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Tioga Pass and Sonora Pass: Lee Vining and Bridgeport Access

Tioga Pass and Sonora Pass: Lee Vining and Bridgeport Access reference article on thruhikingwiki.com.

Overview

Highway corridors near Tioga Pass and Sonora Pass provide Pacific Crest Trail hikers with access to east-side towns such as Lee Vining and Bridgeport when on-trail or in-park services are limited or when additional resupply options are desired.

Key points

  • Tioga Pass (Highway 120) connects the Yosemite high country to Lee Vining on the eastern side of the Sierra.
  • Hikers sometimes use Tioga Road access when Tuolumne Meadows services are reduced or unavailable.
  • Sonora Pass (Highway 108) near PCT mile ~1,018–1,020 offers access to Bridgeport and to facilities around Kennedy Meadows North.
  • Both corridors rely on hitches or arranged transport from road crossings or nearby trailheads.
  • These access points help bridge the gap between central Sierra resupplies and later northern trail logistics.

Details

In the northern part of the high Sierra, highway passes play an important role in resupply flexibility. Tioga Pass, reached via Tioga Road, connects the Yosemite high country to the town of Lee Vining on the east side. When Tuolumne Meadows facilities are limited, closed, or operating at reduced capacity, some hikers use this corridor to reach a broader set of services.

Farther north, the PCT crosses or approaches Sonora Pass along Highway 108. From this pass, hikers can travel east to Bridgeport or toward other facilities associated with the broader Sonora Pass corridor, including the area around Kennedy Meadows North. Because transport depends on road traffic and any available shuttles or hitches, hikers often plan for variability in timing and ride availability.

These passes do not function as classic trail towns on their own, but rather as connectors to external communities. Their main role in PCT logistics is to provide additional options when constructing resupply chains for the latter half of the Sierra and the approach to the Tahoe region.

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Illustrative hiking footage

The following external videos offer general visual context for typical hiking environments. They are not official route recommendations, safety instructions, or planning tools.