- Are you planning a trip to Yosemite National Park?
And are you a little nervous about taking Tioga Pass?
Well, we recently took our RV through the pass,
so we thought we would share some tips
that we learned along the way.
Tioga Pass is a 56 mile long section
of California Highway 120.
If you are going eastbound,
it will begin just inside Yosemite
at Crane Flat and end at Lee Vining.
Many sources say to allow two hours
for the drive, or longer,
depending on Yosemite's crowds.
The elevation climbs to 9,943 feet
and there will be grades up to 8%.
The steepest portion of the road is an eight mile section
with an elevation change of about 2,500 feet
on the Lee Vining side of Yosemite.
We drive a Tipon 35 foot diesel motor home
with a Cummins 360 horse power engine.
Our RV didn't have trouble with the Tioga Pass,
although they were a few very unnerving curves
that were a little close to the drop-off for me.
Yosemite National Park has several recommendations
for anyone attempting to cross Tioga Pass.
Do not go over the towing capacity of your vehicle.
Although you might've been okay so far
overloading your tow vehicle,
you do not want to try it on the pass
with high elevation and steep grades.
Know your driving skills and what you're capable of doing.
This is not the road you want to drive your RV
for the first time on, or tow for the first time.
Many vehicles towing trailers do just fine on Tioga Pass,
however, you may not be able to keep up with other traffic.
And if you try, your vehicle may overheat.
So don't try to drive at the same speed as other cars
that aren't towing.
Take your time and play it safe.
There are many pull-outs along the pass.
Use them often to let other cars pass you by.
If you do break down,
be aware that you might be waiting several hours for help.
Most of the pass does not have cell phone signal.
So in that area,
you'll be waiting for someone to pass you by
to flag down if you break down.
So have a plan just in case.
Tioga Pass closes each year before the first snowfall,
because the pass is not plowed,
and is usually closed around October through May.
The biggest question of the year in Yosemite
is always when will the pass open?
The opening date is different each year
because it depends on how much snow has fallen
the previous winter.
Check the link in the description
for Yosemite's plowing updates,
which will let you know when Tioga pass will open.
Tioga Pass offers breathtaking views
of Yosemite's valleys, lakes, and mountains.
There's so much you can see and do
as you travel Tioga Pass.
In the spring and summer,
you can see the beautiful wild flowers
blooming in the meadows.
Stop for a dip, go fishing,
or soak up the sun at Tenaya Lake, Dog Lake, or May Lake.
Be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife.
You can see everything from otter to deer in this area.
It also boasts of exceptional hiking trails,
which are favorites with backpackers.
(calm upbeat music)
♪ It's been as long a winter ♪
♪ As I have ever seen ♪
♪ Kinda makes the floor descend like a long lost dream ♪
♪ But today in New York city ♪
♪ There is something in the air ♪
♪ I'm from on the long black jackets ♪
♪ Colors blooming every everywhere ♪
♪ For the first time in a long time ♪
♪ I feel something warm and dry ♪
♪ It's a new day, it's a new life, feel the wind change ♪
♪ Feel the sun light ♪
♪ And tomorrow is brighter than it's ever been before ♪
♪ Winter came and now it's blown away ♪
♪ It's a new day ♪
♪ It felt electric, to feel something again ♪
♪ Too far from the cold, it felt so permanent ♪
♪ Suddenly, I remember the way things used to be ♪
♪ Life's pushing through the ice and shoots neon green ♪
♪ For the first time, in a long time ♪
♪ I feel something warm and bright ♪
♪ It's a new day ♪
♪ It's a new life ♪
♪ Feel the wind change, feel the sun light ♪
♪ And tomorrow is brighter than it's ever been before ♪
♪ Winter came and now it's gone away ♪
♪ It's a new day ♪
♪ World's alive ♪
♪ And I remember now ♪
♪ All the color I forgot about ♪
♪ Sky blue as far as I can see and not a worry to be found ♪
♪ Yeah, I remember now ♪
♪ It's a new day, it's a new life ♪
♪ Feel the wind change ♪
♪ Feel the sun light ♪
♪ And tomorrow is brighter than it's ever been before ♪
