Tioga Road's Highlights in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park - Day 2
Driving the Scenic Tioga Road
We refueled before driving the scenic Tioga Road through Yosemite National Park to Oakhurst, CA. Signs had warned us that no gas stations were available along the 46-mile route. On the park’s east side, we saw a few damaged buildings with collapsed roofs, remnants of the record-high snowfall in 2023. This snowfall is why the road opened late, on July 22 of that year. Thankfully, despite the significant damage it caused, the road was thoroughly repaired by the time we drove through, resulting in a smooth journey.
Taking Turns
We usually prefer to continue driving when Hemmes travels with us to a new location. As Yosemite National Park is roughly 1,200 square miles, revisiting it from our Oakhurst, CA base would be impractical. So, we decided to take turns visiting highlights, with Hemmes waiting comfortably in the car with one of us.
Admiring Yosemite's Treasures
Our first stop was Lembert Dome, a popular climbers’ destination carved by glaciers in the beautiful Tuolumne Meadows area. Then we stopped at Tenaya Lake, known for its crystal-clear water caused by its high elevation (8,150 feet) and the fact that it’s fed by snowmelt. We saw climbers climbing the giant rock on the other side of the road. Rock climbing is not for the faint of heart; those folks are daredevils! At Olmsted Point, we got a stunning view of Half Dome, the iconic granite peak for which Yosemite Park is known. We could see hikers walking its challenging cable route from this viewpoint! I admired their courage; however, I was perfectly content enjoying the view without holding on to a cable. At the last viewpoint, we learned a surprising truth about Half Dome: it isn’t half a dome. Despite its name, 80% of the formation remains.