Yosemite Closes Glacier Point, Tioga Roads Ahead of Storms
Park officials shut two major roads starting Thursday evening as a series of storms and a snow forecast move in.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Forecasts
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Yosemite National Park is closing Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, due to a series of incoming storms and a forecast of snow. Park officials announced the closures in a Facebook post.
Why it matters
The closure of Tioga Road cuts off access to Tuolumne Meadows and blocks entry into the park from the east for the duration of the storms. Visitors planning trips to Yosemite this week should check road status before departing, as officials will evaluate conditions after the storms pass.
Forecasts call for rain Friday, Nov. 13, followed by showers and possibly a thunderstorm, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Park officials have not yet announced when Glacier Point Road or Tioga Road will reopen.
The players
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a national park in California's Sierra Nevada known for granite cliffs, waterfalls and Glacier Point, managed by the National Park Service.
The details
Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road close beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday. Park entrances from Highway 120 West, Hetch Hetchy, Highway 140 and Highway 41 remain open, and chain requirements are strictly enforced during snowy or icy conditions.
Timeline
September 2026: Glacier Point Road closed due to Dome Fire smoke.
Oct. 10, 2026: Glacier Point Road reopened after the Dome Fire closure.
Nov. 12, 2026, 5 p.m.: Glacier Point and Tioga Roads close due to storms.
Nov. 13, 2026: Rain predicted, followed by showers and possible thunderstorm.
November through May or June: Tioga Road typically closes seasonally.
Seasonal Patterns
This closure follows the September 2026 Dome Fire shutdown of Glacier Point Road, which reopened Oct. 10, and it arrives as Tioga Road enters its usual November-to-May seasonal closure. Together they show the park's high-elevation roads are being restricted by both wildfire smoke and winter weather in the same season.
Drivers planning to reach Yosemite should check road conditions before leaving, since Glacier Point and Tioga Roads are closed starting Thursday evening. Highway 120 West, Highway 140 and Highway 41 remain open, and chain requirements are strictly enforced during snow or ice.
The takeaway
Yosemite's high-elevation roads close quickly when storms arrive, so checking conditions before you travel can prevent being turned around at the park boundary. Carry chains during winter trips, since they are strictly enforced when snow or ice is present.
Further reading
Check the latest Forecasts coverage for storm timing that could affect travel into California's mountain parks.
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