♪ Winter came and now it's gone away ♪
♪ It's a new day ♪
♪ It's a new life ♪
♪ Feel the wind change ♪
♪ Feel the sun light ♪
♪ And tomorrow is brighter than it's ever been before ♪
♪ Winter came and now it's gone away ♪
♪ It's a new day, yeah ♪
♪ It's a new life ♪
♪ Feel the wind change ♪
♪ Feel the sun light ♪
(upbeat music)
♪ I can't sleep at night ♪
♪ I got so much left to say, what's on my mind ♪
♪ I got places I should be ♪
♪ Is anybody listening ♪
♪ Tell the world I'm breaking free ♪
♪ Here I come I'm on my way ♪
♪ I've been spinning in a circle ♪
♪ Just been out of my head ♪
♪ Yeah, I'm living like I wanna ♪
♪ Living like I wanna ♪
♪ And I do it 'cause I can ♪
(vocalizing)
♪ Yeah, I do it 'cause I can ♪
(vocalizing)
♪ Here I go again, I'm losing all control ♪
♪ I break my neck, the ice is paper thin ♪
♪ I'm busting out my skin, if I play it's 'cause I win ♪
♪ Here I come, I'm on my way ♪
♪ I've been spinning in a circle ♪
♪ You're jumping out of my head ♪
♪ Yeah, I'm living like I wanna ♪
♪ Living like I wanna ♪
♪ And I do it 'cause I can ♪
(vocalizing)
♪ Yeah, I do it 'cause I can ♪
(vocalizing)
♪ I've been spinning in a circle ♪
♪ You're jumping out of my head ♪
♪ Yeah, I'm living like I wanna ♪
♪ Living like I wanna and I do it 'cause I can ♪
(vocalizing)
♪ Yeah I do it 'cause I can ♪
(vocalizing)
♪ Yeah I do it 'cause I can ♪
(vocalizing)
♪ Yeah, I do it 'cause I can ♪
(vocalizing)
(calm upbeat music)
♪ I'm feeling like a humming bird ♪
♪ And spring's in bloom ♪
♪ Spring's in bloom ♪
♪ Brand new, colors like I haven't seen ♪
♪ Because I'm with you ♪
♪ I'm with you ♪
♪ Whoa, right now, whoa, I'm feeling something ♪
♪ Right now, it's never felt quite like this ♪
♪ The rush, the rise, the climb ♪
♪ Oh right now I feel alive ♪
♪ 'Cause every moment here is a gift ♪
♪ It's never felt quite like this, whoa, whoa ♪
♪ It's never felt quite like this ♪
♪ Feels like I'm dancing in poetry ♪
♪ When shades are blue, shades are blue ♪
♪ No words, words can ever quite explain ♪
♪ What emotions do ♪
♪ Like the feelings do ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa, right now ♪
♪ Feeling something, right now ♪
♪ It's never felt quite like this ♪
♪ The rush, the rise, the climb ♪
♪ Oh right now, I feel alive ♪
♪ 'Cause every moment here is a gift ♪
♪ It's never felt quite like this ♪
♪ It's never ♪
♪ It's never felt quite like this ♪
♪ The rush, the rise, the climb ♪
♪ Oh right now I feel alive ♪
♪ 'Cause every moment here is a gift ♪
♪ It's never felt quite like this ♪
♪ It's never, it's never felt quite like this ♪
(chill music)
♪ Jenny had the doors off ♪
♪ The radio loud ♪
♪ The night was too cold for t-shirts ♪
♪ Too late now ♪
♪ It's nothing like freedom, 16 years old ♪
♪ Driving till the sky starts turning gold ♪
♪ I sang to myself, just because I liked the sound ♪
♪ And there were no crowds ♪
♪ So why do I need one now ♪
♪ Do I need one now ♪
♪ I wanna run through a field ♪
♪ Just to feel the wind in my hair ♪
♪ I wanna drive through the night ♪
♪ 'Cause I feel like going somewhere ♪
♪ I don't need a reason, I don't need permission ♪
♪ 'Cause I don't care ♪
♪ So if you wanna take a ride ♪
♪ Take my hand and I'll take you there ♪
♪ Sneakin' on the beaches ♪
♪ Fires at night ♪
♪ Really too cold to swim ♪
♪ But I guess we had to try ♪
♪ Should've brought a blanket ♪
♪ But your arms are enough ♪
♪ Waking up for work's looking pretty tough ♪
♪ Laughing because I had nothing figured out ♪
♪ And there was no plans, so why do I need one now ♪
♪ Do I need one now ♪
♪ I wanna run through a field ♪
♪ Just to feel the wind in my hair ♪
♪ I wanna drive through the night ♪
♪ 'Cause I feel like going somewhere ♪
♪ I don't need a reason, I don't need permission ♪
♪ 'Cause I don't care ♪
♪ So if you wanna take a ride ♪
♪ Take my hand and I'll take you there ♪
♪ I sang to myself just because I liked the sound ♪
♪ There were no crowds ♪
♪ So why do I need one now ♪
♪ I don't need one now ♪
♪ I wanna run through a field ♪
♪ Just to feel the wind in my hair ♪
♪ I wanna drive through the night ♪
♪ 'Cause I feel like going somewhere ♪
♪ I don't need a reason, I don't need permission ♪
♪ 'Cause I don't care ♪
♪ So if you wanna take a ride, take my hand ♪
♪ And I'll take you there ♪