Route - Yosemite West to Mariposa
 

As part of a road trip in the spring, I will be travelling from Yosemite West to Mariposa. There appears to b e a choice of routes, either south from Yosemite West, picking up CA41 near Fish Camp or west and then south on the CA 140. Time is not the issue, I am interested in scenery and photo opportunities. Any recommendations?

Absolutely 6 of one half dozen of the other.

Only consideration really is whether you will have already seen Tunnel View -- which I assume you will have.

Yes the Tunnel View is the wow factor. If the first stop was not ideal, (rain, fog or smoke) go back for a second chance.
Sometimes janisj and I agree.

No I have not seen the tunnel view or anywhere else in California (I am in the UK). The route is mostly set in concrete now (crossing my fingers that the Tioga Pass will be open late May). Just had a look on Google and the tunnel view seems to be a must see so I guess it is route 41. Thanks for your help.

>>No I have not seen the tunnel view or anywhere else in California<<

I meant that while you were at Yosemite West you will have seen Tunnel View (i.e. - During your visit). Assuming that to be the case, you can take whichever route you want since there would be no need to go via the Tunnel. It would be pretty hard to avoid Tunnel View if you are staying at Yosemite West. So I doubt you'd 'need' to take hwy 41.

>>(crossing my fingers that the Tioga Pass will be open late May)<<

I certainly would <B>NOT</B> count on that this year. We are in the middle of an El Nino year (and thank god we are!!). there has been one storm after the other for the past couple of months and the weather pattern is expected to continue or even intensify. Even the last 4 years when we were in serious drought the road didn't open until early May. The latest 'normal' years (2010 and 2011) it didn't open until June 5 and June 18 respectively.

OK, assuming the worst with Tioga, Plan B would have to get me from Death Valley (near Stovepipe Wells) to Yosemite West with three over night stops. I would prefer to avoid Bakersfield and Fresno and use smaller roads to the East CA 178 and CA65. You advised me (Janis) on an earlier thread that Three Rivers would be worth a visit. Do you have any ideas on other stopovers?

>>from Death Valley (near Stovepipe Wells) to Yosemite West with three over night stops.<<

Absolutely no reason to take three nights for this drive. Would be a serious waste. You could visit Sequoia.

But if it was me -- I'd drive up 395 on the east side of the Sierra all the way to Lake Tahoe, stay a night or two, then down hwy 50 to hwy 49 (one night in Sonora or somewhere like that) and hwy 120 to Yosemite.


(A you planning on using <i>three nights</i> for the drive if Tioga Pass is open??? )

The plan is:

Lone Pine one night
Lee Vining two nights.

I am trying to average 100 miles a day to give me maximium time to enjoy the scenery. I have allowed just under a month for LA/Joshua Tree/Grand Canyon/Monument Valley/Lake Powell/Bryce Canyon/Zion/Vegas/Death Valley/Yosemite San Francisco/Big Sur/LA

How much time are you allowing for Yosemite? There is no need for two nights in Lone pine and/or one night in Lee Vining - they are less than 2 hours apart. And Stovepipe Wells is barely 90 minutes from Lone Pine.

If Tioga Pass is open I'd just stop the night in Lee Vining or maybe Bishop, and then head into Yosemite the next day. If Tioga Pass is closed I'd stay one night in Lee Vining and to nights at Lake Tahoe (barely a 2 hour drive)

The more time you can spend in Yosemite the better.

In the light of your suggestion I am keeping my fingers crossed for Tioga but developing a plan B which includes Highway 65 to Three Rivers, a visit to Sequoia NP then north to Yosemite. I cannot get a refund on my accommodation (two nights) in Yosemite but book something in somewhere like Oakhurst so that I can effectively have another day in the park on the way to Yosemite West. As regards Tioga I have looked at the Sonora pass but understand that it is unlikely to be open if Tioga is closed. Then there is Highway 4 but that looks a bit primitive. I don't feel inclined to go farther north than this so I guess it will be the east side of the Sierra Nevada.

>>but book something in somewhere like Oakhurst so that I can effectively have another day in the park on the way to Yosemite West. <<

Long before falling back on that -- look at one of the two motels in El Portal. They are an hour+ closer to Yosemite Valley than is Oakhurst.

All I will say is: Lake Tahoe is beautiful.

Thanks Janis - I will definitely go for El Portal.

Michelle, I don't doubt that Lake Tahoe is beautiful but if I tried to cover everything that is beautiful I would never get home! My initial plan included everything from Seattle to Yellowstone to Grand Canyon to LA etc etc etc. 4000 miles in a month. Then I took a long drink of sanity, took a reluctant axe to a load of places that I really wanted visit and came up with what I feel is an ok compromise.

>>but if I tried to cover everything that is beautiful I would never get home!<<

Actually, (assuming Tioga Pass is closed) I think your itinerary would be nicer/more scenic doing DV > Tahoe > Gold Rush country/Hwy 49 > YNP - over DV > Sequoia > YNP.

David206015, I certainly sympathize with the pain of taking a knife to some ambitious vacation plans. Since you are in the UK, it's harder to just plan a "do over." Good luck with your trip - no matter what, you'll have a grand time. Those on this forum have always given me sound advice.

Now, my two cents is all about wonderful eats in the strangest places. In Lee Vining, once you turn on the road to Tioga Pass, look for the Mobil gas station. Stop there. Go inside and get some food at the deli. Trust me on this.
http://www.whoanelliedeli.com/

Ditto that sudlick! After being recommended for ages, I finally ate there a couple of years ago. What took me so long ?!

I agree with Janis. Going north on 395, over to Tahoe and then south thru the Gold Country to Yosemite would be much more interesting.

Fantastic advice, thanks everyone. Looked at the menu, Sludick, salivating already!

Guess its all down to me and El Nino now.

I know I am as bit late to this conversation, but I wanted to add a few comments. If you indeed want to spend 3 nights in the Eastern Sierra and Tioga Pass is open, I would stay in Mammoth Lakes. You could do day trips to Devils Postpile National Monument, the June Lakes Loop and visit Mono Lake.

If Tioga Pass is closed, I would take janisj's suggestion of going north on 395 over to Tahoe, west on Hwy 50 to Hwy 49 and proceed to Yosemite via the Gold Country. The Gold Country is not only historical, but beautiful. It is also home to many wonderful wineries. Cool towns such as Placerville, Murphy, Columbia are worth a stop.