Yosemite’s Tioga Pass is closer to opening. But about that firm date? Don’t ask

Tioga Pass is closer to being cleared, easing entry into Yosemite National Park, but it isn’t there yet.

In the wake of an overly wet winter, and given the snow that remains, the pass still might not open until the Fourth of July.

Road crews this week plowed their way to the pass, a positive sign that the route connecting the eastern and western Sierra Nevada through Yosemite National Park could be opening sooner rather than later.

Still, Yosemite officials asked for more patience. Three active avalanche zones remain.

Crews also are working to remove debris from the roadway, ditches and culverts.

So officials aren’t ready to give a firm opening date.

The last time Tioga Pass didn’t open before July 1 was in 1998. Last year, it opened May 18 and the previous two years on May 4 and May 2.

Historical data for Tioga Road, Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove openings and closings are available at www.nps.gov/yose.

This story was originally published June 7, 2017 at 11:31 PM with the headline "Yosemite’s Tioga Pass is closer to opening. But about that firm date? Don’t ask."