The family had no grand plans for what would ultimately become the main attraction, the Whoa Nellie Deli. Denise Molnar, who manages Tioga, remembers building the store’s shelving with her sister. Tioga Gas Mart, also known as the Mobil, opened in 1997 as a gas station and deli in Lee Vining, a Yosemite gateway community with a high elevation and a low population. And yet it’s the kind of place where people linger, even during the pandemic: With outdoor seating and a location far from the locked-down city, other than masks and increased social distancing, business remains as usual. In that sense, Tioga Gas Mart should be like other gas stations in touristy areas: a brief stop on the way to somewhere more interesting. Who knows when you’ll find civilization again. You fill your arms with essentials, send a few texts while you still have service, gas up the car. It feels remote in a way - the last stop at a gas station before heading into the wilderness of a national park often does. Travelers stop at Tioga Gas Mart to fuel up, buy hiking guidebooks, and eat ham and cheese croissants while gazing over the blue expanse of Mono Lake. Tioga Pass, the alpine route that travels from Lee Vining into Yosemite, has opened for the season after months of snow clearing. You’ll see incredible rock formations rising directly from the lake.At a gas station near the entrance of a national park, almost everyone is just passing through. This ancient lake covers more than 70 square miles, and is the home to trillions of brine shrimp and millions of migratory birds. A few trailheads begin at the pass as well, one taking you to the summit of Mount Dana for those that are ready for the challenge. Hiking trails are plentiful, so you can get out in the wilderness too.īreathtaking scenery awaits you here. You can also stop in the visitor center to get more information about the area. This sub-alpine meadow comes alive in the spring and early summer with an incredible array of wildflowers. You can even swim if you don’t mind the cold water. There is also a great beach where you can relax and enjoy the views. The size of these trees is truly something to behold.įrom this beautiful lake, you can hike into the backcountry, or just take a loop around the lake. To view these Giant Sequoias near Crane Flat is very much worth the short hike into the grove.
Your Tioga Pass California journey will be a 59-mile wondrous drive.īesides a number of trailheads accessed via Tioga Road California, there are a number of spots to stop to enjoy some of Yosemite’s best attractions.
Tioga Highway, a continuation of California Highway 120, begins its journey at the park’s Big Oak Flat entrance and moves through Yosemite National Park to end at the eastern side of the park. When visiting Yosemite National Park, it’s almost imperative to take this scenic drive and enjoy reaching its pinnacle at the 9,945-foot Tioga Pass. Tioga Pass can be reached by traveling the Tioga Road, a beautiful trip through Yosemite, with many things to see and do along the way.