Need Some Advice!

[drifter36]

Several buddies and myself are flying into San Jose in mid april, renting bikes at sjbmw and are planning on riding in and around Yosemite for 2 days. I know its early in th season for Yosemite and Tioga and Glacier point will be closed. So here are my questions:

1. What kind of daytime temps should I expect in the area?

2. What are the "must ride" roads in/around the park?

3. What are the "must see" things?

Any advice would be welcomed.

Thanks,
Bob

[Tallyho]

April can be a bit early for Yosemite. It could be an awesome springtime experience with mild temperatures or you may not be able to get into the park due to snow conditions. There will be two or three entrances open to the park that time of year. I suggest you come in from the north on Hwy 120. It is rarely closed. Hwy 140 through El Portal is often closed in the winter and also has frequent mudslides. Hwy 41 from the south has the most traffic into the park. Due to the winter road closures you mentioned there is little riding you can do inside the park other than the valley floor. Most of the main attractions are there. Upper and lower Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, Sentinal, Half Dome view, and the Merced River running through the valley meadows. More than likely you will be there during the beginning of the spring runoff. The main waterfalls will be spectacular but can be overpowering. I have seen Bridalveil all the way into the middle of the parking lot during early May! Check the weather but it can be unpredictable. Yosemite is in the Sierras and at high altitude surrounded by higher altitude. We seem to be having a late winter this year and it is not uncommon to get snow on the valley floor(4000+ ft) through mid-May. Daytime temps range 30-60 degrees. Below freezing or just above at night. Believe me, I am not trying to scare you off as I make at least one ride per year there myself. Two years ago I was snowed on during a ride in Yosemite Valley the first week of June. Last November it was sunny and 70 degrees. Just be prepared and make sure you have lodging reservations well in advance in or out of the park. April is not necessarily off-season and a number of school districts have April 9-13 off for Spring Break this year.

Your best riding will be getting to and from Yosemite. Not in the park. There are a number of creative, backroads routes and loops to get over and back from San Jose. San Antonio Road, J17, 132, J59, Hwy 49, etc. The local foothills in the Gold Country along Hwy 49 are full of great riding too!

Yosemite is a great destination full of natural beauty and just cruising the valley loop several times is quite enjoyable. Have a great time and remember no matter what the weather it will be a memorable experience!

[drifter36]

Thanks Bob - Great information. I'm in the process of planning some routes and this will really help me out.
Regards,
Bob

[Tallyho]

Happy to help and ready for any other questions about our great "backyard." ;)

http://www.yosemite.org/vryos/sentinel.jpg

[Ted Shred]

Several buddies and myself are flying into San Jose in mid april, renting bikes at sjbmw and are planning on riding in and around Yosemite for 2 days. I know its early in th season for Yosemite and Tioga and Glacier point will be closed. So here are my questions:

1. What kind of daytime temps should I expect in the area?

2. What are the "must ride" roads in/around the park?

3. What are the "must see" things?

Any advice would be welcomed.

Thanks,
Bob


Sounds like fun :) I had heard that SJBMW wasn't renting bikes any more. Are they back in the rental busniess? What models do they have?

[zippy_gg]

Happy to help and ready for any other questions about our great "backyard." ;)

http://www.yosemite.org/vryos/sentinel.jpgBrrrr!:eek:

[drifter36]

Ted,
We are renting 4 bikes:
KLT
R1150RT
R1200 ST
R1200 GS

They have one other rental bike...maybe 1150GS.

Bob

[zippy_gg]

Ted,
We are renting 4 bikes:
KLT
R1150RT
R1200 ST
R1200 GS

They have one other rental bike...maybe 1150GS.

BobThey have an ad in Friction Zone stating daily, weekly and monthly rentals of R1150RT, R1150GS and K1200LT.
Decisions... decisions...:think: :D

[tlash]

2. What are the "must ride" roads in/around the park?

State Route 49 between SR 120 and the town of Mariposa.

[kapod2t]

State Route 49 between SR 120 and the town of Mariposa.

The "Little Dragon." Check it out along with other great motorcycle roads on Pashnit:

http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/Hwy49Dragon.htm

The Sierras are a great place to ride.

You also might head northeast out of San Jose on I-680 to Alum Rock Ave. Then take Mt Hamilton Rd through the hills to Patterson. It's pretty great with a chance for a tour of Lick Observatory at the top. Lunch at "The Junction" at the corners of San Antonio Valley, Mines and Del Puerto Canyon Roads is recommended. Great burgers.

[drifter36]

Wow,
We rented bikes at San Jose BMW. (Great dealership-really customer focused) and headed out to Yosemite for three days of riding. It was, by far, some of the best riding I have done and we owe it to the people on this board who recommended the roads. We headed out of San Jose onto Alum Rock Road to West Hamilton, over the mountain, down the backside into Patterson. Wow! Great twisties. We also did 120, 41 and most of 49 especially the section south of Coulterville (the little dragon) Spectacular riding coupled with great weather.
Thanks for all the suggestions.

The Yosemite Seven