Winter Road Closures

 

Tioga Road

Tioga Road closes due to snow, usually from sometime in November through late May or early June. The road closure extends from the Tuolumne Grove, just east of Crane Flat, to Tioga Pass Entrance Station. (Highway 120, the continuation of the Tioga Road outside the park, is often closed in winter from Tioga Pass to five miles west of Lee Vining.)

When the Tioga Road is closed, it is not possible to drive to Tuolumne Meadows or enter Yosemite National Park from the east. All other park entrances, including those along Highway 120 from the west, Hetch Hetchy, Highway 140, and Highway 41, remain open all year.

Additional information:

• Tioga Road opening and closing dates since 1980
• Tioga Road plowing update (begins April 15)
• Driving directions
• Current status of all park roads
• Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing near Crane Flat

 

Driving Directions When Tioga Road is Closed

Tioga Road (Highway 120 through the park, from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass) is usually closed from November through late May or early June. (View a list of opening and closing dates.)

When Tioga Road is closed, alternate routes are available to get to various destinations.

• Lee Vining/Mono Lake, Mammoth Lakes
  Distance: 390 miles/624 km, 410 miles/656 km
  Time: 8 hours
  Travel north on US 395 to Minden; take Highway 757 west to Highway 206 south to Highway 207 north to US 50 west to Highway 49 south to Highway 120 east to Yosemite. National Park
• Death Valley
  Distance: 450 mi/720 km
  Time: 9 hours
  Take Highway 190 west to US 395; take US 395 south to its junction with Highway 14. Take Highway 14 south to Mojave. In Mojave, take Highway 58 to Bakersfield. From Bakersfield, head north on Highway 99 to Fresno. In Fresno, take Highway 41 north into Yosemite National Park.
• Las Vegas
  Distance: 495 mi/797 km
  Time: 8-10 hours
  Take I-15 south to Barstow; Highway 58 west to Bakersfield; take Highway 99 north to Fresno. In Fresno, take Highway 41 north into Yosemite National Park.
• Lake Tahoe and Reno
  Distance: 315 mi/507 km (Reno)
  Time: 8 hours
  Take I-80 or I-50 west to Sacramento; take Highway 99 south to Highway 120 east (Manteca) or Highway 140 east (Merced) into Yosemite National Park.

Additional information:

• California highway map (simple)
• More driving directions
• More mileages and driving times from Yosemite Valley to various points in California and Nevada

 

Glacier Point Road

Glacier Point Road closes due to snow, usually from sometime in November through late May or early June. From approximately mid-December through March, the first five miles of this road are open to the Badger Pass Ski Area. The first five miles of this road close near the end of March or very early April. It is not possible to drive to Glacier Point when the Glacier Point Road is closed.

Additional information:

• Glacier Point Road plowing update (begins April 15)
• Glacier Point Road opening dates since 1980
• Current status of all park roads
• Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing along and near the Glacier Point Road

Mariposa Grove Road

Mariposa Grove Road and associated shuttle system close for the season on or about November 30 and reopen no earlier than April 15 (but usually not until sometime in April). The Washburn Trail is always open to hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing, and is the most direct route to Mariposa Grove in winter. The trail is two miles (3.2 km) each way with 500 feet (150 m) of elevation change. The trail may be snowy and/or icy during winter. While all trails within the grove are always open, some trails within Mariposa Grove are marked for winter use (by reflectors on trees).

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All other park roads, including Wawona Road (Highway 41), El Portal Road (Highway 140), Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 from the west), and Hetch Hetchy Road are open all year. However, tire chains may be required late fall through early spring.

Check on current road conditions and chain restrictions by calling 209/372-0200 (press 1 then 1).

 

View a simple California highway map