Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Lower Tioga gate opening Wednesday, April 15

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

At yesterday’s Local Transportation Commission meeting in Mammoth Lakes, the local Caltrans district supervisor gave the word: the lower gate on the Tioga Road (Highway 120 west) will be opened tomorrow, April 15.

The lower gate on Highway 120 west, Tioga Pass, will be opened tomorrow, April 15. Photo by Bartshe Miller.
The lower gate on Highway 120 west, Tioga Pass, will be opened tomorrow, April 15. Photo by Bartshe Miller.

When the lower gate is open, folks can access the area near the east entrance to Yosemite National Park, including Ellery Lake and Tioga Lake, plus backcountry skiing in the high country.

The campgrounds in the Tioga Pass area are not yet open, and neither are Saddlebag Lake Resort and Tioga Pass Resort. Visitors should use caution in the spring conditions—do not walk out on frozen lakes.