Tioga Road

The Tioga Road is one of the highest roads in America, as well as being among the most scenic in California. It connects the Yosemite Valley with the east entrance of the park, and passes the 3000m Tioga Pass, through breathtaking landscapes of pristine forests and imposing granite peaks, green pastures and emerald lakes. It is buried under meters of snow in winter, and is only open for a few months a year, from mid-May/late-June to mid-autumn. Check online for the real-time status of the road. The first part goes through Tuolumne Grove, a group of giant sequoias. It continues with a stop at the beautiful Tenaya Lake, and then with a sudden change of landscape it enters the Tuolumne Meadows, where you'll find a visitors center.