When is it too late to ride to Tahoe?

[isoparmesan]

I’m looking for options for a 3-day weekend Moto trip starting from SF. There’s a deal for Heavenly valley lodge for October. Is late October/early November too late in the year to safely ride to Yosemite? When do you start to see ice on the roads in the morning, evening?

 

[ScottRNelson]

Which one are you headed to, Tahoe or Yosemite?

Some years the roads are still good in early November and some years they aren't. You'll have to just monitor the weather for the area you'll be riding to. You can also improve your odds of good traction conditions on the roads if you wait until the sun has been up a few hours.

 

[davidji]

I’m looking for options for a 3-day weekend Moto trip starting from SF. There’s a deal for Heavenly valley lodge for October. Is late October/early November too late in the year to safely ride to Yosemite? When do you start to see ice on the roads in the morning, evening?

Weather varies year to year, week to week, etc. I've ridden Sonora and Tioga passes in October before. Tioga Pass is at the east entrance to Yosemite.

This shows that Tioga Pass usually closes for the season in November, sometimes later, sometimes October. Sometimes there were temporary closures before the date listed.

The 140 entrance to Yosemite is the lowest and that route into the park least likely to be icy. Mostly likely to have rock fall perhaps. There are still two "temporary" bridges on that route from a slide 13 years ago.

 

[isoparmesan]

Wow, I had a total brain fart when typing that. I had also been looking at places in Yosemite and ended up just tying that by accident. I meant to ask about Tahoe specifically.

In this case it would be South Lake Tahoe. So it would be highway 50, or 88/89

 

[DonTom]

Wow, I had a total brain fart when typing that. I had also been looking at places in Yosemite and ended up just tying that by accident. I meant to ask about Tahoe specifically.

In this case it would be South Lake Tahoe. So it would be highway 50, or 88/89

I make the trip often between here and Reno as I live in both places. It really depends on your luck.

Even the weather reports in the mountains are often inaccurate for more than a couple of days, but it's worth checking them anyway. I normally check the weather at Soda Springs, CA before I go. And I mean all year, as sometimes there are thunder storms in the summer. And I have seen snow even this time of year, but it is somewhat rare.

Soda Springs is just west of the summit, so it's a good place to check for the mountain weather.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Heywood]

According to Caltrans, about a half-mile of Highway 50 at Echo Summit is expected to be closed from Oct. 18 through Oct. 31.

This is a complete closure of 50 and will push traffic onto 49/88
https://www.kcra.com/article/highway-50-echo-summit-closure-california/28919969
https://gooddaysacramento.cbslocal.com/2019/09/05/construction-highway-50-traffic-detours/

 

[Tom G]

I got stuck on 50 in early Oct and had to find a hotel in Placerville. Next morning the pass was icy but I just put 4wd in.

 

[m0t0_ryder]

Probably takes 3-4 hours (no traffic issues).
Arrive before dark to avoid deer thirty in the sierras.

Probably shouldn't leave after 3:30 'ish.

...this time of year.

:teeth

 

[DonTom]

I’m looking for options for a 3-day weekend Moto trip starting from SF. There’s a deal for Heavenly valley lodge for October. Is late October/early November too late in the year to safely ride to Yosemite? When do you start to see ice on the roads in the morning, evening?

It was too late two days ago, when it snowed for about an hour here, right on the main day (Saturday) of Street Vibrations.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[budman]

It was too late two days ago, when it snowed for about an hour here, right on the main day (Saturday) of Street Vibrations.

-Don- Reno, NV

I saw that... it also hit an Ironman type of race. A friend swam 5 miles in the lake while it was snowing.. brrrr.

 

[Maddevill]

It snowed at our house in Shingletown last night. We're at 4000 feet.

Mad

 

[buellistic]

I saw that... it also hit an Ironman type of race. A friend swam 5 miles in the lake while it was snowing.. brrrr.

The lake was the warm place to be..

 

[DonTom]

I’m looking for options for a 3-day weekend Moto trip starting from SF. There’s a deal for Heavenly valley lodge for October. Is late October/early November too late in the year to safely ride to Yosemite? When do you start to see ice on the roads in the morning, evening?

It looks like a good time to head for Tahoe now. Weather looks good for the rest of the week.

BTW, there is really no time that is too late. I have seen great days in December and rather large snow storms in late June. Weather can be almost anything in the mountains any time of year, but expect it to be on the cold side in the winter--but can still be sunny and clear.

-Don- Reno, NV (here I am above 5K')

 

[DonTom]

I’m looking for options for a 3-day weekend Moto trip starting from SF. There’s a deal for Heavenly valley lodge for October. Is late October/early November too late in the year to safely ride to Yosemite? When do you start to see ice on the roads in the morning, evening?

Right now looks like another great time to head for Tahoe!

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[two wheel tramp]

I rode Sherman pass yesterday. The weather could not have been better.



It not the way to get to Tahoe, just pointing out another high elevation Sierra pass is in darn fine shape.

 

[DonTom]

I rode Sherman pass yesterday. The weather could not have been better.

Yep, sometimes there are nice dry days even in midwinter and some snowy days in the summer.

It's not so much the time of year (but it does change the odds!) at the higher elevations. The weather should always be checked. Sometimes in mid summer there can be violent thunder storms even if snow is not an issue.

So there is really no time of year where that going to Tahoe is too late (or too early). Just check the weather before leaving. Yeah, it sometimes makes planning a trip difficult.

Many years ago, I had a mountain cycle trip planned for Memorial Day, end of May. This was in the 1970's, before the internet. So I listened to my scanner and it clearly said "snow level 3,000 ft". I decided to go anyway and take my chances. Right at the 3,000' ft elevation sign, there was snow. The snow started less than ten feet after the sign. Since then, I have taken the weather reports a lot more serious.

There are really only two seasons at the high elevations. the end of one winter and the start of the next. With a few breaks in between.


-Don- Auburn, CA