Highway 120 now allows 40-45 foot buses, Priest Grade, Yosemite, Mariposa, Highway 140

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A word about the roads into Groveland

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Priest Grade winds its way up to Groveland from Moccasin
Priest Grade photo by Terri Metz

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Those trying to get over the
Sierra Nevada will appreciate
that Sonora Pass, Highway 108
is open as of Thursday, May 8th
Tioga Pass is usually not
too far behind!

Yosemite Valley road construction: Where highways 41 and 140 intersect the park is shoring up the road weakened by flooding. This affects traffic to Groveland and El Portal, Mariposa as it is just east of the intersection. The road is open during the days from 6am to 10pm with a one-way controlled driving lane. From 10pm to 6am, the road is closed. There is one employee opening in the evening, 11pm.

Arriving to Groveland from Yosemite: There are no reported problems out of the Yosemite Valley to Groveland. You can call the Yosemite Road and Weather Hotline near your travel dates to check the conditions:
209-372-0200.

Arriving in Groveland from the West: The recommended routes into Groveland are unaffected by the Ferguson Rockslide on Highway 140, please see our Map & Directions page for specifics. With the completion of our road widening project, as of Friday, September 1, 45 foot buses are legal to use the 120 route into Groveland.

A note about old and new Priest Grade Roads

The final approach to Groveland involves a ride up Priest Grade. One has two route choices, left (Highway 120 and New Priest) or right (Old Priest) up the canyon.

New Priest Grade: This is Highway 120 and is 6 miles and very curvy. In the East bound direction (uphill) The passenger will be sitting on the outside of the hill, overlooking the edge. Busses and trucks use this route. It tends to flow at somewhere between 25 and 35 miles per hour.

Old Priest Grade: This is a narrow country road, not a State Highway and is half the curves of New Priest Grade, a third the distance, very steep at three times the pitch and flows at 25 miles per hour or less. Weight restrictions.

Many folks recommend up the old, down the new, keeping the passenger always on the inside of the hill. Very polite!

Highway 140 Closure update: Ferguson Ridge rock slide As of a this summer, Highway 140 is open to one-way traffic 24 hours around the clock. The detour over the two new temporary bridges is one lane at a time controlled by a stop light, changing directions every 10 minutes. This route will now take buses up to 45 feet in length

Photo distributed by DNC. The slide goes over the road, into the Merced River.

Highway 120 has as of September 1st, 2006 completed a widening project up Priest Grade making it now legal for 45 foot buses to traverse this route into Yosemite. Vehicles over 28 feet are not allowed on the Highway 140 detour.

Hotel Charlotte
On the way to Yosemite National Park
Cozy Lodging, Good Food & Spirits
18736 Main Street (Highway 120) PO Box 787
Groveland, California 95321
Reservations: (209) 962-6455, Fax: (209) 962-6254
Email: HotelCharlotte@aol.com