State Route 120 reaches the highest elevation of any highway in the Pacific Coast States at Tioga Pass, where the Eastern Gate to Yosemite National Park lies at 9,941 feet above sea level. This crossing of the Sierra Divide is one of the most spectacular highways you will ever drive.

Closed in Winter, there is a yearly effort to remove the snow and provide a passable roadway by Memorial Day weekend in the latter part of May. However, if there is a sizeable snowpack from the previous winter, the Tioga Pass road may not open until sometime in June, or even the first week on July! The road traverses steep and potentially dangerous, avalanche prone terrain from Olmstead Point within the Park, to Blue Slide on the southern rim of Lee Vining Canyon in the east. Once open, Tioga Pass provides a major link between the Eastern Sierra and the large cities of Central California. Tourists from throughout the world discover the Eastern Sierra Region by traveling eastward from Yosemite into the Mono Basin.

The nearest communities to the eastern gateway of Yosemite National Park are Lee Vining, and the June Lake Loop. At roadside, near the summit of Tioga Pass itself, are Ellery and Tioga Lakes, with public campgrounds, and the privately operated Tioga Pass Resort, offering a store and restaurant. A graded gravel road leads to the larger Saddlebag Lake, and trailheads connect you to a backcountry wonderland in the shadows of mountains such as Mt. Dana, Mt. Gibbs and Mt. Conness. Each of these peaks is well over 12,000 feet above sea level. Lower, on the floor of Lee Vining Canyon, there are several more campgrounds along Lee Vining Creek.

Because of the great number of people who visit Yosemite, and the impact that they cause not only on the fragile ecosystems but upon the quality of your mountain experience, the Eastern Sierra can be a great alternative for your camping, hiking, fishing, photography, or whatever you desire on your vacation. The Park and its famous Valley can easily be visited during a day's drive from nearby Eastern Sierra locations. Visit the official Yosemite website at http://www.yosemite.com for complete information on the Yosemite experience.