Yosemite: Forget skiing, but horse rides, bike rentals to open Friday

If you’re heading to Yosemite National Park for Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, you might think about swapping your skis for hiking boots. Skiing at Badger Pass resort is closed, but the horse stable and bicycle rentals will open Friday and remain open as long as the mild weather holds.

“We are not anticipating any other summertime activities to open, but it is very unusual to be able to hike the Four Mile Trail, go on a guided trail ride and bike ride in the Valley in January,” says Lisa Cesaro, public relations manager for DNC Park & Resorts at Yosemite.

The park’s Badger Pass website says “Closed until there’s more snow.” The resort’s webcam shows spotty snow on the slopes with lots of bald spots. Last year was California’s driest calendar year in 119 years of records. Yosemite weather forecasts for the next five days show no snowfall in the picture, with temperatures in the 50s by day and as low as 3 degrees at night.

Visitors who want to take advantage of the mild conditions while they last may take two-hour horseback rides from Yosemite Valley Stables to the Mirror Lake and Tenaya Lake area at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. daily. Cost is $65 per rider; call (209) 372-8348 for reservations.

The Glacier Point Ski Hut, usually welcoming cross-country skiers, will be open to hikers who want to stay overnight at the rustic dormitory-style digs. Hikers take the Four Mile Trail to get to the hut that faces Half Dome. Cost is $120.50 per person and includes meals.

Note, too, that the park will waive the $20 entrance fee Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Info: Delaware North Cos. Parks & Resorts, (801) 559-4949

Mary.Forgione@latimes.com
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