Yosemite

[hmcfly]

I'm going to take a trip to Yosemite at Thousand Trails campground and I need to go through Groveland. The only way that I see is that you have to go up New Priest rd, I ve been up it but never been down it, how bad is it to go down?

[time2roll]

Did that about two years ago. Allow an extra 20 minutes and keep your speed down and all is fine. The road itself is in very good condition.

[hmcfly]

rightlaneonly wrote:

Ed_Gee wrote:
I do not recall the Priest grade section of Highway 120 being too difficult.... yes curvy but no excessive grade in my opinion. Lived there for 20 years and drove it often. Then again, that was 20 years ago. Note: Not to be confused with Old Priest Grade road, which is likely impossible for an RV,!

Agree with this. New Priest grade is a comfortable but curvy road, not to steep. I drove trucks hauling gasoline over it for 25 years and my pickup more than that. The steepest spot is just out of Big Oak Flat going west but it's short. Gear down here. You didn't say what you're driving/pulling but it's not a bad road, take it slow, you should be fine.

I'm pulling a 36 ft trailer 8000 pounds

[rightlaneonly]

Ed_Gee wrote:
I do not recall the Priest grade section of Highway 120 being too difficult.... yes curvy but no excessive grade in my opinion. Lived there for 20 years and drove it often. Then again, that was 20 years ago. Note: Not to be confused with Old Priest Grade road, which is likely impossible for an RV,!

Agree with this. New Priest grade is a comfortable but curvy road, not to steep. I drove trucks hauling gasoline over it for 25 years and my pickup more than that. The steepest spot is just out of Big Oak Flat going west but it's short. Gear down here. You didn't say what you're driving/pulling but it's not a bad road, take it slow, you should be fine.

[Ed_Gee]

I do not recall the Priest grade section of Highway 120 being too difficult.... yes curvy but no excessive grade in my opinion. Lived there for 20 years and drove it often. Then again, that was 20 years ago. Note: Not to be confused with Old Priest Grade road, which is likely impossible for an RV,!

[Lwiddis]

New Priest (aka CA 120, the Tioga Road) isn’t bad just stay in a low gear…first or second…and use your brakes without constant pedal pressure.

[Fresno_Tundra_D]

We went down that way from Tuolumne meadows campground about 10 years ago. It was pretty steep with lots of sharp curves. Towing our 28 foot fifth wheel, we kept it mostly in first gear to help keep things slow. It’s doable but I from now on I just exit back through Yosemite valley to come home. Good luck.