Tag: Tioga Road

Tioga Pass Opening This Saturday

Posted on by lbschutte

Looking up Lee Vining Canyon at Tioga Paa

Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher announced today that the Tioga Road will open for the season on Saturday, June 18, 2011, at 8:00 a.m. for all vehicle traffic. The Tioga Road, bounded on both sides by State Highway 120, is the popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada. Vault toilets are available in several locations along the road.

There are several no-stopping zones along the road, which are clearly marked with road signs.

Due to the heavy snowpack this past winter (199% of normal) and a cool spring, there is still several feet of snow in the Tuolumne Meadows area. Hiking opportunities are extremely limited and visitors are urged to use extreme caution in the area. Additionally, ice is prevalent throughout the area and stream crossings are treacherous.

All campgrounds along the Tioga Road are closed. All commercial services, including the gas station, store, and village grill, are also closed. There are no anticipated opening dates for any of these facilities at this time.

(via NPS)

Tenaya Lake Getting a Makeover

Posted on by lbschutte

The first phase of a major makeover at Tenaya Lake, one of Yosemite National Park’s most popular summer destinations, will restore wetlands and improve beach access with funding by Yosemite Conservancy.

“Tenaya Lake is a jewel of the park’s high country,” said Mike Tollefson, president, Yosemite Conservancy. “We’re focused on restoring and protecting it so that the visitor experience is as exceptional as its location.”

Picnickers, hikers and rock climbers are drawn to the lake’s picture perfect beaches, deep blue water, surrounding granite domes, and lodge pole pine forests. Its eye-catching scenery is visible from Tioga Road, which provides easy access to the lake for park visitors of all ages and abilities. However, its popularity has resulted in challenges of crowded parking areas, unsafe traffic conditions, unintended harm to fragile ecosystems, shoreline erosion and unwanted run-off.

“This initial phase restores and protects habitat and improves accessibility for all visitors to this magnificent location,” said Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher.

Yosemite Conservancy will provide $850,000 for initial improvements at the lake’s East Beach area. Work begins this summer on a new ecologically friendly trail that will provide easy access for all from the parking lot to the shore and minimize future impacts to wetlands. The beach area will be enhanced for family use and picnicking with installation of new tables including a common “long table” that will accommodate family gatherings. Wetlands and riparian areas also will be restored to natural conditions with re-establishment of native willows.

Neubacher said future enhancements at Tenaya Lake would address ecological restoration of roadside parking areas, additional habitat protection, and redesign of the parking lot at the East Beach to accommodate tour buses that now park on the road and replace parking spaces removed from the roadside. “Initial restoration efforts will improve habitat surrounding the lake and protect it better for the future, while providing a better experience for park visitors. Both the park and its visitors benefit from this Conservancy-funded project,” said Neubacher. Tenaya Lake sits at 8,150 feet, 31 miles east of Highway 120 and nine miles west of Tuolumne Meadows along Tioga Road.

(via NPS)

Tioga Road Partially Open to Bicycles Today

Posted on by lbschutte

The Tioga Road is slated to open to bicyclists today from Crane Flat to Olmsted Point. No, it’s not what everyone has been wanting to hear but it’s a step in the right direction. Late season snow and inclement weather has been led to a “two step forward, one step back” process for crews trying to clear the road and get it in shape for park visitors.

There’s no expected date for the road opening to traffic but hopefully soon.

Tioga Pass Closed – Probably for the Season

Posted on by lbschutte

Snow on the roads makes driving in Yosemite difficult and somewhat dangerous.

Snow on the roads makes driving in Yosemite difficult and somewhat dangerous. Photo by Orin Zebest – Yosemite Valley 2009.

This weekends big winter storm that came through brought with it lots of rain and a good amount of snow prompting Yosemite officials to close Tioga Pass for the 4th time this year. The pass traditionally closes after the first good winter storm and remains closed until late May or early June of the following year.

The section of the Tioga Road closes from Crane Flat to 5 miles west of it’s junction with US 395 at Mono Lake. The next closest pass traversing the Sierra that is open all year is Highway 88 – 100 miles to the north.

BREAKING NEWS: Tioga Pass CLOSED!

Posted on by lbschutte

2007 webcam shot of storm over Tioga Pass

A 2007 webcam capture showing late September snow in Tioga Pass. Captured by outdoorPDK.

Highway 120 through Tioga Pass has closed due to inclement weather. Highway 108 through Sonora Pass has also closed due. No scheduled time for reopening has been posted. The road could be closed until after this storm passes Wednesday or Thursday.

Visitors wishing to go bypass 108 and 120 can take Highway 88, Highway 50 and I-80 over the Sierra which are currently still open.

Yosemite Creek Campground Bridge Rebuilt – Offers More Campsites

Posted on by lbschutte

In January 1997, Yosemite experienced a major flood, which severely impacted the entire park washing out the road and destroying many of the campgrounds in Yosemite Valley. It also demolished the bridge that connected the two camping sections of the Yosemite Creek Campground, resulting in the closure of the back section. Now, after 13 years, the National Park Service has rebuilt the bridge and opened up the back section to camping once again offering visitors an additional camping sites to choose from.

If you’re interested in camping at Yosemite Creek Campground, it’s a first-come, first-served campground located off the Tioga Road (Highway 120) about one hour north of Yosemite Valley. The campground is very rustic with no access for trailers or RV’s (perfect if you’re looking to escape the noise of generators running all the time) with only creek water that must be boiled before drinking.

Each campsite contains a fire ring, picnic table, and food locker. Cost is $10 per night.

For more information visit http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/ycreekcamp.htm.

Road Repairs Causing Delays in Yosemite

Posted on by lbschutte

Long Lines by Donna S

Long lines of cars wait in Yosemite. Photo by Donna S.

While there’s funding the National Park Service is busy with a number of road repair projects within the park. Unfortunately for visitors this can mean a hinderance with long stops in construction zones, snarled bumper-to-bumper traffic and an lost opportunities for sight seeing and recreation.

Current construction areas within the park are:

Wawona Tunnel
Minimal delays. Ventilation and fire suppression system maintenance. Ongoing.

Wawona Road (Highway 41 from Yosemite Valley to South Entrance)
30 minute delays. Construction taking place during day and night hours. Road repaving, curb replacement, drainage replacement, shoulder work. No stopping in construction zone. Expected completion: November 2010

Tioga Road
10 minute delays. Culvert work, shoulder grading. Expected completion: July 18, 2010

Big Oak Flat Road
Intermittent one lane traffic with brief delays. Tree removal, hazard cleanup. Ongoing

Tioga Road Opening – Sorta

Posted on by lbschutte

The Tioga Road will be open to visitors up to all vehicles to Yosemite Creek and bicycles up to the May Lake junction. From there it’s closed except to administrative personnel.

This is a good sign. It means in all likely-hood the road will open completely to visitors before Memorial Day. Hooray! Nice job guys (and gals).