Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [439]
Cross-Country Skiing. The park has more than 350 miles of skiable trails and roads, including 25 miles of machine-groomed track and 90 miles of marked trails in the Badger Pass area. Equipment rentals, lessons, and day and overnight ski tours are available from Badger Pass Cross-Country Center and Ski School (☎ 209/372-8444; www.yosemitepark.com).
Fishing. Several species of trout can be found in Yosemite's streams. Guided fly-fishing trips for all levels are available from Yosemite Guides (☎ 877/425-3366 or 209/379-2231; www.yosemite guides.com). California fishing licenses are required for those 16 and older; information is available from the California State Department of Fish and Game (☎ 559/222-3761; www.dfg.ca. gov). Village Sport Shop in Yosemite Valley has fishing gear and sells fishing
licenses. There are also special fishing regulations in Yosemite Valley; get information at the visitor centers.
Golf. The park has one golf course, and several others are nearby. Wawona (☎ 209/375-6572) is a 9-hole, par-35 course that alternates between meadows and fairways. Just outside the park, the 18-hole Sierra Meadows Ranch Course (☎ 559/683-3388) is in Oakhurst. Call for current greens fees and other information.
Horseback Riding. Several companies offer guided horseback rides in and just outside the national park, with rates starting at about $25 for 1 hour, $40 for 2 hours, and $75 for a half day. Yosemite Stables (☎ 209/372-8348) offers rides from several locations, including Yosemite Valley and Wawona, and leads multiday pack trips into the backcountry (call for details). Yosemite Trails Pack Station (☎ 559/683-7611 ) offers riding just south of Wawona. Minarets Pack Station (☎ 559/868-3405; www.highsierra packers.org) leads day trips to Yosemite and the Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Ice-Skating. The outdoor ice rink at Curry Village, with great views of Half Dome and Glacier Point, is open from early November to March, weather permitting. Admission is $6.50 for adults, $5 for children; skate rental costs $3.25. Check with park visitor centers (☎ 209/372-0200) for current hours.
Rafting. A raft rental shop is at Curry Village (☎ 209/372-8341 ). Daily per-person rental fees are $13.50 for adults, $11.50 for children under 13. Fees include a raft, paddles, mandatory life preservers, and transportation from Sentinel Beach back to Curry Village. Swift currents and cold water can be deadly. Talk with rangers and shop staff before venturing out to be sure you're planning a trip that's within your capabilities.
Rock Climbing. Yosemite is considered one of the world's premier playgrounds for experienced rock climbers and wannabes. The Yosemite Mountaineering School (☎ 209/372-8344; www.yosemitemountaineering.com) provides instruction for beginning, intermediate, and advanced climbers in the valley and Tuolumne Meadows from April through October. Classes last anywhere from a day to a week, and private lessons are available. Rates vary according to the class or program. All equipment is provided.
Skiing. Yosemite's Badger Pass Ski Area (☎ 209/372-8430; www.yosemitepark.com) is usually open from Thanksgiving through Easter, weather permitting. The small resort 22 miles from Yosemite Valley was established in 1935. There are 10 runs, rated 35% beginner, 50% intermediate, and 15% advanced, with a vertical drop of 800 feet from its highest point of 8,000 feet. There are five lifts—one triple chair, three double chairs, and a cable tow. Full-day lift tickets cost $35 for adults, $18 for kids under 13; half-day tickets are $25 and $15, respectively.
The ski area has several casual restaurants, a ski shop, ski repairs, a day lodge, and lockers. There's also an excellent ski school, thanks to "ski Ambassador" Nic Fiore, a Yosemite ski legend