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Just noticed 120 was closed through Yosemite due to snow. That messes up my weekend plans a bit. Does anyone know whether it's closed for the season or just for a few days?

Thanks!

It has been closed for at least a week... I'm guessing it's for good.

The Defiant One wrote:Just noticed 120 was closed through Yosemite due to snow. That messes up my weekend plans a bit. Does anyone know whether it's closed for the season or just for a few days?

Thanks!

Taking 50 to 89/88 to 395 isn't that much longer.

They haven't announced that its the seasonal closure yet, and its supposed to be 50 on Saturday (before a new front rolls in early next week)
Though my guess is that its done for the season.

CalTrans is still plowing up to the east gate:

I just checked this morning - the NPS Yosemite website ("Current conditions") says 120 is "temporarily closed".

If heading to Lee Vining or places south from mid-SF-peninsula, 50-88/89-395 generally takes me 60-90 minutes longer than taking 120-395, though IMO it's a pleasant drive in winter. Not too much traffic once you get off 50, and beautiful scenery.

From Oakland, assuming Monitor Pass is open, it's only about 20 minutes longer on average to drive 50/89/395 than Tioga--less if the Tioga Rd has lots of Yosemite sightseers or you ignore the speed limit on 50--and more of the 50 drive is in the mountains.

My 60+ minutes for 50/88/395 vs 580/120 reflects leaving in the afternoon and hitting Yosemite at night where there is less tourist traffic. Part of the difference may also be that people who live on the Peninsula typically require 30+ minutes just to get to 80 (whereas you can hit 580 quickly by crossing the 92 bridge). If you live near 80 in the East Bay I can imagine the difference between the two routes is smaller.

JHH60 wrote:My 60+ minutes for 50/88/395 vs 580/120 reflects leaving in the afternoon and hitting Yosemite at night where there is less tourist traffic. Part of the difference may also be that people who live on the Peninsula typically require 30+ minutes just to get to 80 (whereas you can hit 580 quickly by crossing the 92 bridge). If you live near 80 in the East Bay I can imagine the difference between the two routes is smaller.

Yes, when I do a Yosemite or east side trip with people from the Peninsula or South Bay we go via 580; for them, 80 is significantly more than 20 minutes slower than 580.

Hello,

Any report on the eastern section of the highway (from Lee Vining to Yosemite park entrance)?

Tony

it is gated and closed if that is what you're asking.

Status as of March 27, 2016

Lee Vining -> gate 4 miles east: Road is clear and open to traffic. Gate is closed cannot drive any further

Gate -> 8,000 feet: Road is snow-free, some rocks appear to be removed on a regular basis

8,000 feet -> Dam of Tioga lake: sometimes deep snow where we sank in if we didn’t wear snowshoes, sometimes no snow at all

Dam of Tioga lake -> Tioga pass: deep snow, snowshoes very useful

Tioga pass -> forest at bottom of hill: snowshoeing