bus drops you at the door.
• No driving fatigue. An hour-plus drive each way after a ski day is brutal. Let someone else drive.
• It's free. No surge pricing, no add-on fees. With a lift ticket or rental reservation, the ride is included.
• Better for the park. One bus instead of 30 cars on Glacier Point Road.

When the shuttle isn't the right choice

• You're staying at Yosemite West or Wawona. The shuttle only runs from the Valley. Lodging closer to Badger Pass means you drive yourself — and it's a much shorter drive.
• You want to leave Badger Pass early. The shuttle runs on a fixed schedule. If you finish skiing at noon and want to go back, the shuttle won't run for hours.
• You're skiing multiple days and want gear flexibility. If you rent a locker, the shuttle works for multi-day trips too. Otherwise driving lets you carry whatever you want.

Tip

Check the day-of-departure shuttle schedule when you check in at your lodge — schedules can shift based on conditions. The hotel concierges have current info that even our pages might not.