Top: Skiers at Badger Pass in 1940. Photo: Ralph H. Anderson, NPS (public domain).
Badger Pass is Yosemite’s ski area: a small, relaxed hill on Glacier Point Road where many California families learned to ski. Skiing has deep roots here. Yosemite had a ski school by 1928, a ski lodge opened at Badger Pass after Glacier Point Road was built in 1935, and the area’s “Upski” of 1936 is often called the first ski lift in the West. Here’s what to know before you go.
The 2026–27 season
Badger Pass usually opens in mid-December, but only once there’s enough snow. It relies entirely on natural snow, because snowmaking isn’t allowed inside the national park, and recent seasons show how much that matters: a lack of snow kept Badger Pass closed for all of 2024–25, and the 2025–26 season didn’t open for downhill skiing until mid-January.
As of early November 2026, no opening date has been announced for 2026–27. Season passes are already on sale. For the latest, call the Badger Pass snow phone at 209-372-1000.
Badger Pass at a glance
- Elevation: 7,200 to 8,000 feet, with 800 feet of vertical
- Terrain: 10 runs (about 35% beginner, 50% intermediate, 15% advanced) plus a beginner-friendly terrain park
- Lifts: five, including one triple chair, three double chairs and a handle tow
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
- Season: usually mid-December to mid-March, depending on snow
Season passes for 2026–27
- Season pass: $541 for adults, $298 for ages 7 to 17
- Midweek season pass: $359 for adults, $199 for ages 7 to 17
- Pass perks: no blackout dates, a discounted lift ticket each day for a friend, and 10% off rooms at The Ahwahnee and Yosemite Valley Lodge (conditions and blackout dates apply)
Lift tickets and rentals
Day ticket prices for 2026–27 haven’t been posted yet. These were the official rates last season, so use them as a guide:
- All-day ticket: $82 for adults, $61.50 for ages 7 to 17, and free for kids 6 and under with a paying adult
- Half-day ticket: $75 for adults, $48 for ages 7 to 17
- Deals: a midweek locals’ rate for people living within 50 miles of Yosemite ($50 for adults, $25 for kids), half-price lift tickets on Thrifty Thursdays, $30 tickets for ages 65 to 69, and free tickets for ages 70 and up
- Rentals: a full-day ski package (skis, boots and poles) was $44.50 for adults and $34.50 for kids, and a snowboard was $42 for adults. Helmets are extra.
Lower-lift tickets are available for beginners who don’t need the whole mountain. The ski school, running since 1928, offers lessons for all ages, from first-timers to kids’ programs.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
In winter, Glacier Point Road is plowed only as far as Badger Pass. When the ski area is open, the snow-covered road beyond it is groomed for cross-country skiing all the way to Glacier Point: 10.5 miles each way, with Half Dome waiting at the end. It’s a long day, so it’s best for experienced skiers. Experienced skiers can also book a guided overnight trip to the Glacier Point Ski Hut. Many more miles of marked trails branch off into the forest.
Snowshoers have plenty of options too, from short walks near the lodge to the classic outing to Dewey Point. On the groomed road, snowshoers should stay to the edges, out of the ski tracks. Guided snowshoe walks, cross-country lessons and rentals are available at the Nordic Center at Badger Pass.
Getting there
- Badger Pass is on Glacier Point Road, about 5 miles from the Chinquapin junction on Wawona Road (Highway 41).
- Always carry tire chains in winter, even if the roads look clear. Chain controls can go into effect quickly when storms move in. Our guide to winter driving in Yosemite has the details.
- For current road conditions, call the park’s road and weather line at 209-372-0200.
- The standard park entrance fee applies.
Updated November 2026. Season pass prices are for 2026–27, and day ticket and rental prices are last season’s rates. Prices, hours and opening dates can change, so check with Badger Pass and the NPS conditions page before you go.
Leave a Reply