Best guess for Tioga Pass opening?

All discussion related to transportation to, from and within the Sierra Nevada. Need directions or flight information? Info on road conditions? A ride to the trail head? Can you offer a ride, or do you run a transportation business or shuttle service for the Sierra Nevada? Come on in and post the details!
User avatar
el marinero
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:31 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Alameda

Re: Best guess for Tioga Pass opening?

Post by el marinero »

Dang! There goes my shot at getting some artwork.

Interesting about the possibility of only opening the road for limited hours.
User avatar
markskor
Founding Member - RIP
Posts: 2442
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 5:41 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Crowley Lake and Tuolumne Meadows

Re: Best guess for Tioga Pass opening?

Post by markskor »

Tioga Road to open 6/21/19

Yosemite National Park announces there will be limited access to Tioga Road (Highway 120 East) for visitors interested in crossing the Sierra. Tioga Road will be open to all vehicles, including bicycles, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am and from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. No parking will be allowed on Tioga Road and day use recreation is not permitted. There is no visitor parking available at either end of the road closure.

There are no visitor services available along Tioga Road. The Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, Wilderness Center, and the Tuolumne Meadows Campground remain closed. Opening dates for the 2019 season have not been determined. Restroom facilities will be available 5 miles east of Crane Flat Junction and at Tioga Pass.

Visitors are encouraged to plan their trips over Tioga Road in advance and to prepare for the restricted access and no access to visitor services. The road will remain closed outside of these times to allow for continued roadwork and snow clearing.
Mountainman who swims with trout
User avatar
markskor
Founding Member - RIP
Posts: 2442
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 5:41 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Crowley Lake and Tuolumne Meadows

Re: Best guess for Tioga Pass opening?

Post by markskor »

We have a weiner! OldRanger guessed June 21, first.

If they do open it up on the 21st as promised...(even if only for a few hours) - he gets the prize.
Mike, PM me your address please.
Anything from my recent sketchbook strike a fancy? If not, I'll just send you something nice, or pick it up in Tuolumne.
mark
Mountainman who swims with trout
User avatar
rlown
Topix Docent
Posts: 8225
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:00 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Wilton, CA

Re: Best guess for Tioga Pass opening?

Post by rlown »

markskor wrote: Wed Jun 19, 2019 4:08 pm Tioga Road to open 6/21/19

A bit confused. Are you saying they might open it tomorrow?
User avatar
Mike M.
Topix Expert
Posts: 647
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 10:50 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Portland, Oregon

Re: Best guess for Tioga Pass opening?

Post by Mike M. »

From a park service news release today:
News Release
Yosemite National Park Announces Limited Access on Tioga Road Beginning on Friday, June 21, 2019

Subscribe RSS Icon | What is RSS
Date: June 19, 2019

Tioga Road to open limited hours for access to cross the Sierra

Yosemite National Park announces there will be limited access to Tioga Road (Highway 120 East) for visitors interested in crossing the Sierra. Tioga Road will be open to all vehicles, including bicycles, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am and from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. No parking will be allowed on Tioga Road and day use recreation is not permitted. There is no visitor parking available at either end of the road closure.

There are no visitor services available along Tioga Road. The Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, Wilderness Center, and the Tuolumne Meadows Campground remain closed. Opening dates for the 2019 season have not been determined. Restroom facilities will be available 5 miles east of Crane Flat Junction and at Tioga Pass.

Visitors are encouraged to plan their trips over Tioga Road in advance and to prepare for the restricted access and no access to visitor services. The road will remain closed outside of these times to allow for continued roadwork and snow clearing.

Cyclists traveling over Tioga Road will need to be prepared to cross over the full length of Tioga Road during daylight hours. Tioga Road is closed to overnight camping.

Backpackers planning trips in the High Sierra will be able to be dropped off and picked up at trailheads along Tioga Road. All backpackers will need to pick up their wilderness permits in advance and have a bear canister in hand. It is strongly recommended for all backpackers to be aware of the timing that the road is open and closed and to plan their trip logistics accordingly. Any backpacker who misses the road open period will need to be prepared to spend an additional night in the wilderness. All wilderness regulations will remain in effect.

Yosemite National Park is open year-round. All motorists should drive with caution and be aware of possible hazards in the roadway, including rocks, debris, and water. Tioga Road may be impacted by incoming storm activity, including snow and icy driving conditions, over the next several weeks. Tioga Road may temporarily close due to weather and unsafe driving conditions at any time. Tioga Road is a seasonal road through Yosemite National Park, typically open from late spring to early fall.

For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200.



Last updated: June 19, 2019
Mike M.
User avatar
markskor
Founding Member - RIP
Posts: 2442
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 5:41 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Crowley Lake and Tuolumne Meadows

Re: Best guess for Tioga Pass opening?

Post by markskor »

FAQs for Restricted Tioga Road Access
Tioga Road, Yosemite National Park Announces Limited Access Beginning on Friday, June 21, 2019
Q: What if I don’t make it across the corridor during the travel windows?
A: Law Enforcement cars will be sweeping the road at the end of each travel window and locking the gates behind the last car. Any violators will be ticketed.

