Visitors planning to cross Yosemite National Park via Tioga Road will need to adjust plans this week as park officials announced a temporary closure due to an incoming late-season snowstorm.
According to Yosemite National Park, Tioga Road — the continuation of Highway 120 through the park and one of the Sierra Nevada’s highest mountain routes — will close today, Tuesday, May 26, at 5 p.m. because of forecasted snow in the high country. Park officials are advising travelers to check for updates by calling the Yosemite road conditions hotline at 209-372-0200 and selecting option 1, then 1.
The closure comes just days after the scenic roadway reopened for the 2026 season. Tioga Road opened to vehicles on May 15, marking one of the earliest openings in recent years and restoring access to Yosemite’s high-elevation destinations, including Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, and Olmsted Point.
The temporary shutdown highlights the unpredictable nature of spring in the Sierra Nevada, where winter-like conditions can quickly return even after roads reopen for summer travel. Forecasts are calling for an unusually cold storm system to move through the central and southern Sierra this week, bringing snow to higher elevations, gusty winds, thunderstorms, and temperatures significantly below seasonal averages. Snowfall is expected primarily Tuesday through Thursday.
For mountain communities like Oakhurst, Bass Lake, and the Yosemite gateway region, Tioga Road serves as more than a scenic route — it is a key east-west connection for tourism, outdoor recreation, and access to Yosemite’s high country. Its reopening each spring often signals the beginning of peak visitor season, while temporary weather closures are a reminder that conditions in the Sierra can change quickly.
Travelers heading toward Yosemite this week are encouraged to monitor conditions closely, pack for changing weather, and have backup travel plans if venturing into higher elevations. Yosemite officials note that Tioga Road closures during snow events are not uncommon, particularly during spring and fall transition periods.
