Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road
National Park Tour: Yosemite National Park
| Departure: | Tioga Pass Ent., California |
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| Destination: | Big Oak Flat Station, California |
| Time to allow: | 2 days |
The Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road National Scenic Byway is nestled within the borders of Yosemite National Forest. Full of scenic, natural and historical treasures, the byway offers numerous opportunities for both learning and recreation.
Travel time along the byway itself is about 90 minutes, however, visitors will want to dedicate an entire day or more to really discover the unique treasures of Yosemite National Park. This tour of Yosemite along the Big Oak Flat and Tioga Roads and Highway 41 (Wawona Road) will take you through the following:
- The nearly 10,000 ft. Tioga Pass from the Inyo National Forest into Yosemite
- The beautiful Tuolumne Meadows
- Views of Tuolumne Peak, Tenaya Lake, and Mt. Hoffmann
- Crane and Big Oak Flat
- The Merced and Tuolumne Sequoia Groves
- Hetch Hetchy Reservoir
- Yosemite Valley (including Bridalveil Falls, Glacier Point, and Half Dome)
- Historic Wawona
- The Tunnel Trees of Mariposa Grove
Day 1
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Start: Tioga Pass Ent.
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Stop 1: Tuolumne Meadows
Directions from previous place: Continue down Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road
Distance from Previous Site: 10 miles / 16.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 20 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Get out here and take advantage of all the the tours and tram rides available. Expect to spend several hours learning and exploring. You might also take advantage of the concessions offered by the Park. There are many sights to see and various activities not mentioned here, but take your time and enjoy this national treasure.
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Stop 2: Tenaya Lake
Directions from previous place: Continue along the Byway.
Distance from Previous Site: 15 miles / 24.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 30 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Surrounded by forest, grassland, and granite cliffs, Tenaya Lake is the perfect spot to stop along the Byway. If it's hot out, brave the alpine waters or just relax on the sandy beach.
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Stop 3: Tuolumne Grove
Distance from Previous Site: 10 miles / 16.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 20 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour The former route of the Big Oak Flat Road leads downhill from Crane Flat into the Tuolumne Grove of Big Trees, a cluster of about 25 sequoias. A self guided nature trail guides visitors.
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Stop 4: El Capitan
Distance from Previous Site: 15 miles / 24.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 30 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes World-famous for rock climbing, BASE jumping, and other frightening activities, El Capitan is the tallest cliff in the valley. Watch the climbers from a distance for a few minutes, or spend a week clinging to the finely textured granite.
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Overnight Point: Yosemite Village
Directions from previous place: Continue along Big Oak Flat Road for a few miles.
Distance from Previous Site: 5 miles / 8.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Yosemite Village is the heart of the National Park. Here you'll find lodges, gift shops, and all kinds of amenities.
Total Distance Traveled in Day 1: 55 miles / 88.0 km
Day 2
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Stop 1: Yosemite Falls
Distance from Previous Site: 15 miles / 24.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 30 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes At 1,430 feet, Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America. Take a short walk to the lower falls or embark on the all-day hike to the upper falls for a rewarding view.
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Stop 2: Half Dome
Directions from previous place: From Yosemite Village, take the shuttle to the trailhead.
Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes One of the most famous sights in the valley, Half Dome's unique shape soars over 1300 feet from the valley floor. Take a couple of days to climb the 8.5 mile trail and cable climb to Half Dome's top or just photograph it from the bottom.
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Stop 3: Merced Grove
Directions from previous place: Park at the trailhead and hike in to Merced Grove.
Distance from Previous Site: 2 miles / 3.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 45 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 20 minutes The Merced Grove is one of three sequoia groves in Yosemite Park. Merced is the only grove in the park that is not accessible by car. A rewarding two-mile hike leads the traveler to the grove of about 20 trees.
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End: Big Oak Flat Station
The Big Oak Flat Information Station offers an immense amount of information about Yosemite National Park. A definite stop for those wanting to learn more about the area.
