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Yosemite and Eastern Sierra loop from San Francisco

A loop from San Francisco through Yosemite, over Tioga Pass to Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, then north on US-395 to Lake Tahoe. For climbers, hikers and mountain bikers.

Fly into San Francisco (SFO)Best Sep-Oct4 stops703 mi / 1,131 km16.3 h driving12 days suggestedLoop, back to the startUnited States
ClimbingHikingMountain BikingRunningKayakingSkiing

When: Tioga Road (CA-120) is usually closed November to late May or early June (1933-2022 average: opens May 28, closes Nov 3). Bishop bouldering is too hot in summer, so September-October suits the whole loop; Jul-Aug works for the high country. [1][2][3]

Getting there: Fly into SFO; major rental companies at the airport. Reno (RNO) is an alternative start/end near Tahoe. Yosemite has had seasonal entry reservations in some recent years; check before going.

Customize this trip

Route: OpenStreetMap road data (OSRM). Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Spots: OpenBeta and our guides.

Day by day · 11 nights, 12 days

  1. Start in San Francisco (SFO): pick up the carDrive to Yosemite National Park: 199 mi / 320 km · 4 h 48 min
  2. 1

    Yosemite National Park

    CA, United States

    64Adventure Score

    Suggested stay: 3 nights

    Granite big walls, waterfalls and High Sierra meadows: the whole park, from Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne and the gateway towns.

    Biggest draw
    • El Capitan · 5.0/5 · ClimbingRoughly 3,000 ft of granite and the best-known big wall in the world, with routes like The Nose and Freerider. Multi-day aid and free climbs for experts; watching from El Cap Meadow is free.
    Also here
    • Half Dome · 5.0/5 · Hiking
    • Camp 4 and Valley bouldering · 5.0/5 · Climbing
    • Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls · 5.0/5 · Hiking
    Full Yosemite National Park guide →
    Drive to Mammoth Lakes: 62 mi / 100 km · 1 h 42 min
  3. 2

    Mammoth Lakes

    CA, United States

    89Adventure Score

    Suggested stay: 3 nights

    High Sierra ski-and-bike town with Devils Postpile, the Lakes Basin, hot springs and the John Muir Trail on its doorstep, and Bishop's climbing a short drive south.

    Biggest draw
    • Devils Postpile National Monument · 5.0/5 · HikingBasalt columns about 60 ft tall, reached by shuttle from Mammoth Mountain plus a short walk. Open roughly mid-June to mid-October.
    Also here
    • Mammoth Mountain Ski Area · 4.2/5 · Skiing
    • Mammoth Mountain Bike Park · 4.9/5 · Mountain Biking
    • Rainbow Falls · 5.0/5 · Hiking
    Full Mammoth Lakes guide →
    Drive to Bishop: 43 mi / 69 km · 0 h 54 min
  4. 3

    Bishop

    CA, United States

    77Adventure Score

    Suggested stay: 2 nights

    Eastern Sierra bouldering capital with alpine trailheads and hot springs an easy drive from town.

    Biggest draw
    • The Buttermilks · 5.0/5 · ClimbingGranite boulder field on the Sierra foothills west of town; with the Happy and Sad Boulders the area has over 2,000 recorded problems. Dispersed camping and BLM/LADWP land; check current rules.
    Also here
    • Happy Boulders · 5.0/5 · Climbing
    • Sad Boulders · 5.0/5 · Climbing
    • Owens River Gorge · 5.0/5 · Climbing
    Full Bishop guide →
    Drive to Lake Tahoe: 184 mi / 296 km · 4 h 6 min
  5. 4

    Lake Tahoe

    CA, United States

    85Adventure Score

    Suggested stay: 3 nights

    North America's largest alpine lake, 22 miles long and 1,645 feet deep: kayaking, skiing, singletrack, Lover's Leap granite and Desolation Wilderness hiking on both the Nevada and California shores

    Biggest draw
    • Flume Trail (Spooner Lake to Incline Village) · 5.0/5 · Mountain BikingAbout 14 miles of mostly singletrack on a ridge-side contour above the lake, usually ridden from Spooner Lake with a shuttle back; check Nevada State Parks for Marlette Lake dam closures.
    Also here
    • Tahoe Rim Trail, Tahoe Meadows to Spooner Summit · 4.6/5 · Hiking
    • Sand Harbor and East Shore kayaking · 4.8/5 · Kayaking
    • Tahoe East Shore Trail · 4.4/5 · Running
    Full Lake Tahoe guide →
    Drive back to San Francisco: 215 mi / 346 km · 4 h 48 min
  6. Back in San Francisco: drop the car and fly home.
Plan it

WHEN, HOW FAR, WHAT TO BRING

When to go

Best: Sep-Oct. Tioga Road (CA-120) is usually closed November to late May or early June (1933-2022 average: opens May 28, closes Nov 3). Bishop bouldering is too hot in summer, so September-October suits the whole loop; Jul-Aug works for the high country.

All 4 stops are in peak or shoulder season in May, Sep-Oct.

Number = stops in peak or shoulder season that month. Darker = more stops at peak.

  • Yosemite National Park: peak May-Jun, Sep-Oct, avoid Jan-Feb, Jul-Aug, Dec
  • Mammoth Lakes: peak Jan-Mar, Jul-Aug, Dec
  • Bishop: peak Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov, avoid Jun-Aug
  • Lake Tahoe: peak Jan-Feb, Jul-Aug, avoid Mar-Apr, Nov

Driving split

16.3 h on the road over 5 drives: about 3.3 h per drive on average, 703 mi (1,131 km) in total.

Longest day: Lake Tahoe to San Francisco, 4 h 48 min.

No single drive is over 6 hours.

Drive times are free-flow estimates from OpenStreetMap roads, without stops, traffic or border queues.

Sports and gear

  • Climbing · every stopBring: harness, shoes, helmet, rope and quickdraws (or rent locally).
  • Hiking · every stopBring: boots, layers, map or offline maps, water.
  • Mountain Biking · Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Lakes, Lake TahoeBring: helmet, gloves, pads; check the bike-park pass and bike rental.
  • Running · Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Lakes, Lake TahoeBring: trail shoes, hydration vest, headlamp for long days.
  • Skiing · Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Lakes, Lake TahoeBring: skis or rental, avalanche kit for backcountry, goggles, layers.
  • Kayaking · Yosemite National Park, Lake TahoeBring: PFD, helmet, dry layers; many rivers need a guide or permit.
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