Tioga Pass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tioga Pass |
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| Elevation | 9,945 ft (3,031 m) |
| Traversed by |  SR 120 |
| Location | Mono / Tuolumne counties, California, United States |
| Range | Sierra Nevada |
| Coordinates | 37°54′40″N 119°15′29″W / 37.91111°N 119.25806°W |
| Topo map | USGS Tioga Pass |
 Location in California
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Tioga Pass is a high mountain pass in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. It's a special place because it's the highest road pass in California! State Route 120 goes right through it. This road is also the main eastern entrance to the famous Yosemite National Park. You'll find Mount Dana to the east and Gaylor Peak to the west of the pass. It sits at an amazing height of 9,945 ft (3,031 m) above sea level.
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What's in a Name? The Story of Tioga Pass
The name 'Tioga Pass' comes from the Tioga Mine. This mine was named after the Tioga River in New York. The word 'Tioga' comes from the Iroquois and Mohawk Native American languages. It means "where it forks," which describes a place where a river splits into two.
Exploring Tioga Pass: What It's Like
Like many other passes in the Sierra Nevada, Tioga Pass has a gentle slope when you approach it from the west. But if you're coming from the east, it's a very steep drop! The road loses more than 3,000 ft (910 m) in height before it reaches U.S. Route 395.
When Does Tioga Pass Open and Close?
Tioga Pass often closes in winter because of heavy snowfall. It usually shuts down around the end of October and reopens in late May the next year. However, these dates can change a lot! In years with lots of snow, the road might close as early as October. It could even stay closed until late July. If there isn't much snow, the road might stay open until December and open again in April.
Tioga Pass: A Key Route for Travel
Tioga Pass is the most direct way to travel from towns like Bishop or Mammoth Lakes, California to cities like Fresno, Merced, and Stockton. There are four other highway passes to the north, between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. But to the south, you won't find another pass for about 200 mi (320 km), until you reach Sherman Pass.
Tioga Pass and the Great Basin Divide
The pass is located on the Great Basin Divide. This is an important line that separates the Great Basin from other areas. The Great Basin is the largest area in North America where rivers and streams don't flow into an ocean. Instead, they flow into lakes or dry up.
Fun Things to Do at Tioga Pass
Tioga Pass is a great starting point for adventures in the Yosemite National Park backcountry.
Hiking Trails
- You can find trails to the Gaylor Lakes to the west and northwest.
- There's also a trail that leads to the top of Mount Dana.
- Right next to the highway, just south of the pass, are the beautiful Dana Meadows. This area has several small lakes.
Camping and Recreation
- Just north of the pass summit, you'll find a popular spot for camping and recreation at Tioga Lake. This area is part of the Inyo National Forest.
- Less than 7 miles southwest of the pass, inside Yosemite National Park, is Tuolumne Meadows. The famous Pacific Crest Trail crosses the highway here, making it a popular stop for hikers.
Weather at Tioga Pass
The weather at Tioga Pass can be quite cold, especially in winter. It gets a lot of snow! Summers are mild and pleasant.
| Climate data for Tioga Pass, California (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 34.2 (1.2) |
34.6 (1.4) |
39.0 (3.9) |
43.4 (6.3) |
49.3 (9.6) |
57.4 (14.1) |
66.7 (19.3) |
66.1 (18.9) |
59.2 (15.1) |
49.4 (9.7) |
40.9 (4.9) |
35.9 (2.2) |
48.0 (8.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 22.1 (−5.5) |
22.1 (−5.5) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
37.2 (2.9) |
45.1 (7.3) |
54.3 (12.4) |
52.7 (11.5) |
46.9 (8.3) |
38.3 (3.5) |
30.0 (−1.1) |
24.6 (−4.1) |
35.8 (2.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 10.3 (−12.1) |
9.7 (−12.4) |
13.3 (−10.4) |
16.2 (−8.8) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
32.9 (0.5) |
41.8 (5.4) |
41.1 (5.1) |
34.7 (1.5) |
27.1 (−2.7) |
19.2 (−7.1) |
13.5 (−10.3) |
23.8 (−4.6) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.23 (107) |
3.97 (101) |
2.14 (54) |
1.81 (46) |
1.09 (28) |
0.71 (18) |
0.75 (19) |
0.67 (17) |
0.72 (18) |
1.34 (34) |
2.81 (71) |
3.84 (98) |
24.08 (611) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 37.8 (96) |
43.8 (111) |
35.4 (90) |
31.6 (80) |
6.1 (15) |
2.5 (6.4) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.8 (2.0) |
7.5 (19) |
17.3 (44) |
40.9 (104) |
224.1 (568.4) |
| Source: WRCC | |||||||||||||
Wildlife Around Tioga Pass
You can spot various animals living in the Tioga Pass area. Keep an eye out for:
- Birds of prey, like eagles and hawks.
- Marmots, which are furry rodents that live in mountain areas.
- Bobcats, a type of wild cat.
- Sometimes, you might even see bighorn sheep climbing the rocky slopes!
