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Groveland
Yosemite HWY 120

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! 

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.