When Fall Colors arrive in Tioga Pass

You probably know about this mountain Pass that runs through Yosemite. Now come see some fall color in Tioga Pass, if you haven't already....
Fall Color in Tioga Pass
Highway 120 passing through the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

If you know Californiaโ€™s geography or are one of those people who cannot get enough of Yosemite, you probably know Tioga Pass. If not, youโ€™ll not only get to know about it here but will also witness some fall color in Tioga Pass!

fall color in Tioga Pass

Tioga Pass

Tioga Pass is a mountain pass on the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California and the second highest one at that. That should have already told you that a drive through Tioga Pass is going to be a scenic one. But thereโ€™s more: this mountain pass passes through the one and only Yosemite National Park.

California Highway 120 (CASR 120) to park, (one of the roads from the West) is the road that will take you through this mountain pass in the high Sierras. This road goes up to an elevation of almost 9500ft before it descends into Eastern Sierra.

Some of the major POIs on Tioga Pass are Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadow, all must-see attractions in the glacier-carved Yosemite National Park.

Fall color in Tioga Pass

I have a promise to keep โ€” to show you the colors of fall up on Sierraโ€™s second-highest route. As such, let me now show you what the mountain pass looks like before it closes for the season. (Tioga Pass closes in fall and stays closed all winter and a good part of Spring too, depending on the snowfall it receives.)

Now, these pictures are from the end of the first week of October. Go around this time and you can expect to see flashes of yellow here and there in an already scenic landscape.

High Sierra in October
fall color in Tioga Pass
fall color in Tioga Pass

You might also like:

Yosemite in late fall
More from Yosemite National Park
Fall colors on Tipsy from the TRIP

Watch this to understand why Tioga Pass is closed in the winter and what goes into getting this part of Highway 120 up and running again in the winter — Snow plowing in Tioga Pass.

Linking to —
My Corner of the World
Travel Tuesday
Thursday Tree Love

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Fauna and FloraNatureScenic DrivesScenic RoutesVisual Treats

Dee (Divya): Blogger, Freelance Content Writer & Content Strategist. | ๐Ÿ“ธ Loves tripping.๐Ÿ›ฃ Tipsy from every TRIP!๐Ÿ˜ฌ๐Ÿซฃ | ๐ŸžFollow > for intoxicating virtual trips!๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿ˜‰
22 Comments on this post.
  • Soma @ InkTorrents.com
    24 October 2022 at 11:44 am
    Leave a Reply

    I have been into the valley during fall but not on Tioga Pass. Your photos of this beautiful area are spectacular. Love them!

    -Soma

    • dNambiar
      25 October 2022 at 1:20 pm
      Leave a Reply

      This was my first time in the mountain pass in fall. The color was all towards the Eastern part of the road/park. It was a lovely drive! ๐Ÿ™‚
      Thank you for coming this way, Soma.

      I hope you are well. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • magiceye
    26 October 2022 at 9:36 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Gorgeous and magical!

    • dNambiar
      27 October 2022 at 10:12 am
      Leave a Reply

      Isn’t it?! ๐Ÿ™‚
      <3

    • Matheikal
      28 October 2022 at 12:36 am
      Leave a Reply

      Astounding places and colors.

      • dNambiar
        1 November 2022 at 12:50 pm
        Leave a Reply

        Indeed!
        I cannot get enough of Yosemite and its rocky surroundings. The colors were a fantastic addition to the landscape!

        Thank you for coming to see some fall color on the Tioga Pass, Matheikal. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • tomthebackroadstraveller
    27 October 2022 at 12:18 pm
    Leave a Reply

    …you found such rugged beautiful. I doubt if I’d like to drive the pass in winter time! Thanks for sharing.

    • dNambiar
      27 October 2022 at 1:32 pm
      Leave a Reply

      I love Yosemite! It was love at first sight! ๐Ÿ˜โค๏ธ Fall gives it another layer of beauty.
      This pass is closed in the winter because clearing these parts is dangerous!

      Thank you so much for visiting, Tom. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Recep Hilmi TUFAN | hodjaeffendi.com
    27 October 2022 at 1:08 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Great shots! Congrats!

    • dNambiar
      27 October 2022 at 1:33 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Hey,
      Welcome here. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Thank you so much.

  • A ShutterBug Explores
    27 October 2022 at 2:21 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Wow~ Very dynamic autumn phots! Xo

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    • dNambiar
      27 October 2022 at 3:19 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Thanks a ton, Carol ๐Ÿ™‚

      I hope you are enjoying the season as well. Take care.

  • Leaf Peeping in the Eastern Sierra | Tipsy from the TRIP
    30 October 2022 at 6:27 pm
    Leave a Reply

    […] In case you missed the previous post, visit– When Fall Colors arrive in Tioga Pass […]

  • Archana
    31 October 2022 at 8:43 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Spectacular!! Enjoyed the yellow blazes in the rugged mountains. Thanks for sharing The video about the snow clearing shows the extent of the winter rather of snowfall.

    • dNambiar
      1 November 2022 at 12:55 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Isn’t it?
      This is such a beautiful season. It’s even better when it’s up in the mountains. :)๐Ÿ’›
      I’m so glad I got to see all this.

      The video was very informative. I was so impressed by the work done there in those dangerous conditions. Now I see why the pass has to be closed for all those months. My salutes to all the workers and the work that goes on to clear it for vehicular use.

      Thank you for stopping by, Archana.
      Will come by your TTT post, soon. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Niranjan
    1 November 2022 at 1:23 am
    Leave a Reply

    Such beautiful hues! Nice frames, Divya.

    • dNambiar
      1 November 2022 at 1:00 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Aren’t they?
      Thanks a ton, my friend. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • parul thakur
    10 November 2022 at 6:36 am
    Leave a Reply

    Stunning and one can’t get enough. I scrolled many times and every picture was so beautiful. Breath taking. Thanks for joining, Divya! I am so glad to have you around <3

    • dNambiar
      10 November 2022 at 12:59 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Hey Parul,
      I know right?!
      I can’t get enough of these colors, too.

      Aww… I’m so glad I was able to share these sights with you.
      Thank you so much dear Parul for hosting. I keep going MIA ๐Ÿ˜ฌ. I have so much more to link to TTL. ๐Ÿ˜‰I’ll try to be more regular. ๐Ÿ™‚
      Thank you so much, once again. :)โค๏ธ

  • #ThursdayTreeLove โ€“ 137 – happiness and food
    10 November 2022 at 7:50 am
    Leave a Reply

    […] Divya joins with trees along the Tioga pass from California, the USA […]

  • Snowliage: Fall Color and Snow in Yosemite | Tipsy from the TRIP
    13 December 2022 at 2:35 pm
    Leave a Reply

    […] โ€”Six Stops to make in Yosemite Valley Higher up: Washburn and Glacier PointsYosemite in late fallTioga Pass – A mountain pass that runs through this national parkEl Portal […]

  • What Lower Yosemite Falls Trail is really like! | Tipsy from the TRIP
    11 July 2023 at 7:40 pm
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    […] to make in Yosemite Valley Go Higher up: Washburn and Glacier PointsYosemite in (Late) FallDrive through Tioga Pass โ€“ A mountain pass that runs through Yosemite National ParkStop at El Portal Canyon Vistapoint Waterfalls on […]

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