Yosemite: Winter Road Access?
Dec 26th, 2012, 03:33 PM
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Yosemite: Winter Road Access?
I'm headed to Yosemite from Phoenix the first week of February. I realize that some of the roads in the park will be closed, but I'm more interested in how I get there...and get out. It looks like I take hwy 41 from Fresno to get into the park. I'll want to head north to Bend after my visit and I'm not sure which road will be open. Do I take hwy 140 out to Merced? Or will hwy 120 to just south of Stockton be open? Thanks for any suggestions.
Dec 26th, 2012, 05:43 PM
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> Or will hwy 120 to just south of Stockton be open?
A blizzard could close this road just as you get to Stockton. Or maybe not. Sierra weather is VERY unpredictable. I would prepare ahead of time for the worst possible weather
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/wntrdriv.htm
keep track of weather and official road conditions (which can change drastically and unexpectedly in a matter of hours), and be thankful if you only meet bitter cold.
One small tip:
If you're using your own car, BUY CHAINS while you're still in Phoenix. You might get to within five miles of Yosemite when you're met by a sign stating, "Chains required. No exceptions." At this point you'll find out what the words "required" and "no exceptions" mean. You'll also be met by several local businesses who will gladly sell you chains at extortion prices. Why do they demand outrageous prices to people who didn't prepare for an obvious possibility? Because they CAN.
A blizzard could close this road just as you get to Stockton. Or maybe not. Sierra weather is VERY unpredictable. I would prepare ahead of time for the worst possible weather
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/wntrdriv.htm
keep track of weather and official road conditions (which can change drastically and unexpectedly in a matter of hours), and be thankful if you only meet bitter cold.
One small tip:
If you're using your own car, BUY CHAINS while you're still in Phoenix. You might get to within five miles of Yosemite when you're met by a sign stating, "Chains required. No exceptions." At this point you'll find out what the words "required" and "no exceptions" mean. You'll also be met by several local businesses who will gladly sell you chains at extortion prices. Why do they demand outrageous prices to people who didn't prepare for an obvious possibility? Because they CAN.
Dec 26th, 2012, 07:49 PM
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120 will likely be open. The portion between the valley & Groveland isn't the part that closes. 120 closes at the gate at the junction with Big Oak Flat Road eastward to Lee Vining.
Here is a link to road information:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
Here is a link to road information:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
