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Early season Access to Yosemite’s Eastside
Yosemite National Park – Monday May 4, 2015 , will mark the opening of Tioga Pass, HWY 120 & the east side gates at Yosemite National Park this year. Access to Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, The Cathedral Peak Range and more, is an early season gift because of the light snowpack form this winter on HWY .
Sierra Rec was in Yosemite Valley for a hike to Nevada Fall & Vernal Falls on The Mist Trail two weeks ago and we can tell the weather falls in Yosemite are great this time of year. Access to the park from teh East side saves you an easy hour each way by traveling through the east gates on hwy 120 if traveling from Reno or the Lake Tahoe Basin, that is if you don’t stop and take pictures or hike along the way.
Course, may who enter through the east side of Yosemite each year understand that you have no need to travel all the way to Yosemite Valley to see the awesome beauty of Yosemite National Park. The Eastside of Yosemite is less traveled but provides spectacular lake access at Tenaya Lake, great hikes for all skill levels to backcountry waterfalls and lakes, Access to the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail, photo opportunities of Half Dome at Olmsted point & arguably one of the best place to watch Sunrise and Sunset in Yosemite National Park on top of Lembert Dome or hanging out in Tuolumne Meadows. Of course this early in the season there is still snow on most of teh trails and in the meadow area so exploring without the proper equipment and planning can be challenging and dangerous.
Snow and icy conditions may still exist on hiking trails at the higher elevations. Visitors are urged to be prepared for snowy conditions and possible treacherous stream crossings while hiking the backcountry in the early season. Vault toilets are available in several locations along the road. Limited visitor services will be available over the next several weeks. Additionally, late spring storms may change the status of the road and cause temporary closures. For updated, 24-hour road conditions, please call 209-372-0200.
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.
Visitors are urged to drive with caution while on the Tioga Road, as there will be rehabilitation work occurring on portions of the roadway. Visitors will experience portions of the road that are unpaved and should be aware that delays are in place. For more information about the construction work and traffic delays on the Tioga Road, please visit: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/roadwork.htm.
Sierra REC Magazine is dedicated to sharing the events, news and adventure opportunities that exist in The Sierra Mountains. From Lassen Volcanic National Park to the North down through the Central Sierra and the Lake Tahoe Basin through the rugged eastern slopes of the Mono county and Yosemite National park to the southern tips near Sequoia National Park and the PCT trail. We invite you to share stories, trips and photos from your adventures in the Sierra. Please join us on Facebook, Twitter Google + and You-Tube or email us your events and photos at sierrarecinfo@gmail.com #goexplore
