Route through Yosemite National Park is the highest paved through road in the California State Route system that leads to Tuolumne Meadows, at 8,600 feet, is a popular area that offers scenic views, and hiking opportunities
How to Get There
From Yosemite Valley El Portal Entrance (19 mi): Drive along El Portal Rd and Big Oak Flat Rd. Drive to Tiogo Rd
Overview
Tioga Road (State Route 120) is Yosemite’s high country scenic drive, crossing the park from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass at 9,945 feet, the highest paved through road in California, and continuing to Lee Vining and Mono Lake. Its 47 miles inside the park pass forests, meadows, lakes, granite domes and Tuolumne Meadows, with many turnouts and trailheads. The road is normally open from Memorial Day weekend to about November, and is closed by snow in winter.
Beyond the park, SR 120 runs west to Interstate 5 through Oakdale and the Sierra foothills, and east past Mono Lake’s South Tufa and Mono Mills.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles "California State Route 120" and "Tioga Pass" and "Tioga Pass Entrance Station" and "Tuolumne Meadows", which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
Featured Locations and Trails
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Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Cathedral Lakes
Two lakes situated 1.6 km southwest of Cathedral Peak and 3.2 km east-northeast of Tenaya Lake
Dick Witt, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Dog Lake
Trail rises steeply for a spectacular view of Tuolumne Meadows and surrounding peaks
Antandrus (talk · contribs), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Gaylor Lakes
Hike offering some of the most spectacular high-country views off of Tioga Road
Angela Sevin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Glen Aulin
Trail follows the Tuolumne River as it drops to Glen Aulin
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Lembert Dome
Granite dome rock formation soaring 800 feet (240 m) above Tuolumne Meadows and the Tuolumne River
Kaitymh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Lyell Canyon
Sub-alpine meadow south of Tuolumne Meadows
Kaitymh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
May Lake
Alpine lake nestled beneath granite cliffs and surrounded by conifer forest, accessible via a short uphill trail from a remote trailhead.
Marty B, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Mono Pass
Historic, trans-Sierra trail climbs gently through wet meadows and rushing creeks
Jeffrey Pang, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Cropped and Image Size Adjusted
Mount Dana
Second highest mountain in Yosemite and the highest peak that is a simple hike to the summit
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ogwen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
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Olmsted Point
Scenic overlook offering panoramic views of granite peaks, glacial boulders, and alpine lakes from a high-elevation roadside pullout.
Romain Guy from San Francisco, USA, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Tenaya Lake
Alpine lake in park, located between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows
Gowittylb, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Tuolumne Meadows
Gentle, dome-studded, sub-alpine meadow area along the Tuolumne River in the eastern section of park
Gowittylb, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Young Lakes
Remote alpine basin featuring three glacial lakes surrounded by granite peaks and meadows, accessible via a multi-day backcountry hike.