High Sierra

230 miles with 18,400 feet of climbing
Sonora Pass (58 miles with 7,600 feet of climbing)
Mammoth Gran Fondo (94 miles with 5,500 feet of climbing)
Tioga Pass and Yosemite National Park (76 miles with 5,300 feet of climbing)
The High Sierra offers many scenic rides at altitude. This tour includes two self-supported rides, Sonora Pass, and Tioga Pass and Yosemite National Park, as well as the organized Mammoth Gran Fondo.
At 9,945 feet Tioga Pass is the highest mountain pass in California, and at 9,624 feet Sonora Pass ranks second.
The best time to ride through Yosemite National Park is before Memorial Day or after Labor Day, due to traffic.

Sonora Pass

Sonora Pass • Route Profile
Route Profile • Sonora Pass
Cat. 1: Mile 5 and 29
Sonora Pass is a difficult out-and-back ride with some of the steepest grades anywhere. The ride starts at the intersection of Highway 395 and 108 and follows Highway 108 until Dardanelle, the halfway point. The first five miles cover rolling terrain, the next 10 miles are ascending, and the following 14 miles are descending, before turning around.

Tioga Pass and Yosemite National Park

Tioga Pass and Yosemite National Park • Route Profile
Route Profile • Tioga Pass and Yosemite National Park
Cat. 1: Mile 0
Cat. 3: Mile 39
Cat. 4: Mile 28
Tioga Pass and Yosemite National Park is a spectacular point-to-point ride, starting in Lee Vining and finishing in Yosemite Village (a YARTS bus is the best way to get back). The first 12 miles are ascending to the top of Tioga Pass, an entrance to Yosemite National Park (fee). The next 64 miles are descending, with some minor and two categorized climbs in between.

High Sierra • Interactive Map

High Sierra • Pictures

High Sierra • Sonora Pass East
Sonora Pass East
High Sierra • Sonora Pass
Sonora Pass
High Sierra • Sonora Pass West
Sonora Pass West
High Sierra • Sonora Pass West
Sonora Pass West
High Sierra • Tioga Pass East
Tioga Pass East
High Sierra • Tioga Lake
Tioga Lake
High Sierra • Tioga Pass
Tioga Pass
High Sierra • Tenaya Lake
Tenaya Lake
High Sierra • Riders
Riders
High Sierra • Yosemite Valley (from the West)
Yosemite Valley (from the West)
High Sierra • Yosemite Valley (from the East)
Yosemite Valley (from the East)
High Sierra • El Capitan
El Capitan
High Sierra • Half Dome
Half Dome
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See Also: Multi-Day Rides