Section of U.S. 395 To Shut Down 15 Days In September

Above, The Beast at Manzanar Internment Camp in July 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I drove U.S. 395 in California's eastern Sierra Nevadas was back in 2016. During that trip, I visited the Japanese internment camp Manzanar, stayed in Bishop and Mammoth Lakes and drove into Yosemite National Park on Tioga Road.

Those planning to drive U.S. 395 next month will find a part of it closed.

RV Travel reported:

Planning a trip along California’s eastern Sierra Nevada? Check your calendar and your routing. A beautiful section of U.S. Highway 395 in California will shut down for more than two weeks in an effort to protect wildlife.

California dubs the stretch of U.S. 395 as the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway, and folks traveling it from the south will find it shut down on September 4 for 15 days. If coming from that direction you will need an alternate route to access the communities of Walker and Colville or to fish and camp at Topaz Lake.

Northbound motorists can take Highway 182 from Bridgeport and connect with lonely Nevada Route 338.

To read more, go here. 

8 Best Things To Do In Yosemite

Above, the bottom of Yosemite Falls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I have been to Yosemite National Park, the last time being in 2016. I reserved (early) a campsite in Yosemite Valley at North Pines Campground in April. A few months later, I drove through Yosemite on Tioga Road from U.S. 395 in the Owens Valley to U.S. 99 in the San Joaquin Valley.

Although it rained much of the time I was camping there, I did enjoy the experience.

Lonely Planet has an article on the 8 best things to do in Yosemite National Park. 

They begin it with:

Yosemite National Park is one of those dazzling, large-than-life destinations with a beauty that must be seen firsthand to truly appreciate it.

Renowned landscape photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams did a good job introducing the public to this iconic park in the 1930s, when he began documenting its magic in black and white. Close to 100 years later, Yosemite remains an iconic photographic locale attracting close to five million visitors each year.

In California’s Sierra Mountains, Yosemite is the third-oldest national park in the US, established in 1890 and home to more than 700 miles of hiking trails, numerous waterfalls and captivating granite cliffs and buttresses with names like Half Dome and El Capitan. You’ll also find towering sequoia trees, diverse wildlife, sparkling turquoise and aquamarine lakes, scenic byways and a historic lodge that takes you back about a century in time.

Here are our 8 top picks for the best things to do in Yosemite National Park.

Above, a morning view of Half Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Yosemite's Tioga Pass To Open Friday

Above, the drive along Tioga Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those wanting to enter Yosemite National Park from the Owens Valley on the east, Tioga Pass and Tioga Road will be reopening this coming Friday.

The Union Democrat reported:

The annual spring-summer reopening of Tioga Road — Highway 120 in Yosemite National Park — is planned to occur at 9 a.m. Friday, park authorities announced last week.

Tioga Road and Tioga Pass, the state’s highest paved route over the Central Sierra crest, are closed every winter due to snow. Tioga Pass has been closed since Oct. 21.

Tioga Road provides access for motorists to multiple features in the north half of the park, which lies within Tuolumne County, including the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, Tuolumne Meadows, and Mount Dana. 

Along with the announcement about Tioga Pass, the article also mentions that reservations to enter Yosemite are required, so visitors should read up first before going.

To read more, go here.

10 RV Tips Beginners Should Know

Above, The Beast on Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's a lot of beginners who have entered the "RV lifestyle" over the past several years, even more so since the pandemic started two years ago.

With that in mind, there's a few things beginners should know before (and even during) heading out on the road in their new RV.

MotorBiscuit has a list of ten tips for them.

They begin with:

Whether you are camping for the weekend, taking a summer road trip, or living full-time on the road, traveling in an RV can be the adventure of a lifetime. However, there are a lot of things you need to know before heading out on the road. We’ve put together 10 RV tips to help beginners stay safe and comfortable before pulling into a campground.

To read more, go here. 

Glacier Point and Tioga Roads Closed In Yosemite

Above, The Beast at a viewpoint along Tioga Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We're about a month away from winter, yet  Glacier Point and Tioga Roads in Yosemite National Park have been closed for the season.

According to the Sierra Sun Times:

November 20, 2020 - Yosemite National Park announces Glacier Point and Tioga Roads are closed to all vehicular traffic for the winter season. Glacier Point and Tioga Roads typically close each fall and remain closed through the winter season. These roads reopen each spring when weather and road conditions are safe for vehicular traffic. 

Yosemite National Park is open year-round with snow removal on all other roads within the park. All motorists are required to carry tire chains in their vehicles while driving in the park during the winter months, even if their car is equipped with four-wheel drive. Temporary road closures may go into effect at any time due to road and weather conditions.

To read more, go here.