Need advice on Yosemite trip
 

Boy do we need some help. Leaving in two weeks for a long planned trip to Yosemite. Only flight we could get was to Reno. Plan on staying a couple of days in lake Tahoe, then going to Yosemite. We planned on driving from Lake Tahoe taking the Tioga Pass road down to the Wawona Hotel. Now we learn that Tioga Pass is opening late and may not be open. What is an alternate way to get to Yosemite from Lake Tahoe?

Oh, yeah, heard on the news this morning, they had a rock slide and some roads are closed.

(sorry can't help you with driving)

The "rock"slide is on highway 140
This road goes into Yosemite from the western side -- i think near Mariposa..
Tioga Pass goes into the Park from the Eastern side..It is often closed (Usually due to snow) into mid-June..
Just contact DOT--Department of Transportation for California to find out.. Unfortunately Tioga Pass is the only access from the east - plus I think it is the most breath-taking...
Be assured any other route you take will be little more congested due to the closure of 140..
Good luck

The California Dept. of Transportation is "Caltrans". They have a website where you can find info on any state highway, US highway or interstate. Tioga Pass is Hwy 120 through the Sierra Nevada.




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California Highway Information


Don't Drink and Drive

This highway information is the latest reported as of Friday, June 2, 2006 at 19:06 .



SR 120
[CENTRAL CALIFORNIA & SIERRA NEVADA]
IS CLOSED FROM CRANE FLAT TO 11 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF US 395 /TIOGA PASS/
(TUOLUMNE, MONO CO's) - WINTER CLOSURE - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN
ALTERNATE ROUTE - THE YOSEMITE NAT'L PARK WEST ENTRANCE IS OPEN

[YOSEMITE NAT'L PARK]
FOR YOSEMITE NAT'L PARK ROAD INFORMATION CALL 209-372-0200

[EASTERN SIERRA NEVADA]
IS CLOSED FROM CRANE FLAT TO 11 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF US 395 /TIOGA PASS/
(TUOLUMNE, MONO CO's) - WINTER CLOSURE - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN
ALTERNATE ROUTE


With Tioga Pass closed you will have to take Hwy 89 from Tahoe area to either 88, 4, or 108, then head south on Hwy 49 to Hwy 120 east into the park on the other side from Tioga Pass. Whichever one you take, this involves crossing the whole mountain range from Tahoe at about 6500 feet, over the alpine passes at about 9000 feet, down to the foothills at a few hundred feet, then heading back up again to over 6000 feet then into Yosemite Valley at about 4000 feet.

Tioga Pass doesn't involve such ups and downs, but you do go down to about 4000 feet and then up over the pass at nearly 10000 feet, and down to the Valley.

88 is probably the fastest route, it's the straightest of the three, but then you are farther north at the bottom and have to negotiate more of Hwy 49, which is pretty curvy. Hwy 4 get very narrow and steep for about 25 miles over the top. Hwy 108 is even steeper.

Good Lord!

So you will be in Lake tahoe through like the 18th or 19th. Wow that's so close. They seem to be making good progress on plowing through the pass. Unlike prior years they have opened what they've plowed but that won't help you because they plow west to east. I understand that the Mono crew has now started to plow from the east and they will eventually meet up. The problem is that in addition to plowing the snow they must remove downed trees and repair the road so many things complicate the situation. I would keep checking this site:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/now/tioga.htm


To see any updates or you can always check Caltrans using 120 in the Highway box.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/


If you can't do that then you can do this one:

Leave south lake tahoe on 50 and take a left onto 89. 89 T's into 88 so turn right. When you get to Jackson look for 49 and take that south. When 108 and 49 split stay on 49. Near Chinese camp 49 and 120 merge together. You'll drive around Don Pedro Resevior and then 49 and 120 split and you have to take 120 up the Priest Grade. We always go up the OLD priest grade. This means taking a right onto it rather than a left onto the new priest grade. Your choice. Anyway 120 will take you to Big Oak Flat entrance and down to Crane Flat where you will leave 120 and take 41 into the valley. It will take about 4.5 hours to make the drive into the Valley from South Lake Tahoe. This is really only about 20 - 25 minutes longer than the Tioga Pass route but they are really different drives.

Suzie -- I am planning on leaving Tahoe early on July 1 and driving to Mono, through the park on Tioga and on to Oakland. We figure 6 hours plus stops to walk picnic etc. Or is it too far or too busy to try this in a day? I can't figure how to find responses on here so you could respond to [email protected] -- thanks
Russ

Childr:

From South Lake Tahoe to Lee Vining expect it to take 2.5 hours. During the summer road work regularly takes place along this section of road due to harsh winters and can impede your progress if they have to stop traffic at all. We do this route every year. Last year we had to wait south of Minden for awhile.

Lee Vining to Yosmite Valley will be about 1 hour 45 minutes with no stops but that's crazy because you'll want to stop at least at Olmstead Point.

Yosmite Valley to Oakland via 120 (140 is closed due to a rock slide)will take 3.5 hours with no traffic so it wil depend on what time of day you will make that part of the trip.

