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Priest Grade photo by
Terri Metz
More Yosemite:
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Hetch Hetchy
An Aerial
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A Winter
Yosemite
Yosemite Tips & Activites
New!
Winter Cancellation Policy:
If you are coming for a Yosemite visit and the weather is such that Chains
are required ON YOUR TIRES (R1, R2, or R3) on the day before your
visit, our cancellation fees will be waived. |
 Yosemite Valley road construction seems to be an ever present condition,
it is just a matter of where they are working. Drive slowly and pay
attention to signs. Often one way roads are converted to two way roads to
allow work on the opposite side of the valley.
Arriving to Groveland from
Yosemite Valley:
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 to Groveland from
Yosemite-via Tioga Pass:
The pass is closed for the winter. Anticipate opening some time in May or
June.
Arriving in Groveland from
the West via Priest Grade: No known problems
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 120 is now legal for 45 foot
buses to traverse this route into Yosemite.
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Yosemite Winter Driving: When calling
Yosemite's roads & weather hotline, 209-372-0200 when Chain Controls are
in effect, you will get instructions of R1, R2 or R3. Here is what each of
these mean:
R-1
Chains are required – snow tread tires are allowed
Park road signs will show “AUTOS & PICKUPS SNOW TIRES OK”, “Carry Chains”.
Tires must be rated for snow (M-S or M+S, All Season). Snow tires must
have a minimum tread depth of 6/32 of an inch to be legal. You still
need to carry chains in your vehicle. If your tires don’t meet these
requirements you must use chains.
R-2
Chains are required on “All” vehicles except four-wheel drive vehicles
with snow tires on all four wheels. Park road signs will show “4W
DRIVE WITH SNOW TIRES OK”, “Carry Chains”. Four wheel drive vehicles
meeting this requirement must still carry tire chains.
R-3
Chains are required – “All” vehicles – no exceptions. It
might be a better choice on days like this to sit curled up with a book
until tomorrow when the weather is often nicer.
The
posted speed limit in the park is 25 mph when chain requirements are in
effect. State Law requires you to carry chains in your vehicle when
entering an active chain control area. Tire traction devices can be link
chain, cable chain and/or spider straps. For more info:
www.dot.ca.gov/roadinfo/wntrdriv.htm.
Word on the street is that
Fox and
Dollar car rentals allow chains on the
car and will rent them to you. Consider these car rental companies when
traveling the Sierras in the winter.
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