The team at Yosemite National Park has been diligently working to clear any remaining debris from the road, eliminate trees that pose a risk of falling onto the road, use explosives to break up rocks and boulders, as well as remove snow. This Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 8:00 a.M., Tioga Road in CA will reopen to vehicles, marking the earliest reopening in the road’s recorded history.
There will be sections of Tioga Road that will only be open in one direction due to extensive damage to the road. Please allow for longer delays and drive carefully due to traffic lights at the damaged locations while contractors are making repairs.
The water table decreases, and the sewage treatment facility is unable to function until this issue is fixed, and the maintenance personnel found a damaged pipeline at the sewage reservoirs. There will be a scarcity of fuel, no access to stores or food service, and a lack of water. However, vault and portable lavatories will be provided.
It is important to use a compass, map, and GPS to ensure that you can always locate and follow designated paths that might be more challenging to locate. Take care to avoid getting your feet wet and make a conscious effort to stay on the trails in order to protect the vegetation. There is still a significant amount of snow above 9,000 feet and in shaded areas as low as 8,000 feet, as well as flooded meadows and various trails. Additionally, please remain alert and cautious.
The Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center is also set to open this weekend, operating from 8:00 a.M. To 5:00 p.M., In addition to a general information counter located near the visitor center, which will be accessible from 9:00 a.M. To 5:00 p.M.
Yosemite Campground Information
Yosemite Valley:.
Open: Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, and Camp 4.
Closed: n/a.
Please be aware that currently, it is imperative to pre-book as camping on a first-come-first-served basis will not be available until October.
Outside of Yosemite Valley:
Available: Wawona and Hodgdon Meadow.
Temporarily unavailable: Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, and Tuolumne Meadows.
Please be aware that currently, it is imperative to pre-book as camping on a first-come-first-served basis will not be available until October.
Tamarack Flat or Porcupine Flat Campgrounds will remain closed this year in Yosemite Park along Tioga Road until further notice.
Before you travel, be sure to visit the website of the National Park for regular updates on the current conditions.
According to KQED, the opening of the well-known route through Yosemite National Park’s elevated region was postponed due to an unprecedented amount of snowfall in the winter. Historical records indicate that the pass had opened on July 19th, 1917, and on July 15th in 1916 and 1921, which were the latest dates recorded before.
The typical opening date is May 28th. The road has only become accessible in July twice, on July 1st in 1998 and 2019, since 1980. Clearing typically starts around April 15th. Tioga Road is usually available for vehicles from late May or June until sometime in November. In the previous years with the most snowfall, Tioga Road became accessible in late June or early July. Yosemite had an unprecedented amount of snow (over 240% of the average) as of April 1st, 2023.
Evaluation and restoration are necessary for restrooms, employee lodging, and other amenities affected during the winter. Furthermore, temporary traffic signals will be necessary near Olmsted Point as a result of avalanche destruction in one area. The removal of avalanche-prone regions has also been finished. Damaged safety barriers will be fixed and substituted once the removal of rocks is finished. Crews have utilized plows, bulldozers, and other large machinery to diligently clear the road. Snow and ice covering the road have resulted in significant damage to certain sections of the 46-mile route and nearby amenities.
Visitors are advised to check the park’s Current Conditions page for the most up-to-date information, as limited parking space and heavy traffic can sometimes cause closures and delays in Yosemite Valley. However, in the meantime, visitors can access Yosemite National Park through alternative routes, including Highway 120/Big Oak Flat Road, Highway 140, and Big Oak Flat Road.