Q: Do I have to be at the gate in line at 10:00 and/or 3:00 sharp to get through?
A: You will be able to enter the road corridor for pass through travel between 10:00am and 11:00am and 3:00 and 4:00pm, from 5 miles east of Crane Flat and at Tioga Pass. There will be no stopping and no parking allowed anywhere. This includes turnouts, parking lots, side roads and trailheads.

Q: How early should I get in line to be ready to get through the gate?
A: There is no need to line up before the opening times of 10:00am and 3:00pm. There will be administrative traffic with trucks and equipment in the opposite lane. Please do not line up early, or obstruct traffic.

Q: Where and when do I line up for the thru-traffic driving access?
A: On the west side (inside the park), you will wait at Walker Party Gate which is 1 mile from
Tamarack Flat turn off. From the East Side, you will wait at the park entrance at Tioga Pass

Q: Can I day hike on the road corridor?
A: No. This limited access is exclusively for thru traffic from 10-11am and 3 -4pm and dropping off of backpackers. There are no services along Tioga Rd and minimal staff

Q: What services are available right now?
A: There are no services available along Tioga Road during this limited access period.

Q: Will the YARTS and Hiker’s Bus be running?
A: No. The YARTS bus will not start running until the Tioga Road is open without restrictions and the Hiker’s Bus will not begin running until the Tuolumne Lodge is open for the season.

Q: Can I drive my vehicle and park at the trailhead if I have a wilderness permit?
A: No. There is no overnight parking allowed on the Tioga Road between Walker Party Gate andTioga Pass including turnouts, parking lots and side roads.

Q: Can I park at either end of the closure and hitchhike to my trailhead from there?
A: Due to needed staging areas for this thru access period, there is no parking available at either end of the closure. Plan to park in trailhead and wilderness lots along Big Oak Flat Rd, Yosemite Valley and Wawona. It is highly recommended that drop off and pick up logistics be planned before arriving in the park.

Q: With the Tuolumne Wilderness Center closed how do I pick up my wilderness permit if
I am coming from the Eastside?
A: Wilderness permit reservation holders were directed to pick up their permits and bear canisters from Big Oak Flat, Yosemite Valley or Wawona. If this is absolutely not an option, they can rent a bear canister from The Mono Basin Visitor Center and there are a very limited number of self-registration permits available at Tioga Pass when staff is present.

Q: What happens if I finish my backpacking trip after the last limited access vehicle run for the day?
A: You can either spend the night in the Wilderness, camping at least 4 miles from Tuolumne Meadows or choose to hike out of the Tioga Rd corridor.

Q: Can I hike up to Tioga Road from the Valley (or elsewhere) and catch a ride down?
A: While you are free to hike where you choose, coordinating a ride will be essential before you start your trip. Tioga Road remains essentially closed except for two windows each day.

Q: What are the trail conditions for backpacking off the Tioga Road?
A: Conditions are challenging. Over 90% snow cover remains above 8500 feet. Any trip of off Tioga road requires strong navigation skills, expectation of snow travel and high creek crossings.
Mountainman who swims with trout
User avatar
rightstar76
Topix Expert
Posts: 776
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:22 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Best guess for Tioga Pass opening?

Post by rightstar76 »

Mark, thanks for putting together the faq. It definitely helps. :)

Do you or anyone here on HST know if there has ever been a partial opening like this before? (not to be confused with the re-openings that take place some years after early fall snow storms)
User avatar
markskor
Founding Member - RIP
Posts: 2442
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 5:41 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Crowley Lake and Tuolumne Meadows

Re: Best guess for Tioga Pass opening?

Post by markskor »

Good news, just now from Yosemite.
"The plan is to open the store and grill to the public on 7/12 and Tuolumne Lodge (partially) on 7/19. I anticipate your start date to be Monday 7/8."
So, soon enough, back to the Tuolumne Store...stop in and say hi!
mark
tm store.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Mountainman who swims with trout
User avatar
robow8
Topix Regular
Posts: 343
Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2013 5:17 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Best guess for Tioga Pass opening?

Post by robow8 »

markskor wrote: Fri Jun 21, 2019 10:18 pm Good news, just now from Yosemite.
"The plan is to open the store and grill to the public on 7/12 and Tuolumne Lodge (partially) on 7/19. I anticipate your start date to be Monday 7/8."
So, soon back to the Tuolumne Store...stop in and say hi!
mark
tm store.jpg
We plan on being up there on July 20 for a bit, before we head back down to Mammoth for our hike starting on the 22nd. See you then!
User avatar
markskor
Founding Member - RIP
Posts: 2442
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 5:41 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Crowley Lake and Tuolumne Meadows

Re: Best guess for Tioga Pass opening?

Post by markskor »

Tioga Road (continuation of Highway 120 through the park) will open to unrestricted vehicular traffic on Monday, July 1, at 8:00 am!
Drive cautiously, watching for water, debris, and wildlife along the road. Call 209/372-0200 (then 1,1) to check current road conditions.

Visitor Services such as general park information and restrooms will be available beginning Monday. Other visitor services, such as campgrounds, lodging, and the store and grill, are currently unavailable and will be opened incrementally throughout the month of July.

Many of the hiking trails at higher elevations remain wet and/or snowy: please remain on trails, even if they have standing water, in order to avoid creating new trails.
Mountainman who swims with trout
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests