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 crowded and dangerous for bicyclists. Children under 18 are required by law to wear helmets. During the summer, single-speed bikes (and kiddie trailers) can be rented by the hour ($7.50) or the day ($25) at Curry Village (tel. 209/372-8319). Year-round, you can rent bikes 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, click the link for "activities").

Fishing -- Several species of trout are found in Yosemite's streams. Guided fly-fishing trips are available from Yosemite Guides (tel. 877/425-3366 or 209/379-2231; www.yosemiteguides.com) for $275 for two for a full day. California fishing licenses are required for everyone 16 and older; 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 and several others nearby. Wawona (tel. 209/375-6572) sports a 9-hole, par-35 course that alternates between meadows and fairways. Just outside the park, the 18-hole Sierra Meadows Golf Course (tel. 559/642-1343) 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, $50 for 2 hours, and $75 for a half-day. Yosemite Stables (tel. 209/372-8348) offers rides from Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, and Wawona, and leads multiday pack trips into the backcountry (call for details). Yosemite Trails Pack Station (tel. 559/683-7611; www.yosemitetrails.com) offers riding just south of Wawona, and 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 $21 for adults, $14 for children under 13. Fees include a raft, paddles, mandatory life preservers, and transportation from Sentinel Beach to Curry Village. Swift currents and cold water can be deadly. Talk with rangers and shop people 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 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, and private lessons are available. All equipment is provided, and rates 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 (and 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 adult lift tickets cost $38, and full-day lift tickets for kids 7 to 12 are $15; half-day tickets are $28 and $11, respectively.

The ski area has 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 Fiore 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, and special walks and activities for kids.