Long drive to Yosemite from Reno!

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Was headed south on US395, for Yosemite via the Tioga Pass.
South of Gardenersville a flashing sign read "Tioga Pass closed".

I decided to forego Yosemite and head for Vegas. When we stopped at the CA inspection station, I mentioned my decision and was informed that 3 miles ahead, we could turn onto 89, take that to 88 and follow that to Jackson, then go south to Yosemite.

What amazing scenic mountain passes that route has.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Pictures, I want pictures!! shaggy

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Was headed south on US395, for Yosemite via the Tioga Pass.
South of Gardenersville a flashing sign read "Tioga Pass closed".

I decided to forego Yosemite and head for Vegas. When we stopped at the CA inspection station, I mentioned my decision and was informed that 3 miles ahead, we could turn onto 89, take that to 88 and follow that to Jackson, then go south to Yosemite.

What amazing scenic mountain passes that route has.

Yes, US395 is a scenic drive but you don't want to miss Yosemite! It's my favorite park but I haven't seen too many yet. I only hope that the waterfall is full as that is spectacular. We have seen it in the spring and and also in the winter.

To give you a glimpse, look at these pictures and the panoramic pictures too.

California has a lot of scenery to offer.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Was headed south on US395, for Yosemite via the Tioga Pass.
South of Gardenersville a flashing sign read "Tioga Pass closed".

I decided to forego Yosemite and head for Vegas. When we stopped at the CA inspection station, I mentioned my decision and was informed that 3 miles ahead, we could turn onto 89, take that to 88 and follow that to Jackson, then go south to Yosemite.

What amazing scenic mountain passes that route has.

I have been on all those routes and they are indeed very scenic. I love the drive down Hwy 49 ( Gold Rush Trail ) from Placerville down through Jackson to Yosemite. It is too bad that Tioga Pass was closed as it is very scenic.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Here's a few from California route 88.

Pictures, I want pictures!! shaggy

Huge Valley, way high-up.


Pretty for May.


Great views for many miles!



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[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Whow zee, I could be happy there. shaggy

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

... I only hope that the waterfall is full as that is spectacular. ...
California has a lot of scenery to offer.

I love all those shots. These are from our 90 mins. in the park. During my 2006 visit, the falls was dry. This time we hit it big.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

I have been on all those routes and they are indeed very scenic. I love the drive down Hwy 49 ( Gold Rush Trail ) from Placerville down through Jackson to Yosemite. It is too bad that Tioga Pass was closed as it is very scenic.

After Crater Lake, we could have dropped from Klamath Falls to Placerville via I-5. However, we wanted to pass through Reno, view Lk Tahoe and Carson City. Also, I had Tioga Pass in mind (as a surprise for Caroll) for getting over to Yosemite.

If I had known we were going to divert (backtrack) up 89, almost to Lk Tahoe, we would have continued on 50 southward around the lake and headed to Jackson (route 88). At the time, with all the climbing, I thought "This is crazy". After the views, I wasn't sorry. We thought we really made out.

With Tioga Pass impassable, we drove from Yosemite to Lone Pine via route 178 out of Bakersfield. Wanted Caroll to cross Death Valley one time while we were out that way.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

After Crater Lake, we could have dropped from Klamath Falls to Placerville via I-5. However, we wanted to pass through Reno, view Lk Tahoe and Carson City. Also, I had Tioga Pass in mind (as a surprise for Caroll) for getting over to Yosemite.

If I had known we were going to divert (backtrack) up 89, almost to Lk Tahoe, we would have continued on 50 southward around the lake and headed to Jackson (route 88). At the time, with all the climbing, I thought "This is crazy". After the views, I wasn't sorry. We thought we really made out.

With Tioga Pass impassable, we drove from Yosemite to Lone Pine via route 178 out of Bakersfield. Wanted Caroll to cross Death Valley one time while we were out that way.

What did you think of Death Valley? We drove through Death Valley last year as part of our circle trip from our home through Las Vegas and Utah. We thought Death Valley was pretty boring and we took the recommended scenic route from Ridgecrest, CA to Las Vegas. It was a waste of time as it was long drive out of our way. I would not recommend going out of your way to see it. Utah was fabulous with the most spectacular scenery we have seen and we have been on a lot of scenic trips.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

As I said, with Tioga Pass impassable, we drove from Yosemite to Lone Pine via route 178 out of Bakersfield. That is a long drive just to be in position to cross Death Valley. I wanted Caroll to see the impossible Sierra Nevadas and I wanted to see Mt Whitney.

When one has only heard of Death Valley, they can look at pictures all they want and still never grasp reality.

To actually travel the mountains either side of this "death trip" and then cross the area... it puts a better light on what happened to travelers before highways were installed.

I wanted Caroll to at least cross Death Valley while we were out that way.
I took her from Beatty to Las Vegas and then up to Zion and Bryce before heading to Tucson. She now may, by using imagination, have a bit of an idea what trudging this land for a day might be like, alone months on end.

Crossing from Lone Pine to Beatty is enough for me. I've done it twice. I would not care to run Penamint Valley also.

I tell people they should do the crossing just so they know instead of never witnessing it for themselves.

There are many drives that I didn't find to be real interesting, however I now have some concept of what those areas look like.
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[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

If you like hiking, there are some very interesting trails at Death Valley. We spent almost a week once and were never bored. I believe that we went late November or early December so it wasn't too warm.

What I never will forget was one night when it was quite dark and we walked over the sand a little ways off the road and how easy you can get lost. They recommended leaving the car lights on and never lose sight of it. If we hadn't done that, we would have been lost for sure. It made you feel like you were in the Sahara. This was long before there were little handheld GPS units. I doubt if you can get lost today unless the GPS stops working.

Robert, how did you like Yosemite?

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

...

Robert, how did you like Yosemite?

Super this time. Sierra’s big snow season makes for big waterfalls. Go see right now while everything is vibrantly lush.