10/3/2023 0 Comments Tioga road opening![]() This will be a bucket-list hike in late May and through June for sure. This does mean that prior to the road opening, should you be interested in hiking up to Glacier Point via either the 4-mile Trail or Panorama Trail you will be awarded with those magnificent views w/o the typical large crowds at Glacier Point. Yosemite has now released more information stating that once the Glacier Point road is finally cleared from snow, that construction work still needs to occur and that they do not anticipate opening the road to traffic until at least July. However, the one variable in 2023 other than the weather that may play a significant issue on the opening date would be the Glacier Point Road Project, the road rehabilitation project which closed the road entirely in 2022 and which is supposed to be ongoing with delays throughout 2023. Such was the case in 20 when we had 178% snowpack, and Glacier Point opened on May 27th and May 11th, respectively. This road typically opens well before Tioga Rd does and prior to Memorial Day weekend. Glacier Point is one of the most visited tourist locations within Yosemite National Park due to its panoramic high sierra viewpoint that can be driven to. View of snowy Half Dome from Glacier Point Glacier Point – 7214 feet in elevation However use may be decreased when backpackers realize they need to ford a “river” to get to the campsite area. Pending nothing significant, expect daily swelling around the rivers/streams regularly every afternoon/evening in late May-early July, especially on those hot days with increased snowmelt. This flooding and/or daily swelling of the rivers/streams in the Yosemite Valley will also decrease the amount of usable campsites in the Yosemite Valley Backpackers Campground (which is already impacted due to the Tuolumne Meadows Campground closure). If severe they will be forced to close the eastern section of the Yosemite valley only. ![]() Note: The way this spring plays out, there will be many opportunities for Yosemite Valley to flood. One of our favorites includes Yosemite’s North Rim on our Yosemite Icons trip and the Southern Rim of the Valley via the Pohono Trail by Tunnel View. Some backpacking trails also originate in the Valley, allowing you to reach some outstanding overnight locations between 6000-7500′ where snow should be present but lessened by later May and throughout June. We don’t expect the famous Half Dome in a Day hike to be open with cables in place until after the first or second week of June. The latter is usually available, at-least to some extent, year-round due to its southern exposure. There are many day hikes around the Valley, some that originate from the Valley floor and rise rapidly, such as the very popular Mist Trail/Nevada Fall Loop or the Yosemite Falls hike. This season’s waterfalls will be insane, and visitation will be very high to witness them firsthand between April-June. The Valley is the most popular and visited area of Yosemite. The iconic and scenic Yosemite Valley is open year-round unless forced to close by weather or other naturally occurring events. Yosemite Falls in Yosemite Valley Yosemite Valley – 4,000 feet in elevation We will consider the current snowpack levels, historical information such as Yosemite’s Historical Seasonal Opening & Closing Dates, and our personal experiences over the past 28 years. In this post, we will give our best predictions for the 2023 Yosemite summer season, focusing on the key areas of the park. ![]() ![]() This record-setting winter will set the stage for late seasonal openings this summer and the potential for some extreme conditions, such as snow and river crossings, especially in the backcountry. Much more is yet to come, including the potential for spectacular waterfalls and massive flooding. Simply put, we are about to reach record snowpack levels and are not nearly through our Miracle March or our April Showers. The current snowpack in the central Sierra is over 230% of normal and steadily increasing. Sentinel Dome and Taft Point from Glacier Point.Glacier Point Down the Panorama and Mist Trails.Cathedral Lakes to Clouds Rest & Half Dome (5 Days).
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