it's pretty much a boring straight shot from Colorado, to Reno, and, I hope to get to Reno by Wednesday night, leaving all day thursday to drive to the Pruneyard for the meet and greet. Is going south out of Reno by Lake Tahoe and a "quick" trip through Yosemitie doable? What are the roads like, and how much time would I be adding to the trip.

Just wondering.

Ferg.

Ferg,
Check the following web sites for Hwy 4/ Ebbetts Pass. It should be beautiful this time of year.

http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/Highway4.htm
http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2305/

Carl

Sweet, i think I will take a detour on thursday off the old highway. looks like 914 roads to me

Mike its 5.5 hours Reno to the Pruneyard. You've got plenty of time to see El Capitan...

Going that route by Lake Tahoe will be very SLOW. I think its 80, but it is a 2 lane narrow mountain road with a steep drop off on one side. Seems like alot of flat landers drive that route, so it is even more slow. Plus you will be driving up a steep grade, so if you are towing anything, it will be harder. Will take you 1-2 hours extra, aproximatly, if traffic is light.

I know all those routes quite well. You can take 70 through the Feather river canyon for a northern route. Take 395 south and you have several choices east to west including Tioga pass through Yosemite is a MUST see although quite long. You can cross the Sieeras on 108, 4 or hwy 88. All are worthy 914 routes and passable this year.

a nice compromise between I-80's speed and Hwy 4's scenic twisties would be to take Hwy 50; it's the way i used to cross most of the time, although it was very convenient to me living in Minden (Baja Carson City ...)

you can either pick up 50W in Carson City and go through South Lake Tahoe to see the casino experience and more of the lake, or head on south to Minden, take 88W to 89N to 50W, zip over to Sacramento, then blitz down I-5 to Hwy 152 (Pacheco Pass) across to 101. or just pick up I-80W in Sacramento and take it right into the Bay Area.

continuing on 395 just past Lee Vining to 140W is an option, i think - travel across the Yosemite Valley is pretty restricted these daya, i think - check first ...

pretty country - i miss it - although i am learning to appreciate the charms of the NorthEast ...

Ferg, if you are coming in via Highway 80 you do have several ways of getting to the Bay Area and WCM. Either backdooring Lake Tahoe from south of Reno will give you Highway 50 all the way into the Bay Area via Sacramento. You can also visit Lake Tahoe and go to Myers (on Highway 50) and take Highway 89 via Luther (?) Pass. Turn right onto Highway 88 will take you to the Bay Area via North of Stockton and 580 to the Bay Area.

Both rides are great but I believe Highway 88 is the best. Two lanes with curves etc. These two roads are not as isolated as Highway 4 over Ebbits Pass. It is beautiful but it is slow driving and every bit as others have described it. I went through on Highway 4 last weekend to the WC Lotus Meet at South Lake Tahoe. I stayed overnight in Dornington and drove the scenic 4 taking about three hours. Traffic was very light in the mid morning when I left Dorington but it was picking up in late morning. It drives slow and is very beautiful, cresting at over 8100 feet; and very little population except fishermen. Roads were clear and good condition.

Yosemite is a must but you do not have enough time to see it if you are allowing a complete day of getting to get to San Jose.

You could also drop south from Reno to Gardnerville/minden area and take Highway 88 thus missing Lake Tahoe.

Hope this information helps you.


Steve Hurt
Shoguneagle

Tioga Pass through Yosemite would be an awesome drive.

On all those Sierra roads I'd have a radar detector and I'd be cautious. Last time I was in Tahoe I got an 8mph over ticket on Highway 50. The cop must of been lonely and there was nobody else on the road for him to nab.