To one of Yosemite's great winter viewpoints
The Adventure Snowshoe Hike to Dewey Point is a full-day guided snowshoe excursion from Badger Pass to Dewey Point — an exposed granite overlook 3,500ft above Yosemite Valley, with sweeping views of El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks, and the Valley floor below. In winter, with the rim cliffs frosted and the high country visible behind, it's one of the great Sierra winter destinations.
The route
About 8 miles round trip via the Meadow Loop and Pohono Trail. From Badger Pass the route climbs gently through the forest, passes Summit Meadow, then follows the ridgeline to the Dewey Point overlook. The final approach to the viewpoint crosses exposed terrain — the guide manages this section based on wind and snow conditions.
What's included
- Snowshoes and poles
- Full-day naturalist-guided experience
- Route-finding and pacing for the group
- Geological and ecological narration along the way
Not included: lunch, water, and warm clothing — bring your own. The guide will tell you what to pack when you book.
Who this is for
Fit hikers comfortable with full-day mountain outings. 8 miles in snowshoes at 7,000-8,000ft is harder than 8 miles of summer hiking — plan for 5-7 hours of moving time, plus stops. If you haven't snowshoed before, do the Discovery hike first to build comfort with the technique before committing to a full day.
Conditions and the question of when to go
The route is most accessible in mid-winter when snowpack is stable but before late-spring corn snow gets sloppy. February and early March are typically the best windows. The guide will not run the trip in genuinely bad weather (whiteouts, dangerous wind) — book with some flexibility in your trip schedule in case a reschedule is needed.
