Industry News
Tioga Road, CA, will re-open to vehicles this Saturday, July 22, 2023, from 8:00 a.m., the latest opening in the road’s history. The crew at Yosemite National Park has been hard at work to get the road through the park open, removing snow, blasting rocks & boulders, removing trees in danger of falling on the road, and clearing residual debris off the road.
There will be sections of Tioga Road that will only be open in one direction due to extensive damage to the road from the snow. Please drive carefully and allow for delays due to traffic lights at damaged locations and longer delays when contractors are making repairs.
Vault and portable toilets will be available. However, there will be no water, no stores or food service, and no fuel. Utility crews discovered a torn line at the sewage ponds, and the wastewater treatment plant cannot operate until this is repaired and the groundwater level lowers.
Please also be aware that Meadows and some trails are flooded and that there is still snow up there in shady areas as low as 8,000 feet, as well as extensive snow coverage above 9,000 feet. Stay on trails to protect growing plants and plan for wet feet. Be mindful that marked trails may be harder to find and follow and always make sure to have GPS, as well as a compass and a map.
Also opening this weekend will be the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center, which will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and a general information desk near the visitor center, which will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Yosemite Campground Information
Yosemite Valley:
Open:Â Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Camp 4
Closed: n/a
Please note that reservations are required at this time; first-come-first-served camping is not available until October.
Outside Yosemite Valley:
Open: Wawona and Hodgdon Meadow
Closed: Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, and Tuolumne Meadows
Please note that reservations are required at this time; first-come-first-served camping is not available until October.Â
There is no estimate when Tamarack Flat or Porcupine Flat Campgrounds will be open. Other campgrounds in Yosemite Park along Tioga Road will not open this year.
Make sure you check the National Park website for regular updates on current conditions before traveling.
The opening of the popular route through Yosemite National Park’s high country had been delayed due to historic snowfall during the winter. According to KQED the latest dates the pass had opened previously were July 19th, 1917, and July 15th in 1916 and 1921.
Yosemite had a record snowpack (over 240% of the average) as of April 1st, 2023. In the previous snowiest years, Tioga Road opened in late June or early July. Tioga Road is typically open to vehicles from late May or June until sometime in November. Plowing usually begins around April 15th. Since 1980, the road has only opened in July twice, on July 1st in 1998 and 2019. The average opening date is May 28th.
Snow and ice buried the road and caused significant damage to sections of the 46-mile route and adjacent facilities. Crews have worked tirelessly to clear the road using plows, bulldozers, and other heavy equipment. Once rock clearing is complete, they will repair and replace damaged guardrails. Avalanche-prone areas have also been cleared, although one section near Olmsted Point will require temporary stoplights due to avalanche damage—additionally, restrooms, staff housing, and other facilities damaged during the winter need assessment and repair.
In the meantime, visitors to Yosemite National Park can access the park through alternative routes, including Highway 120/Big Oak Flat Road, Highway 140, and Highway 41. However, heavy traffic and limited parking space in Yosemite Valley have sometimes caused delays and closures, so visitors are advised to check the park’s Current Conditions page for the latest information.
Tioga & Sonora passes have some of the best backcountry skiing in North America in the springtime.
