Yosemite National Park's Popular Roads to Open Friday

San Francisco Chronicle - May 15 and 19, 2002

Two of the most popular routes in Yosemite National Park will open this month a little earlier than usual after being closed for the relatively mild winter, park officials said Wednesday.

Glacier Point Road will open Friday, May 17, and Tioga Road will open next Wednesday, May 22, officials said. No drinking water will be available at Glacier Point until water and wastewater systems go on line, probably in a week or so. The Glacier Point Gift Shop is expected to open Monday.

While Glacier Point Road will be open, there is no date set for the opening of Bridalveil Creek campground along the road. Various campgrounds along Tioga Road also will remain closed until the snow melts, which could be as late as July, said Raye Santos, a Yosemite spokeswoman.

Tioga Pass is the highest pass in the park at 10,000 feet. The scenic road traverses Tuolumne Meadows and allows park visitors to cross the Sierra Nevada and view sub-alpine meadows and a winding river. No gas or food will be available between Crane Flat and the Tioga Pass Resort, 3 miles east of the pass, until the store and gas station open in Tuolumne Meadows on Friday. Even then, only bottled water and portable toilets will be available until water and sewer facilities come on line in a week or two.

No camping or overnight accommodations will be available between Crane Flat and Tioga Pass. No opening dates have been set for campgrounds at Crane Flat, Tuolumne Meadows, White Wolf, Porcupine Creek, Tamarack Flat or Yosemite Creek.

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge is expected to open June 14 and the White Wolf Lodge opens June 21.