Looks like just under 8 hours no stops and no traffic so you should plan on a longer period of time to leave enough room for stopping, eating and traffic slowdowns.

Suzie -- Thanks for the response -- some other folks have suggested that we forget Tioga Road and take CA 88 -- Which route -- one of these or another -- do you think would give us the best combination of scenery and time (and maybe the possibility of some short hikes or side trips -- We don't mind being on the move from Daylight to Dark but like breaks, picnics, walks etc
Thanks again for the help.
Russ

I would do Tioga Pass. If you want to see different scenery all along your trip this route would give you the widest range of scenery. The eastern Sierra is really different from the west. The east rises sharply upward with hardly any foothills. Unlike the west which is a gradual increase in altitude to the top. This gives you some amazing views. Just coming out of a river canyon into the Bridgeport valley is really an amazing sight. Then you look to your right to see the super jagged Devil's Gate. Great sight. Then exiting Bridgeport and rounding the bend you can turn off to Bodie, a well preserved Ghost Town. Or as you drive down the the steep grade Mono Lake is right in front of you. Then as you drive over Tioga Pass you are surrounded by amazing views alternating between Granite at the higher elevations and forest as you get closer to the valley. Yes for a variety of scenery 395 to Tioga Pass will give you that.

Check a California map and you will see all the highways that cross the Sierras from the East to the West.
The furthest North (at Tahoe) is 80 (Donner Pass)
then 50 (Echo Pass)
then 88 (Carson Pass)
then 4 (Ebbett's Pass)
then 108 (Sonora Pass)
then Tioga Pass.

Check road conditions. If you can't do Tioga, but still want to see Yosemite, you can take any of the other passes to 49 down toward Yosemite. It is sort of long and windy.

Alternatively, we enjoy Sonora Pass greatly. There are many stops along the river, short fun hiking trails to nearby waterfalls, a number of scenic spots above and below timberline that have few visitors, and food available at Kennedy Meadows, Dardanelles, etc.

Hwy 108 over Sonora Pass will connect you to the entrance road (120?) into Yosemite, very spectacular. Or, if you've had enough, keep heading west toward Oakland.

Parrot1, The Pass is opeing on Saturday morning at 8. Didja already leave?

used2bSuzie, did you change your screen name? Why?

Barbara,

For some reason, when I log into Fodors I have to sign in and usually I don't. Cookies usually take care of that. Now I can't remember my password and when I asked Fodors to send it to me they said they would but they haven't. I have 2 email accounts so I registered my new name with an email I rarely use so I could continue with my travel obsession! ;) When I figure out my password I'll go back to my name until then I used2b (and still am) Suzie

Suzie, that has to be pretty annoying, but I like your "new" name!

I'm going to ask a follow up question on this, and this is coming from someone who goes to Yosemite every bloody year! This year we're going at the tail end of a road trip, and coming in from Lake Tahoe. I'm thinking of heading down via Bridgeport, but what's the cleanest way (meaning shortest) to get into Yosemite Valley? Does this mean I FINALLY get to use the Tioga pass?!?!?

Oh Surfer girl you are going to love this drive!!!We dod it every summer.

Coming from South Lake Tahoe we always take the Kingsbury Grade and at the bottom it says to turn left to get to 395 but we don't go north but instead we cut across and pick up 395 by taking Waterloo. Now I won't say it's easy the first or even 2nd time but we did get to see lot of reservation land one year. :0

Anyway the drive past Minden and then on to Lake Tpaz, through the Walker area and next to teh Walker river and then finally emerging from teh last narrow canyon into the wide expanse of Bridgeport is sooooo amazing. To your right teh sierra is stunning. Look for Devil's Gate - I'm sure you can pick out the jagged mountains easily.

We always stop at Jolly Cone for a shake before heading back out. Just outside Bridgeport you will come along the left turn for Bodie, if you choose to take it there is a medium long drive on a dirt road to get to the Ghost town. Soon you will come around the bend and be faced with a steep down hill grade but in front of you will be Mono Lake. You will then arrive in Lee Vining and if you are hungry you can stop in at the Whoa Nellie Deli inside the gas station as you trun onto Tioga Pass for some fab food choices. Pick something up that you can take with you so you can picnic on the way. Now you'll be on Tioga Pass and in for some of the most fabulous views. Stop alot! Have a great time!

Yeah, Tioga Pass! Finally! Thanks for the tips on shakes -- love them! On the don't go north part, and it's not easy, could you please explain? Is it difficult from a directional point of view (of which I am very good!) or from a driving course point of view (thinking of husband who gets a little green as I curve around mountains!).

Hi surfergirl and Suzie---there is another route from S. Lake Tahoe to Yosemite, over Monitor Pass, and I love it. Instead of going all the way through South Shore (which I can't stand) to reach the Kingsbury Grade, you stay on 89 at the "Y", and follow it south; stay on 89 where it leaves 50 at Meyers, and follow signs to Woodford and Monitor Pass (elevation 8300 feet). It's 89 the whole way, and joins with 395 just before you get to Topaz. Unfortunately there was a fire up there recently, so a short stretch of the area is burned, but the views are still beautiful.

