Crossing Tioga Pass in November?

Hi, great forum!

I am planning a similar trip, SF-Napa-Yosemite-Death Valley-Vegas-San Diego.

The only problem is, we are doing this trip in November! I can see that being able to cross Tioga pass is crucial to this trip, we will be hoping to complete this leg on November 15th, what do you think the chances are of being able to cross the pass on this date?

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

"Chance" is exactly the right term to use here, as at this point one can only guess. The majority of guesses thus far would indicate that your planned crossing of Tioga Pass in the middle of November is precarious at best.

AZBuck

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Originally Posted by BritBronco

I am planning a similar trip, SF-Napa-Yosemite-Death Valley-Vegas-San Diego.The only problem is, we are doing this trip in November! I can see that being able to cross Tioga pass is crucial to this trip

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I can just about guarantee that Tioga Pass will be closed that late in the year (it had better be or the drought will have become untenable...) However, you can still do your trip -- you can cross the Sierra Nevada mountains using several of the passes to the north of Tioga or go around the southern end. Not a problem at all.

Mark

Thanks for that info. If the pass is shut what would say is the quickest route to Death Valley?
I looks to me like we would have to exit the Park to the West, go back up the 120 and then take the 108 to the North of the park accross to the 395.

The Fastest Route from Yosemite to Death Valley when Tioga Pass is closed is to exit the park to the South, take CA-99 to Bakersfield, and then Take CA-58 over the Mountains and then go back North towards DV once you get to Mojave.

The links found here should help answer most of your questions about this very popular trip.

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Originally Posted by BritBronco

Thanks for that info. If the pass is shut what would say is the quickest route to Death Valley?
I looks to me like we would have to exit the Park to the West, go back up the 120 and then take the 108 to the North of the park accross to the 395.

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The two roads to the north of Yosemite (108 & 4) are also closed in the winter (snowmobiling!), so as another poster said, the quickest is to head south.

We were thinking of doing the same trip right at the end of October --I assume the pass will also be closed then?

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Originally Posted by celtic1888

We were thinking of doing the same trip right at the end of October --I assume the pass will also be closed then?

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Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum -- most of us think it will close this year in late November. Click here and look at our predictions.

Mark

Not wishing to tempt fate, but it looks like the pass will still be open for us, I hope!
We fly out to SF tomorrow...

Check this out:

Mono Basin Research: Data about opening and closing dates last few years

Dept of Transportation for California.This one can be real handy too. Updated hourly.

RTA's Prediction about this year's closing day.

Current web cam at the park entrance -- look at the snow! (actually when this link was made -- huge storm on the way....)