Tioga Pass in Yosemite NP is usually closed in early October due to snow. I went day hiking in Yosemite Valley (12/16/2011) and found that the pass was still open! We drove over the pass on the way back to Los Angeles and found that Tenaya Lake has frozen over (the entire lake). There were kids playing hockey and a lot of people just sliding around on the surface. I am sure that it freezes over every year but the lake is pretty much inaccessible during the winter. Also, the ice was extremely clear and about 6-8 inches thick with air bubble frozen in flight. For most of you this may be common but to a California Native it is pretty cool.

my favorite alpine lake!

I skied across Tenaya Lake one time. With each stride, in my head I could hear the theme song to the movie "Jaws."

--B.G.--

Thanks for the first hand report. I've been eying the closure report at the NPS website. I'm hoping it stays clear until after Xmas weekend.

Ice Skating on Tenaya Lake, Yosemite, 12/17/11 youtube

Fantastic!

link to youtube video

Tuolumne River Ice Skate
www.youtube.com

I get to drive through the park a few times a month for work. It's tough gig : )

Here are a few pictures for those who might not get to see it.

Edited by monstertruck on 01/09/2012 20:39:24 MST.

Very Nice Ryan!!

Weird with no snow

Yeah. It's a strange winter. The pass was closed at one point in November and then reopened. The people I have asked say that is pretty much unheard of. You could definitely still backpack if you didn't mind the cold nights. There is no overnight parking on Glacier Point Road or Tioga Pass. The same day I took these pictures I had to go out to Bridgeport so I drove over Sonora Pass as well.

"There is no overnight parking on Glacier Point Road or Tioga Pass."

Is the Tioga Pass parking restriction only within the national park, or does it extend way down the hill to the gate miles outside of the park in Lee Vining Canyon?

I've never seen Tioga Pass open this late in the season for all of the years that I've lived in California.

--B.G.--

I'm not sure where the restriction ends. The restriction starts near Crane Flat. I'm not sure where you could park out of sight between the YNP Entrance Kiosk and the gate at the bottom of the hill.

Ryan

Crane Flat is on the west side. I meant the east side in Lee Vining Canyon. Sometimes the side roads (e.g. Saddlebag) are gated and sometimes not. The main gate on the Tioga Road is near the bottom near the campgrounds. On some years, we have left our cars where the main restriction is and then hiked or skied up the hill to Tioga Pass or wherever. On one year, we were able to drive all the way to the Tioga Pass entrance before we had to turn around. I would be neat to find out where the restriction is on the east side without driving all the way over there.

--B.G.--

The gate to Saddlebag was closed when I was there Dec. 24/25th. All of the campgrounds are also closed on the east side of the pass.