Yosemite Advise Please
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 8,196
Likes: 2,432
From: San Francisco
Me, from Lee Vining I would go north on 395, west on 108, north on 49, east on 88 and then I would probably be tired so I would scoot over to 395 back to Reno. You may be younger, stronger and crazier. You can go wrong any way you choose.
I've been to Yosemite more times then I can possibly count. In the 1980's, I use to backpack the high country and spent a lot of nights in the Valley. Yes, it is beautiful. But you can "do" it in one day. What that would mean is getting up early, riding to Glacier Point, riding around the Valley, and then riding through the high country on 120. You'll get to a place where every corner will show spectacular views and then you'll get to Olmstead Point, a scenic overlook. Stop here, take in the view. And then get back on the bike and pass Tenaya Lake, Toulumne Meadows (the largest sub alpine meadow in the world), finally up to Tioga Pass. Right at the pass it isn't much of a sight, just the park gate. But a few miles later you start to see the eastern side of the Sierra and Mono Lake in the distance. Eat a nice dinner and get up early and do your ride back to Reno.
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 499
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
It would be a nice, long but extremely enjoyable day. The length and the beauty of it would make it all worth it. Once you go over Carson Pass on 88, you have several choices to get back to Reno. You'll probably want to just scoot over to 395, but going around Tahoe on either side is an option.
Me, from Lee Vining I would go north on 395, west on 108, north on 49, east on 88 and then I would probably be tired so I would scoot over to 395 back to Reno. You may be younger, stronger and crazier. You can go wrong any way you choose.
I've been to Yosemite more times then I can possibly count. In the 1980's, I use to backpack the high country and spent a lot of nights in the Valley. Yes, it is beautiful. But you can "do" it in one day. What that would mean is getting up early, riding to Glacier Point, riding around the Valley, and then riding through the high country on 120. You'll get to a place where every corner will show spectacular views and then you'll get to Olmstead Point, a scenic overlook. Stop here, take in the view. And then get back on the bike and pass Tenaya Lake, Toulumne Meadows (the largest sub alpine meadow in the world), finally up to Tioga Pass. Right at the pass it isn't much of a sight, just the park gate. But a few miles later you start to see the eastern side of the Sierra and Mono Lake in the distance. Eat a nice dinner and get up early and do your ride back to Reno.
Me, from Lee Vining I would go north on 395, west on 108, north on 49, east on 88 and then I would probably be tired so I would scoot over to 395 back to Reno. You may be younger, stronger and crazier. You can go wrong any way you choose.
I've been to Yosemite more times then I can possibly count. In the 1980's, I use to backpack the high country and spent a lot of nights in the Valley. Yes, it is beautiful. But you can "do" it in one day. What that would mean is getting up early, riding to Glacier Point, riding around the Valley, and then riding through the high country on 120. You'll get to a place where every corner will show spectacular views and then you'll get to Olmstead Point, a scenic overlook. Stop here, take in the view. And then get back on the bike and pass Tenaya Lake, Toulumne Meadows (the largest sub alpine meadow in the world), finally up to Tioga Pass. Right at the pass it isn't much of a sight, just the park gate. But a few miles later you start to see the eastern side of the Sierra and Mono Lake in the distance. Eat a nice dinner and get up early and do your ride back to Reno.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 8,196
Likes: 2,432
From: San Francisco
If you do spend a night in Jackson, consider going around Lake Tahoe in case you have not already circled it on both sides. From Jackson to Reno is not really a long ride.
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 499
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
Will do. Thanks!
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
You guys and gals are going to think that I am full of it, but here is my Yosemite story. First time I went across Tioga Pass was in a new 1963 Ford Galaxie 500. The road was two very narrow lanes at best with snow stacked up on the sides of the road where possible. Many of the turns were one lane with a pullout. Very scary for us and this was in mid June. We were leaving the park and the brakes on the car really hot. Drove into Lee Vining and my Dad pulled over to smoke and drink coffee for a long time. The waitress told him that she didn't know that Tioga Pass was open. Two other great memories were the waterfalls were in full display and something that they have discontinued. I swear that during the day, the park service would burn a bunch of wood down to coals during the afternoon and then at dark, push the hot coals off of one of the cliffs. Beautiful fire fall was the result. This was in June/1963. Now Tioga Pass is a four lane highway. Yosemite and Yellowstone are the best.
And here is proof:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Firefall
And here is proof:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Firefall
Last edited by jmorganroadglide; Mar 15, 2015 at 08:57 PM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 499
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
You guys and gals are going to think that I am full of it, but here is my Yosemite story. First time I went across Tioga Pass was in a new 1963 Ford Galaxie 500. The road was two very narrow lanes at best with snow stacked up on the sides of the road where possible. Many of the turns were one lane with a pullout. Very scary for us and this was in mid June. We were leaving the park and the brakes on the car really hot. Drove into Lee Vining and my Dad pulled over to smoke and drink coffee for a long time. The waitress told him that she didn't know that Tioga Pass was open. Two other great memories were the waterfalls were in full display and something that they have discontinued. I swear that during the day, the park service would burn a bunch of wood down to coals during the afternoon and then at dark, push the hot coals off of one of the cliffs. Beautiful fire fall was the result. This was in June/1963. Now Tioga Pass is a four lane highway. Yosemite and Yellowstone are the best.
And here is proof:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Firefall
And here is proof:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Firefall
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 615
From: San Antonio, Texas
You guys and gals are going to think that I am full of it, but here is my Yosemite story. First time I went across Tioga Pass was in a new 1963 Ford Galaxie 500. The road was two very narrow lanes at best with snow stacked up on the sides of the road where possible. Many of the turns were one lane with a pullout. Very scary for us and this was in mid June. We were leaving the park and the brakes on the car really hot. Drove into Lee Vining and my Dad pulled over to smoke and drink coffee for a long time. The waitress told him that she didn't know that Tioga Pass was open. Two other great memories were the waterfalls were in full display and something that they have discontinued. I swear that during the day, the park service would burn a bunch of wood down to coals during the afternoon and then at dark, push the hot coals off of one of the cliffs. Beautiful fire fall was the result. This was in June/1963. Now Tioga Pass is a four lane highway. Yosemite and Yellowstone are the best.
And here is proof:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Firefall
And here is proof:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Firefall
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 8,196
Likes: 2,432
From: San Francisco
Well, not quite a four lane highway but much improved over the old road. It was re-engineered and rebuilt in the late 1970's, early 1980's. It was a primitive road in places before that. Between Groveland and the park there are still sections of the old road and signs to the old road. But even here it's been improved.
All the roads over the Sierra are modern. The eastern side of Route 4 still follows the old road, so it is twisty with lots of hairpin turns. But it has been rebuilt and is a modern road with a nice shoulder in most of the places, so it's an ok ride. Just a bit on the slow side.
All the roads over the Sierra are modern. The eastern side of Route 4 still follows the old road, so it is twisty with lots of hairpin turns. But it has been rebuilt and is a modern road with a nice shoulder in most of the places, so it's an ok ride. Just a bit on the slow side.