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golden · 05-23-2011, 03:55 PM

We just spent this past weekend visiting Yosemite and stayed at Pacific Pine RV Park about 45 miles from Yosemite Village (I wasn't impressed and my review is on campgroundreviews.com if you're interested).. To get there, it was recommended that we go to Merced and then Snelling, take J59 to 108 and 120 and approach from the North (or maybe east, I'm not sure). Naturally, driving from CA 99 was all uphill, but pretty easy. When we got to Groveland, all was still well. Just past there we hit the dreaded "squigglies". OMG!!!!! Super tight switchbacks galore, grades in excess of 10%, etc for about 6-8 miles until just before the turnoff to the park. Going there was ok, it was coming DOWN than was really interesting. Luckily, I used 2nd almost the whole way and rarely used my brakes and made it fine.

I'm one of the people who always recommends to others not to travel Red Mountain Pass (CO Hwy 550) unless you are comfortable with mountain driving (I am). Now I have to put RMP as MUCH easier than CA 120. I can't imagine ever again being concerned about any road again!

User1011 · 05-23-2011, 04:26 PM

A number of years ago we went to Yosemite NP and drove a 34' Monaco Windsor DP with a toad from Southern California. We made our base camp at a KOA in Visalia, I believe. Drove the toad into the valley. It worked well and no stress. Can't imagine what you did!

golden · 05-23-2011, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Fun

A number of years ago we went to Yosemite NP and drove a 34' Monaco Windsor DP with a toad from Southern California. We made our base camp at a KOA in Visalia, I believe. Drove the toad into the valley. It worked well and no stress. Can't imagine what you did!

Visalia is a LONG way from Yosemite for a day trip. I stayed there the day before I drove to near Groveland. You drove a different route than the one I took and your MH is 6' shorter, a huge difference in reference to gassers. The route I took was the one recommended by the park, starting at Merced. FWIW, other of my CA friends have also stated that the route I took was out of the way. I can't say as I'm unfamiliar with what might be the "right" way, but at least it was the correct way to leave the area.