Now is the time to plan an epic fall road trip combining Highway 108 east over Sonora Pass, a stretch of Interstate Route 395 south past Mono Lake, and Highway 120 west over Tioga Pass through  Yosemite National Park's less-explored Tuolumne Meadows.

Road warriors can do the loop in about five hours but plan at least one overnight to let the mountains really work their magic on you.

Highway 108 over Sonora Pass – Start at the historic town of Sonora and easily climb to 3,650 feet in Twain Harte. Just for grins, play 18 holes of mini golf among beautiful pines at the family-owned, 65-year-old Twain Harte Miniature Golf. 

Continue the trek up to 6,310 feet for Instagram-worthy views at Donnell Vista.  The all-encompassing scenery here covers the outlandish rock formations known as the Dardanelles and the crystal-clear Donnell Lake. Make some time to horse around at Kennedy Meadows Resort & Pack Station. Take a horseback ride along the South Fork of the Stanislaus River and into the stunning meadow or grab your rod and reel for some fly-fishing surrounded by towering mountains. Have a ranch-style dinner and cozy up in a rustic cabin at Kennedy Meadows Resort for a good night's sleep. 

Wake up to sunny blue skies to hit the road again and venture to the top of Sonora Pass at 9,624 feet, the second second-highest pass with a road in California and in the Sierra Nevada. Like a painted canvas, the views are lush with mountains, greenery, rivers, and lakes.   Don't forget to breathe, the air is so fresh and crisp it feels like an oxygen bar.

Time to wind down the backside of the pass and get ready to loop it to Highway 120.

Highway 120 over Tioga Pass –Tuolumne County briefly, hang a right (turn south) onto Interstate Route 395 into Mono County.   Stop in Bridgeport and explore the historical main street town while taking in the scenery of the high desert.

Roll down the windows, crank up the tunes and take in the views of Mono Lake and the Dana Plateau as you drive 40 miles south toward the Highway 120 junction in Lee Vining. 

Before heading back up the mountain, stop at the Whoa Nellie Deli at the Tioga Gas Mart in Lee Vining and don't miss the Mango Margarita (be sure to pick a designated driver). 

Take a right (turn west) on Highway 120 and wind your way up to Tioga Pass, the highest pass in the Sierra Nevada range at 9,943 feet. Stop to savor the moment at the highest point, Mount Dana, on the eastern boundary of the iconic Yosemite National Park. 

After crossing into the park, keep trekking back into Tuolumne County and take the time to explore the secluded part of Yosemite, Tuolumne Meadows.  Stretch those road trip legs with a leisurely walk through the expansive meadow. Go from meadows to ancient giants with a stop at the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.  These sequoias are the third longest-living tree specimen, dating back thousands of years.

Depart the park and get ready for a good night's sleep in the town of Groveland. Choose from mountain luxury and  at the Rush Creek Lodge and Spa, a historic hotel like the Groveland Hotel, or a quaint bed and breakfast such as the Berkshire Inn. In the morning grab a hearty breakfast and head out on a whitewater excursion on the Tuolumne River. 

The last leg of Highway 120 will land you in the ghost town of Chinese Camp.  Keep going and  explore Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown.  Soon you'll be back where you started, in the bustling Gold Rush town of Sonora.

Depart Tuolumne County with an adventure for the books and a road trip full of memories.

About Visit Tuolumne County:

Visit Tuolumne (“to-all-o-me”) County (VTC) is the official destination marketing organization for Tuolumne County in Northern California.  Tuolumne County is just a 2.5 hour drive east of the San Francisco Bay Area. The destination is known for its pristine, scenic expanse reaching into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gold was discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848, setting off the major gold rush of 1849. The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from the Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from the north. The State Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the Bay Area. The Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and other surrounding areas provide natural vistas and settings for hiking, water skiing, horseback riding, rafting, camping, snowmobiling, boating, snow skiing, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Seven restored historic hotels, four golf courses, numerous and varied dining establishments, historic saloons, four wineries, a hard cider distillery, train rides, casinos, seven museums, two state historic parks, two live theaters, many bed-and-breakfast inns and a variety of Airbnb accommodations are among the many other attributes that make the county a year-round vacation destination. For more information, go to www.visittuolumne.com.