Winter is the best time to just stay at the lodge all day and hang out in front of the fire. Bring good books to trade with our library! We also have:

CHRISTMAS FEAST at the Bug! December 25

"This was the most incredible place I've ever stayed in! Great people, great food! That was the most delicious Christmas feast I've ever had, don't tell my mom! Thanks for everything, I loved it" - Sandra - Brazil

Christmas at the Bug Story- Joan Porter

Local Events as well can be found at Mariposa Agri-Nature Trail Weekend in the County and Home Of Yosemite .

Check out our own groovy trail around the Bug 50 acres. You will see more birds (esp in spring) than most other places, including the park. Walk among black oak groves and tall alder nooks. Follow a creek in flood with waterfalls, or sit contemplating hummingbirds along a lazy, grassy stream. We see deer, turkeys, boars, bears, bobcats, skunks, etc around our place; they come year round because we have a spring. See flowers of all types in microclimes that support cooler buckeyes and redbuds (great in April), and hotter buckthorn or chamise chaparral. Red flowers for hummingbirds, and white flowers for huge moths. Occasionally, you will surprise redtail hawks or blue herons. The route is steep and slippery in places, so be prepared with correct shoes. The route down to the swimming hole and creek island is fairly easy with steps. if you have a bit, do wander around and take up to an hour about the Bug Loop.

The Mountain Biking trails near the Bug are popular in the winter too. We especially recommend the fire roads that connect the high, sunny Feliciana, Sweetwater & Buckingham Mountains in the local Sierra National Forest above Midpines.

We also send riders along the Merced River on the Riverside Ride from Briceberg Bridge to the Black Bridge and back at a warmer 1800' elevation

Other local events such as Winer Snow Shoe Field Seminars at Yosemite Association

"The "Winter Cathedral of the Gods" is Yosemite Valley! It is bigger than life and more beautiful with a blanket of snow, or wet after a storm, than any other time of the year. "

We also recommend Sequoia Grove snowshoeing at Mariposa, Tuolumne and Merced Groves to soak in the massive trees in white, orange and green. $18.00 daily rental from the Bug. This is also part of Bug Bus's Day Tours

Cross Country Skiing from Badger Pass to Dewey Point is a fantastic day trip. XC to Taft Point, Glacier Point or Ostrander Lake require overnight stays in Glacier Point Lodge & Ostrander Hut. These are all world class cross country courses and trails with fantastic views of El Capitan , Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra. Our guests name this one of their favorite activities! Prices and further information can be found on the National Park Website

Downhill Skiing at Badger Pass, above Yosemite Valley, is great for budget beginner and family skiing.

Great additional fun to your sightseeing trip, and you can rent all necessary equipment there, too at the resort. Prices and further information can be found on the National Park Website

Short Hikes include Mariposa Sequoia grove, Vernal Falls, Mirror Lake and sometimes a long hike, snow permitting, to Yosemite Point.

Curry Village in Yosemite Valley has a great outdoor Ice Skating Rink during winter.

This is something we don't get too many requests for, but, I'll say it is like swimming in summertime, sounds just okay, but you always have a great time. By the way, no, it doesn't snow at the Bug in winter, we are just a bit below snowline.