Tioga Road Scenic Drive

Tioga Road is the park's great scenic drive, and in a good summer it is the best single day of driving in the Sierra. The National Park Service describes it as a 47-mile route between Crane Flat and Tioga Pass, which usually opens in late May or June and closes in October or November depending on conditions. The road climbs gradually from forested ridges to open granite country and reaches 9,945 feet at the pass. Stops along the way include Siesta Lake, about 13 miles east of Crane Flat, the White Wolf area with its campground, lodge and trails, the Yosemite Creek picnic area, Olmsted Point, with views of Half Dome and Tenaya Lake, Tenaya Lake itself, Soda Spring near Parsons Lodge and finally Tuolumne Meadows, with its visitor and wilderness centres, lodge, store, post office and campground. Olmsted Point sits at about 8,400 feet and is an easy roadside stop, where glacial erratics rest on polished granite with a view down Tenaya Canyon to the back of Half Dome. Tenaya Lake, a large alpine lake with sandy beaches, makes a natural picnic stop. Services are limited, with no gas in Tuolumne Meadows and little food or water in the first month after the road opens or from September until it closes, so start with a full tank and a packed lunch. Because the road can close at any time with a snowstorm, check the park's conditions page before leaving, and note that the pass also marks the eastern entrance toward Lee Vining and Mono Lake.

Why it is worth driving. Few roads in the country go from big conifer forest to alpine tundra in a single morning. Every pull-out offers a different landscape, from reflective lakes to granite domes smoothed by ancient glaciers. It is also a good way to see parts of the park that most visitors miss, and at the eastern end you descend steeply to the Mono Basin, a sharp change of scenery.

Doing it well. Treat it as a day, not an hour. Start early to find parking at popular stops, and leave time for short walks. Drive carefully on the winding road, using lower gears on descents, and watch for cyclists and wildlife. If you are coming from the valley, add time for the climb. Carry layers, water, sunscreen and snacks, and take care at altitude, where headaches can develop quickly.

Who it suits. Self-drivers, photographers and families who want a high-country day without long hikes. Combine it with a stroll at Tuolumne Meadows, a short walk to Lembert Dome or Soda Springs and lunch in Lee Vining before a visit to Mono Lake.