sluggo

We want to visit Yosemite as early as possible in June '04 to avoid crowds but have read that Tioga Pass can be closed due to snow and that people should have chains for their cars. We'll have a rental.

How often in June do Tioga Pass or other high-altitude roads in the park close? And when roads do close, do they usually open after a couple hours? If we visited the park June 5-8 or 12-15 would we likely avoid snow closings?

I'm looking for the exerience of others, while realizing anything can happen. Just last June 24, we had to wait a couple hours for snow plowing on Trail Ridge Rd in Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park, then proceeded without chains.

elberko

Here are the dates since 1980:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/trip/tioga.htm

Suzie

In all liklihood you will experience no problems in Yosemite. Many people who visit Yosemite never use Tioga Pass as they prefer to limit their visit to the valley. If the pass is open, and it probably will be, you can see the Tuolemne Meadows area. It is also convenient for travelers coming from the east via 395 to enter the park over Tioga pass but if you will enter from the west or south the opening of Tioga Pass will not affect you. Once open, the roads would not reclose due to snow. There would have to be an unprecedented amount of snow to close the passes after they open. Things really warm up fast and the waterfalls run heavy during June. It should be awesome.

sluggo

Thanks for the info, elberko and suzie. I feel much more confident with those dates now. (Nothing like planning waaaay ahead!)

janis

Just to clarify - Tioga Pass is not closed due to new snow storms. It basically closes from the first heavy snow in the Autumn until it can open full time for the Summer season.

Snow is not likely anywhere in the Park in June (but it can happen in the high country). But Tioga Pass could still be closed in early June -- depending on how late snow fell in the Spring.