Study: Yosemite 5th Most Beautiful National Park

Above, morning cloud cover settles into Yosemite Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A study has concluded that Yosemite National Park in California's Sierra Nevada is the fifth most beautiful national park.

According to Sierra News Online:

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–A new study has crowned Yosemite National Park the 5th most beautiful national park in the United States. The study by the travel experts at Bounce analyzed US national parks on their social media posts, Google searches and customer review data to reveal the USA’s most beautiful national parks.

The team at Bounce has looked at the number of Instagram posts, TikTok views, online reviews, and Google searches to reveal the prettiest parks around the world for 2023.

To read more and to see what other national parks made the list, go here. 

Tioga Pass Still Closed

Above, The Beast on Tioga Pass Road last July. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A friend, who was on his way home to the San Joaquin Valley in California, mentioned that he was going to drive through Yosemite National Park from Highway 395 on the Tioga Pass Road.

I mentioned to him that Tioga Pass is still closed due to heavy snow. He indicated that he heard the road was open. A lot of other people thought they heard the same.

I checked and confirmed to him that it was still closed.

According to Sierra News Online:

YOSEMITE — There has been a lot of confusion of late over whether or not Tioga Pass is open in Yosemite National Park. 

A call to Caltrans confirms that the east side of the pass, up to the park entrance, is indeed plowed and open to traffic. 

However, an announcement by Caltrans on Monday, June 19, may have been misunderstood and led people to believe that the road into the park is open. 

State Route 120, also known as Tioga Pass, was opened at the winter closure gate — approximately two miles west of US Highway 395 to the east entrance to the park — at 2 p.m. on Monday.

But, and this is the big "but":

However, Tioga Road at the entrance gate to Yosemite National Park remains closed. Park road crews continue to clear snow and make road repairs.

To read more, go here. 

Yosemite Snowpack Water Content Far Above Average

Above, a view of Half Dome and the snowpack of a year ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like California's drought is over, at least it is for this year.

The snowpack at Yosemite National Park is way above average, which is what we need for ample drinking water for the rest of the year and then some.

According to Sierra News Online:

YOSEMITE — After years of drought, the central Sierra has experienced much welcome precipitation, and reports from the higher elevations of Yosemite National Park are encouraging. 

Park staff have completed the April 1 snow surveys, and report that the water content of the snowpack in the Tuolumne drainage is 177 percent of average. In the Merced drainage it is 168 percent of average. 

The snowpack is heavily weighted toward the higher elevations. Below 7,500′ the snow is deep but not exceptional, with 143 percent of average across the park. Above 8,500′ the water content of the snowpack is the highest on record. The snow on the high elevation courses is 10-14 feet deep and contains 5-7 feet of water.

As I write this, a storm is expected to hit the Los Angeles area in a few hours. It has been dry for the past several days and my allergies have been acting up. Having some rain to wet down pollen and dust will be a relief.

Above, Tenaya Creek in Yosemite Valley last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.