Both this route and the one Suzie suggested are designated as "scenic" highways on my AAA maps.

And surfergirl---tell your husband you will be on the "inside" (away from the edge) going over Tioga Pass, so no worries. Actually, I don't understand why this road has such a scary reputation---it is wide and smooth, and the turns have a broad radius; nothing tricky about the driving unless you are so absorbed in the scenery that you don't watch the road.

Good to know, thanks. He's had to deal with me and the bends up to Big Bear, the Pacific Coast Hwy (more than 20 times and still counting), and probably the biggest "oh dear, could you please slow down!" along the Amalfi Coast. I'm thinking of buying a Vespa, but I doubt he'll sit shotgun.

Just found out the Tioga Road opened this morning, whew! We'll be driving on it in a week and a half -- can't wait! Found out at this website:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/now/tioga.htm

See you there, Fellow Fodorites!

Which route to 395 depends on where you are at Lake Tahoe. Regular ol' Hwy 50 down to 395 is the least windy. Kingsbury Grade is much faster, but very steep and windy. If you check a road map you can see the shortcut that used2bsuzie is talking about. It shaves a few minutes off, but if you don't get it, just follow the signs to 395. We do like Monitor Pass to 395 also, but it is also very windy. Not much traffic on it.
A Bodie side-trip is wonderful if you have the time, but it is very very hot with no shade, so go early.
Bridgeport is my favorite little town on 395.
There are many overlooks, picnic spots and short trails to lovely lakes off Tioga Pass, too.

Well surfergirl I don't want to be responsible for you getting lost but if you can manage to stay on Waterloo you will get to 395 in a flash. Go to mapquest and do a starting location of South Lake Tahoe, CA and an ending location of Gardnerville, NV. You will see that when you get to the bottom of the Kingsbury Grade there will be a stop.

After teh stop go straight ahead which will be 207. Now when you get to the intersection of 207 and 88 go straight. This will be a little 2 lane road called Waterloo. There will be a right curve and then a left curve that are sharp so you'll know you're on the right road. When you come to a T you'll have to turn left. Now keep your eyes out for the right turn that will be Waterloo again. Once back on Waterloo you'll go by a park - nice one- and then you'll come out at a traffic light which is 395. You will have missed all the traffic lights and traffic of Minden and Gardnerville.

On mapquest if you zoom in on the intersction of 207 and 88 you will see Waterloo cut across to 395.

Good luck!

Suzie -- back from the Tahoe to Oakland (July 1) trek you advised us on -- 120 was well worth it but you undersold CA 89 -- what a view and drop into the valley out of Monitor Pass -- we left Tahoe City (actually a little south)at 8 and made it to Lee Vining around 11:30 with a grocery stop and a gas stop -- and several stops for pictures -- every view better than the last. 120 through Tioga Pass to the stop sign at the turn was about 3:30 -- again multiple stops plus a short walk and a picnic along the river -- 5 minutes off the road and all alone. Made the mistake here -- should have stayed on 120 but guessed wrong that 140 open by now (been off line for 3 weeks)-- 5 miles down 140 we asked doubled back and then decided to go out by Winona and 49 to Merced and Mariposa. It's a long winding road out of the park that way but 49 offered great scenery -- but at the Oakland Air Port by 8 wasn't bad. Anyone who is wondering -- the 120 drive is worth the extra time -- although anyone trying the Yosemite Valley this week has my blessing -- cars were lined up close to half a mile just to access the Bridalveil parking lot Saturday and 30+ to access the park at 5 PM at the South entrance. The Tioga Road was not crowded by that standard though I was surprised that it seemed 3 of 5 cars were foriegn tourists from our vista stops (Olmstead etc)So thanks for not letting others scare us off of 89 and 120. It is fabulous -- especially for us South Georgia flatlanders. Tahoe was great too - but mainly due to our host and the I80 ride was good for a main highway (I still vote for the corner of Arizona on the Las Vegas -- St George freeway for prettiest though). I plan to post on my ridge drive around SF Bay when I have some time -- not for everyone but a good use of a day and some fantastic views of bay and ocean.
Thanks again.

Russ

Hey Russ glad you enjoyed the views. Sorry if you thought I undersold. I think taking Monitor Pass is a great idea but I do advise those who are already at south shore to go over Kingsbury Grade because in the summer to drive back through south shore to Meyers to catch 89 to get to Monitor Pass is super tedious and really adds to the amount of time driving. Later this month we will be taking Monitor Pass but we will not be driving from South Lake Tahoe. Typically we drive through SLT and down Kingsbury Grade but I think we’ll be saving some time due to the increased traffic in SLT over the years. It’s pretty much stop and go all the way to Zephyr Cove.
I know the Kingsbury Grade did close for a time around the 20th or so due to rock slide activity it did reopen around the 26th. I wonder if the OP made it through!

Forgot to say that 140 is expected to remain closed due to the tons of rock that has covered the road. They no longer believe that the road can be repaired in the slide area and Teichert Construction has been hired to creat temporary crossing of the Merced River that will route travelers around the rock slide. Here's a link to the incident page updated by caltrans:

http://inciweb.org/incident/236/