Active Pursuits

About the only thing you can't do in Yosemite is surf. In addition to sightseeing, Yosemite is a great place to bike, ski, rock climb, fish, and even golf.

Bicycling -- There are 12 miles of designated bike trails in the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, which is the best place to ride since roads and shuttle-bus routes are usually too crowded and dangerous for bicyclists. Children 17 and under are required by law to wear helmets. During the summer, single-speed bikes (and kiddie trailers) can be rented by the hour ($9.50) or the day ($26) at Curry Village (tel. 209/372-8319). Year-round rentals are available at Yosemite Lodge (tel. 209/372-1208). Bike rentals include helmets for all ages.

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 (including excellent beginner lessons), and day and overnight ski tours are available from Badger Pass Cross-Country Center and Ski School (tel. 209/372-8444; www.yosemitepark.com).

Fishing -- Several species of trout are found in Yosemite's streams. Information is available from the California State Department of Fish and Game (tel. 559/243-4005; www.dfg.ca.gov). There are also special fishing regulations in Yosemite Valley; get information at the visitor centers.

Golf -- There's one golf course in the park plus several others nearby. Wawona (tel. 209/375-6572) sports a 9-hole, par-35 course that alternates between meadows and fairways. Greens fees are $36 to $42 for 18 holes, cart included.

Horseback Riding -- Several companies offer guided horseback rides in and just outside the national park, with rates starting at about $60 for 2 hours, $80 for a half-day, and $120 for a full day. Yosemite Stables (tel. 209/372-8348) offers rides from Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, and Wawona; it leads multiday pack trips into the backcountry (call for details). Yosemite Trails Pack Station (tel. 559/683-7611; www.yosemitetrails.com) offers rides just south of Wawona, while Minarets Pack Station (tel. 559/868-3405; www.highsierrapackers.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 $8 for adults, $6 for children; skate rental costs $3. Call tel. 209/372-8319 for current hours.

Rafting -- A raft-rental shop is located at Curry Village (tel. 209/372-4386). Daily fees are $26 for adults, $16 for children under 13, and include a raft, paddles, mandatory life preservers, and transportation from Sentinel Beach to Curry Village. Be aware that swift currents and cold water can be deadly. Talk with rangers and shop employees before venturing out to be sure the trip you're planning is within your capabilities.

Rock Climbing -- Yosemite is considered one of the world's premier playgrounds for both experienced rock climbers and wannabes. The Yosemite Mountaineering School (tel. 209/372-8344; www.yosemitemountaineering.com) provides instruction for beginning, intermediate, and advanced climbers in the valley and Tuolumne Meadows, April through October. Classes last from a day to a week; private lessons are available as well. Rates, which include all equipment, vary according to the class or program.

Skiing -- Yosemite's Badger Pass Ski Area (tel. 209/372-8430; www.yosemitepark.com) is usually open from Thanksgiving to Easter Sunday, weather permitting. This small resort, located 22 miles from Yosemite Valley, was established in 1935. There are 10 runs, rated 35% beginner, 50% intermediate, and 15% advanced, plus a terrain park, with a vertical drop of 800 feet from the 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 to $42 for adults, $16 to $20 for kids 7 to 12; half-day tickets are $30 to $33 and $16, respectively.

Facilities at the ski area include several casual restaurants; a ski shop; ski repairs; a day lodge; lockers; and an excellent ski school, thanks to "Ski Ambassador" Nic Fiore, a Yosemite ski legend who arrived in the park in 1947 to ski for a season and never left. Fiore became director of the ski school in 1956, and park officials credit him with making Badger Pass what it is today -- a family-oriented ski area where generations have learned the art of skiing.

Especially for Kids

Many of the activities listed in this section have special programs for children, including rock climbing and ski lessons. In addition, Yosemite offers Little Cub and Junior Ranger programs, plus special walks and activities for kids.