Bulletman asked me for a longer write-up including routes so I thought I would post it here for the archive: I took hwy 17 from Scotts Valley to 280S/680N over the Sunol grade to hwy 84 which goes to Livermore from 680. In Livermore I took Wetmore rd to Arroyo rd to Concannon Blvd to Tesla Rd. I took a left on Tesla to Greenville Rd. and then a right onto Patterson pass Rd. Patterson pass Rd. is really worth it. If you live in Northern California ride out there and check out the view of the San Joaquin valley with the windmills! Patterson pass rd takes you to 580 where I went south to Vernalis Rd. across the valley to Modesto. Vernalis Rd basically turns into Yosemite blvd (hwy 132) that goes up to Yosemite joining up with hwy 120. Turn off before you get to the Yosemite valley staying on 120 following the sign to the town of Lee Vining. Whatever you do, don't go to the Yosemite valley in the middle of summer unless you like crowds and traffic!
There is a dirt road called Saddlebag lake Rd. that goes to Saddlebag lake that is worth checking out as well as a neat little campground at Saddlebag lake. The road takes you above 10,000 feet which is worth it for bragging rites but it's not difficult or anything, it's a really well groomed road. I would have camped there but it was full. We went instead back on Tioga pass toward Lee Vining and stayed at the national parks Lee Vining campground. That was full too but we lucked out in getting the last spot by a fluke. We were there a month ago and the place was deserted but it's the full swing of summer now.
On the way back we went to Lee Vining and had breakfast. Lee Vining is a nothing town but it overlooking Mono Lake which is cool. We took hwy 395 North to Bridgeport and then left on Sanora pass (hwy 108) which is just as nice as Tioga pass if not better for nice curvy rd. Another thing to see between Lee Vining and Bridgeport is Bodie ghost town. It's a cool state park at an abandoned gold milling town. You can take a dirt road that I've been told is in bad shape off of 395 past Mono Lake to Bodie and then another dirt road to Bridgeport. I havn't been on those roads but they sounds fun.
Another thing to note is that there are a lot of dirt roads and off-road recreation to be had on the back side of Sanora pass and you can camp anywhere among those hills. Tioga pass, being closer to Yosemite was more regulated for wilderness camping and the dirt roads were fenced off.
After Sanora pass I rejoined with 120 in the valley past the town of Sanora and stayed on the major freeways because my wasp sting kept swelling and itching and spreading. I usually take Benadryl to prevent my reaction but I didn't want it to make me drowsy for the ride home so there was a push to get home so that I could medicate.
On a future trip to the area I would like to go back to Sanora pass to explore and camp on the dirt roads there. I kept passing the trail-heads and they were calling me but I only had to get back to work the next day
Topic: Tioga pass, California rally? (Read 6545 times)