Tioga Road repons

Yosemite National Park Reopens Roads  Tioga, Glacier Point, and Mariposa Grove Roads Reopen After Early Season

                                 Snowfall

After a temporary closure, the Tioga Road in Yosemite National park reopened to the public at noon today, Wednesday, November 16, 2011.  The Tioga Road, the popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada in the northern portion of the park, has been temporarily closed since November 3,

2011 due to an early season snowstorm that dropped almost a foot of snow in the higher elevations.

The Glacier Point Road also reopened to the public.  However, due to continued icy conditions on the roadway, approximately the last two miles of the road, from the Sentinel Dome parking area to Glacier Point, will remain closed.  If conditions improve, all of the Glacier Point Road will be reopened.

Additionally, the Mariposa Grove Road leading to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is open and clear.

All roads within the Yosemite National Park are subject to chain control or temporary closures due to hazardous driving conditions.  Tire chains may be required at any time during the fall and winter season.  It is strongly recommended that all motorists carry tire chains while driving in the park during the fall and winter months.

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

                                   -NPS-

Tioga Road to reopen : Yosemite Press Release

               Tioga Road to Open in Yosemite National Park

     Visitors urged to take safety precautions while traveling on road

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.

                                   -NPS-

www.YosemiteThisYear.com
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A fun fact

As many of you may know, this year's winter was quite prolific, dropping more snow than the region had seen in some time. The positives of this was a declaration of the end of the drought that has been on the minds of many people in California for years.

It's also been delaying the opening of several roads in Yosemite. We did some research, and in years where the snow pack has been 156% or greater, Tioga Road has no opened until late June. The latest opening of Tioga Pass we could find was July 1 1983, when the snow pack hit exactly 156%.

Last year we had a 107% snowpack, and a June 5 opening. But, we also hate late snow that fell the last week of May. With snow possible this weekend, it will be interesting to see how this progresses.