Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board SR 108 and Tioga Pass

It appears as if State Route 108 is now open through Sonora Pass. The latest plowing report from Yosemite is that Tioga Road (Route 120) has been plowed all the way to Tioga Pass, but there is still no estimated date for the road to open. The average snow depth (up around 10,000 feet) was 6 feet.

Tioga Road opened this morning. SR 120 is now open on both sides of Yosemite.

Does anyone know a way to come through Yosemite on Hwy 120 enroute to the Sierra without having to pay the National Park Service fee of about $25?

I have driven in and out of the park without seeing anyone at the entry/exit gates. If you go through later in the evening or early in the AM, it is free.

There used to be a deal where if you drove from entrance to exit in less than a certain number of hours there was no charge. If you were late you paid at the exit. I don't know if that's still there. I just use an annual pass that covers all the parks and the Southern California forests.

Yeah if you arrive after they stop manning the gate for the evening you do not pay on the way in, however they check for your receipt on the way out and you pay then. I guess if you timed it right on the way out you could get away with it. I have a pass, but personally don't mind giving money to the park since most of it goes to support the park directly (or at least that is what I'm led to believe).

Thanks for the hints.
If I end up having to pay, I will easily justify the expense as support of a wonderful National Park!
On the other hand, with gas price killing my budget, I would welcome a quick traverse of the park at no cost. I promise I won't stop and look around.

Highway 120 is still open, though there is a chance of snow this weekend.

They closed both Sonora and Tioga again today.

I do not see any closures in the current road reports for SR 108 and SR 120, so I assume that both passes are now open.

WOOHOO!!!

With the wet weather we experienced this holiday weekend (5/24 to 5/26) I would not be too complacent while driving just because a sign indicated that a road was "open." For example, Sunday (5/25) night I was heading up the 395 and noted that the 120 and 108 were both closed. However 89 was open, and I headed west on it. Just after negotiating Monitor Pass (8314') the road conditions suddenly became exceedingly dangerous due to snow accumulation and freezing temperatures. After a prompt U turn, I was soon back heading north on the 395. It took a little longer to get home, but I crossed the Sierras safey over Daggett Pass (7334' on the 207) and Echo Pass (7337' on the 50).

As Peter Croft warns in "The Good, the Great, and the Awesome":
Climbing mountains is a dangerous activity. In fact, it can be almost as dangerous as driving to them!"

Drive safely out there and hope to see everyone out on the Mountain this summer, Jim

PS-On the mountain roads, fortune does not always side with those who dare.

I came out of the pass May 23rd and it was snowing heavy, here is a picture.



There was someone who drove off the road which stopped traffic for about 30 minutes. I took it slow and was fine though.