A main road through Yosemite National Park has closed

Tioga Road, the continuation of Highway 120 through Yosemite National Park, will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday because a late-season storm is expected to bring snowfall. The closure is temporary, but the National Park Service did not provide a reopening date. Most snowfall is forecast for the central and southern Sierra from Tuesday through Thursday. Tioga Road is typically passable for about 47 miles from late May or June through November, and is otherwise impassible due to snow. The road opened for the season on May 14 for bikes and May 15 for all traffic, with opening dates varying by weather. Tioga Road helps distribute visitors during peak periods and reduce congestion in Yosemite Valley, especially after the park ended its reservation system.

"A key route through Yosemite National Park will close on Tuesday evening because of a late-season storm that's expected to bring snowfall into the region. Tioga Road, a continuation of Highway 120 through the park, will be closed as of 5 p.m., according to the National Park Service. The iconic road is one of the highest mountain passes in the state and provides access to the eastern side of Yosemite for thousands of travelers each summer, according to the Mono County website."

"The closure is temporary, but the Park Service did not say when the road would reopen. According to the National Weather Service, most of the snowfall will be in the central and southern Sierra from Tuesday through Thursday. The 47-mile road is typically open to vehicles from late May or June to November, and is otherwise impassible due to snow, according to the Park Service."

"The late storm comes as Tioga Road just opened for the season on May 14 to bikes, and on May 15 to all traffic. The opening date varies each year though, depending on weather conditions. For example, in 2023, Tioga Road didn't open until July 22, breaking its previous record from 1917."

"During peak visitation periods, Tioga Road helps spread visitors around the park, easing congestion in Yosemite Valley, and that's especially important now that the park has done away with its reservation system."

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