Biking Tioga Road
What's New — By petedevine on May 31, 2010 at 1:56 pmAlmost every spring, before Yosemite’s Tioga Pass Road is opened to cars, the NPS will open at least some of it to bike riders. This weekend cyclists are allowed to ride as far east as Olmsted Point. Snowbanks are up to 7 feet tall, creeks are running full, and there’s no traffic but chickarees and marmots. It is a rare treat to have this busy summer corridor so quiet and wild.
It’s hard to plan for this ride from year to year as the snowpack and plowing process vary so much. Usually (no guarantees) starting in mid-May the rangers will sequentially open sections of the road to bikes: Crane Flat to ‘Walker Party’, then Walker Party to Yosemite Creek, then Yosemite Creek to Olmsted Point, and then all the way through to Tioga Pass. It usually opens from the east side in similar segments. Getting a ride in is a matter of staying in touch with park personnel. This year was commendable for the regular biking updates in the park’s ‘Daily Report’ found at www.nps.gov/yose.
2 Comments
Hi Peter,
I noted “Heaven for Bike Riders” in the Wall Street Journal today and started to google for more info on this annual ride. You’re photo already answered one of my questions (street vs. mountain bike).
My other questions are where do you start the ride from, and what’s the best way to find out when you can ride next spring?
Thank you in advance,
Brad Hontz
Howdy, Brad-
I hope the above addition helps with your questions. This really is the tastiest ride anywhere. It is unfortunate that it’s so unpredictable. The WSJ has it wrong that there’s a week every year when this is available. Sometimes it’s never, sometimes its 4-6 weeks; usually it’s only the weekends, when the road crews aren’t at work. Starting next May, check that Daily Report, then plan a weekend to come up. Drive to Crane Flat; if Tioga isn’t rideable, there are other good road options before summer traffic gets thick (like riding to Hetch Hetchy and back). If the sign says ‘no bikes’ they mean it; do not go where it’s posted as closed. It really could be dangerous and poaching could shut down all cyclists.
-Pete