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Tuolumne Meadows (Yosemite)

Posted on October 14, 2008 by: Traveler

Best Time To Visit: Memorial Day to October 31st
Closest City: Lee Vining
State: 7
Country: 209

DIRECTIONS: From California 395 near the city of Lee Vining, take Highway 120 (Tioga Road) up to Tioga Pass (9,945 ft.) and into Yosemite National Park. At first you will pass through the Dana Meadows with Mount Dana's 13,057 ft. (second highest in the park after Mount Lyell's 13,114 ft summit) commanding the skyline. Dana Meadows will be mostly to the left side of the road. Continuing toward the Tulomne area, you will pass a couple smaller unnamed meadows. Tioga Road will then start to parallel the Dana Fork Tuolumne River which will be on the left. You're getting close at this point because soon the Dana Fork Tuolumne, Lyell Fork Tuolumne and lesser watersheds like Rafferty Creek will merge to form the main branch of the Tuolumne River. The Tuolumne River is one of the centerpieces of Tuolumne Meadows. After it's lazy meander through the meadow, the Tuolumne River continues winding through the park, down the Sierra Nevada Mountains and all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Numerous options are available to park at the Tuolumne Meadows such as the large lot at the Tuolumne Ranger Station, the stables road just past Lembert Dome, the store center (with gift shop and restaurant), the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center or just about anywhere along the road where space is available and signs don't say otherwise. Backcountry permits can obtained at the Ranger / Wilderness Station (some trailheads are on a first-come basis. The point of departure and ending destination seem to play the biggest factors in limiting trail use.

From Yosemite Valley, connect to Highway 120 (right fork at the intersection) at the western side of the valley. NOTE: If driving up Highway 140 from the city of Merced (southwest entrance), at the junction with Highway 120 you would be making a left turn at the fork. Highway 120 splits at Crane Flat (this is the closest gas station to Yosemite Valley). Take the left fork of Highway 120 (west) at the Crane Flat gas station and you will be continuing along the Big Oak Flat Road traveling toward the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Take the right fork of Highway 120 (east) at the Crane Flat gas station and you will be at the western end of the Tioga Road heading (east) toward the meadows. Stop at your fancy at any point of interest along the Tioga Road. After passing Tenaya Lake, the road starts a final rise. Standing as sentinels at (my unofficial) entrance to the western edge of Tuolumne Meadows are Pothole Dome on the north side and Fairview Dome on the south side of the road.

From the Big Oak Flat Entrance of Highway 120 into Yosemite, continue all the way east to Tuolumne Meadows. At the Crane Flat gas station, Highway 120 is now called the Tioga Road.

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