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Virginia Lakes Trailhead Opening Estimate

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 11:11 am
by JWreno
I had reservations for Glen Aulin from TM on June 14th. That isn't going to happen.

I can hike July 3-7 and was thinking about heading to Glen Aulin area from Virginia Lakes trail head. I want to spend one day hiking down to Waterwheel fails and back up the river. I visited them in June back in 2001 and would like to see them again while the river is flowing full.

Anyone think Virginia Lakes trailhead would be open by July 3rd. Do you think the Return creek will be safe to cross by then?

Re: Virginia Lakes Trailhead Opening Estimate

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 12:12 pm
by c9h13no3
The trailhead has been "open" since Fishmas in April. I went skiing there June 2nd, you can find the report here.

Not sure why you'd hike to Glen Aulin from the Virginia Lakes trailhead... seems like going around your elbow to get to your... :moon:

Why not just dayhike from Tuolumne Meadows down to waterwheel if you can't get a permit? It's 8.5 miles one way. If you start at 6AM, it'll put you at the falls around 11AM. Plenty of time to laze around, take pictures, and enjoy the view.

Re: Virginia Lakes Trailhead Opening Estimate

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 8:21 am
by JWreno
I am assuming that Tioga Pass isn't going to be open by then. The current report is they have plowed through one lane but still have a lot of work to do.

I couldn't tell from your link. So the road is open to the Virginia Lakes trailhead now?

Re: Virginia Lakes Trailhead Opening Estimate

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 10:25 am
by Wandering Daisy
If you had the time, you could add a day and just walk down the road, which is already plowed. In fact, even if Tioga Road is not open, I bet you could ride a bike on the road. I thought the road up there is already plowed from the pass down to Tuolumne Meadows.

Re: Virginia Lakes Trailhead Opening Estimate

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 12:19 pm
by c9h13no3
JWreno wrote: Tue Jun 11, 2019 8:21 am I couldn't tell from your link. So the road is open to the Virginia Lakes trailhead now?
Yes, it opened April 26th. The road to Viriginia Lakes almost always opens the Friday before the last Saturday in April (the start of fishing season). Many other roads are also plowed on this schedule.

I'd bet big money that Tioga will be plowed by early July, June 30th is the latest the road has *ever* opened. Tioga road is already open to cars to the park entrance from the east. And they'll often open the road to bikes a week early before they open it to cars.

Re: Virginia Lakes Trailhead Opening Estimate

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 12:46 pm
by JWreno
I wonder if the TM Wilderness permit office will be open as soon as the road is open. The valley is a long way out of the way for hikers coming in for permits from the Lee Vining side.

Re: Virginia Lakes Trailhead Opening Estimate

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 3:48 pm
by Wandering Daisy
I guess, last resort, you could get a FS permit for Virginia Lake entry and then you would at least have some kind of a permit. You may want to call the Yosemite office and see if they can at least give you a permit number so if stopped you would have that. They have a record of your Yosemite trips and if you are a frequent user, they may be able to work something out with you. When they look me up, they no longer give me "the talk".

Re: Virginia Lakes Trailhead Opening Estimate

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 12:59 pm
by JWreno
I have gone into Yosemite multiple trips from Twin Lakes and Virginia Lakes area. My permit for those trailheads is fine for going into Yosemite.

If 120 is open from the east and the TM wilderness permit is open I will trail to snag a walk up. I wouldn't use a Virginia trailhead permit and then start my hike in TM.

Re: Virginia Lakes Trailhead Opening Estimate

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2019 9:48 am
by hikerchick395
Well JWreno is already on his hike... but Tioga Pass isn't open yet and just for info about this year. Yosemite NP is saying no bikes or pedestrians are allowed on the road and that it is being enforced. In 2017 they were actively enforcing the no bikes, but I walked in on the road a few times with no harassment. That year, the road was open to bikes only one day before the opening of the road to all vehicles.

(edit: Sorry...I thought that JWreno was still considering his hike on June 14...)

Re: Virginia Lakes Trailhead Opening Estimate

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 2:18 pm
by JWreno
I took my wife to hot springs on Friday and did home projects so I didn't do my scheduled hike.

I may take a hike on July 4th or just put plans on hold for later in the season or next year.

Life summary: We make plans and things happen...

The heat is up and the rivers are also. Can't imagine how hard some of the stream crossing are now.