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.

Tioga Pass is open!

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.

After almost the shortest winter closure in history, Tioga Pass (Highway 120) opened through Yosemite National Park at noon. The road closed for the winter on January 17, 2012 just before the first substantial snowstorms finally arrived. After such a dry winter summertime will come quickly to Yosemite’s high country. As you drive through, make sure to watch for wildlife and visitors near the road. Enjoy your trip to Yosemite!

3 Comments

  1. It is the earliest opening since 1977! It opened three times in April in the 1970s, all prior to April 15th when the Park Service now begins plowing.

  2. I was surprised when it was opened up to the gate for opening day of fishing season! Never happened in the 12 years I’ve been going. My sons got to try fishing through the ice for the first time.

  3. The Pass has opened in April only 4 times since 1933 but one should note how snow removable equipment has improved in recent years and the east side was a bit hairier to open before the road was rebuilt in 1965. At Tuolumne Meadows the maximum May snow depth was 6″ in 2008 and 2004 and only 1″ depth in 2007. Snow cover at Tuolumne for the season ended on April 23rd but in 2007 the snow disappeared April 9th and in 1994 and 1992 was gone on April 21st. The snowfall season so far is at 198.5″ but in 2006-07 totaled 172.5″ and 1991-92 a whopping 162.3″ fell. This season will rank the 8th least in the last 32 years.