The eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park will be reopened in time for Memorial Day, officials announced this week.
Tioga Road is a popular and scenic section of Highway 120 and has been closed since November due to ice and snow. The National Park Service says it will resume to all traffic at 8am Monday.
Roads are usually closed from November to late May or early June each year due to winter conditions, but all other park entrances remain open all year round. The 45-mile road closure extends from Tuolum Grove to the Tioga Pass Entrance Station, east of the Crane Flat.
Preparing roads for reopening is a key initiative that includes ploughing multiple avalanche zones, cutting down fallen trees and rocks, and preparing important facilities for visitors, according to the Park Service.
Park Data Data shows that the reopening this year on May 26th will be about two weeks before last year, and about a month earlier than last year.
Additionally, Park Services will not provide early access to Tioga Road for cyclists this year, as they have been in years. Some cyclists were upset by the announcement.
“It’s ridiculous that we haven’t given cyclists two days on the road system without a car this year,” he wrote to the Yosemite Forum, adding that they are planning to write letters to Park Services and their local representatives.
“A cyclists only day should be a praised and encouraged tradition, not an afterthought in favor of the driver,” writes another.
However, staff are supporting us for the busy season. According to Park Services, visitors who plan to enter Yosemite between 6am and 2pm on this holiday weekend will need to make a reservation and be prepared for an extended wait. You may need to book anytime between June 15th and August 15th, or on the Working weekend.
Drivers using Tioga Road should plan limited services along the road, bring in the right level of food and water, and use food lockers if they are away from the vehicle, Park Services said.
Yosemite could face a staffing shortage this year due to cuts at the National Park Service and other federal agencies, according to Yosemite Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to park conservation.
“The National Park Service (NPS) could face a shortage of staff at Yosemite National Park this summer,” the group wrote on its website. “Last year, the NPS was already operating with a staffing deficit of 30%. That means other cuts and restrictions on staffing and funding will deepen that deficit.”
Park officials urged visitors to be patient and polite to staff working at the entrance station and throughout the park, saying “they are here to ensure a safe and welcoming experience for everyone.”
“We are thrilled to welcome everyone over Memorial Day weekend to honor the memories of the country’s fallen service members,” read the statement from Yosemite acting director Raymakpaden. “The park team has worked very hard to safely reopen every area of the park. We wish visitors a safe and enjoyable weekend.”
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