For a completely different, and quite awesome perspective on Yosemite, take a trip on the Tioga Road (State Highway 120) over Tioga Pass and down the east side of the Sierra to Lee Vining.

In contrast to the gently sloping, tree-covered west slope, the east face of the Sierra is a steep, dramatic escarpment rising from the Great Basin region. In fact, it is only twelve miles from the Tioga Pass Entrance gate to the “bottom”, at Highway 395. Lee Vining is another mile north on 395 (allow about twenty minutes from the Entrance gate to the town).

An unforgettable sight as you descend from the pass is Mono Lake, just east of Lee Vining, a habitat for millions of migratory and nesting birds. For more information on Mono Lake and the Lee Vining area, visit the Mono Lake web site.