Hello, Spring! Eastern Sierra Mountain Roads Are Reopening

Earlier this week, it was Glacier Point Road in Yosemite. Now comes news of several more road reopenings after a less than spectacular snow year in the Sierra Nevada.

Caltrans yesterday reopened its portion of Tioga Pass Road, the only way to drive into Yosemite National Park from California's east side. Park crews are currently working on their side of the road, and when completed, the state's most beautiful Trans-Sierra road will be back in business.

The other two Trans-Sierra passes that typically close in the winter are also now open: Monitor Pass (89) and Sonora (108), the latter which reopened today at noon.

Also opened this week by Caltrans is the 270 to Bodie State Historic Park and the 168 to Lake Sabrina.

As for locally maintained roads, they are definitely opening up. With the April 26 fishing season opener, the reopenings are a boon to local tourism.

Mono County has reopened Lundy Canyon, Rock Creek, and Virginia Lakes roads (but the lakes are still frozen).

Down in Inyo County, all main Sierra Nevada roads have reopened, except Horseshoe Meadow outside Lone Pine. Whitney Portal, Onion Valley, Glacier Lodge, South Lake, and North Lake are all open.

White Mountain Road, maintained by the Forest Service, is open to Sierra View, two miles short of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest parking lot.

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