Tioga Road
A road that crosses the high country of Yosemite and climbs Tioga Pass at 3,031 m, linking Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows. Mono Lake lies just below on the descent.
Tioga Road is the section of California State Route 120 that crosses the northern high country of Yosemite National Park. It runs east from near Crane Flat, passing White Wolf and Porcupine Flat, to Olmsted Point, where you can see the back of Half Dome and Cloud's Rest in the distance. It continues past Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows and over Tioga Pass (3,031 m), the highest public road pass in California. After leaving the park's east entrance, it drops steeply to the town of Lee Vining and Mono Lake. The route is about 64 miles (103 km) long. Granite domes, high-country lakes and meadows are scattered along it, making it the most rewarding drive outside Yosemite Valley. It is also the fastest route from the west side to US 395 in the Eastern Sierra. Driving straight through takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, but plan for a full day. The road closes every winter, and the opening date depends on snowpack, which can push it as late as July. Tuolumne Meadows has only one small gas station and store. The Mobil station restaurant in Lee Vining is a traditional rest stop. At high elevation the temperatures are low, and thunderstorms are common in the afternoon.