Tioga Pass is finally opening for the season, reopening one of the most incredible drives into Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada High Country.

But for Sierra Rec Magazine publisher Charlie Pankey, Tioga Pass has always been more than just a road into Yosemite.

It’s the gateway to a completely different version of Yosemite.

In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, Charlie shares personal stories and favorite stops exploring Yosemite’s High Country from the east side through Tioga Pass — from Lee Vining and Mono Basin to Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point, Cathedral Lakes, Glen Aulin, and beyond.

This is not the Yosemite Valley most visitors know.

This is the Yosemite of:

• alpine lakes
• hidden rivers
• granite domes
• backpacking trailheads
• spring snowmelt
• quiet pullouts
• high mountain meadows
• Sierra solitude

Whether you’re planning your first Tioga Pass road trip or have spent years exploring Yosemite’s eastern high country, this episode dives into the landscapes, memories, and experiences that make Tioga one of the most powerful gateways in the Sierra Nevada.

Featured Locations:

• Tioga Pass
• Lee Vining
• Mono Basin
• Tioga Lake
• Ellery Lake
• Tuolumne Meadows
• Tenaya Lake
• Olmsted Point
• Cathedral Lakes
• Glen Aulin
• Lyell Canyon
• Yosemite High Country

CHAPTERS

00:00 Tioga Pass Opens for the Season
01:10 Why Tioga Pass Feels Different
02:20 Entering Yosemite from the East Side
04:00 Lee Vining, Mono Basin & the Tioga Climb
06:00 Ellery Lake & Opening the Pass
08:10 Tioga Lake & Yosemite’s High Country
11:30 Gaylor Lakes & Granite Landscapes
13:40 Mono Pass Trail & Dana Fork
16:00 Why Yosemite High Country Feels Different
17:45 Tuolumne Meadows & Backpacking Access
21:00 Glen Aulin, Lyell Canyon & Cathedral Lakes
24:00 Tenaya Lake & Returning Every Year
27:00 Tioga Pass from the Valley Side
29:00 Why Tioga Still Pulls Me Back