If you know California’s geography or are one of those people who cannot get enough of Yosemite, you probably know Tioga Pass. If not, you’ll not only get to know about it here but will also witness some 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 there’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 — to show you the colors of fall up on Sierra’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.
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
For tidbits from the road, Like/Follow Tipsy From The TRIP on Facebook or Instagram
Come, Trip with us.
I have been into the valley during fall but not on Tioga Pass. Your photos of this beautiful area are spectacular. Love them!
-Soma
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! 🙂
Thank you for coming this way, Soma.
I hope you are well. 🙂
Gorgeous and magical!
Isn’t it?! 🙂
<3
Astounding places and colors.
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. 🙂
…you found such rugged beautiful. I doubt if I’d like to drive the pass in winter time! Thanks for sharing.
I love Yosemite! It was love at first sight! 😁❤️ 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. 🙂
Great shots! Congrats!
Hey,
Welcome here. 🙂
Thank you so much.
Wow~ Very dynamic autumn phots! Xo
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Thanks a ton, Carol 🙂
I hope you are enjoying the season as well. Take care.
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.
Isn’t it?
This is such a beautiful season. It’s even better when it’s up in the mountains. :)💛
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. 🙂
Such beautiful hues! Nice frames, Divya.
Aren’t they?
Thanks a ton, my friend. 🙂
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
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 😬. I have so much more to link to TTL. 😉I’ll try to be more regular. 🙂
Thank you so much, once again. :)❤️