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Tonijim's avatar
Tonijim
Explorer
Aug 29, 2017

Beware "Old Priest Grad Road" - west entry to Yosemite

Learned a hard lesson today traveling on CA 120 to the west entrance to Yosemite. Google Maps told us to take what appeared to be a shortcut called "Old Priest Grade Road ". No warnings of what was to be a very hairy ride. Six miles of steep 6-8 % upslope grades, switchbacks, a narrow road with no guard rails. Our 32' Class C labored mightily in the lowest gear. On several occasions I was not sure we could make it. When we arrived at Yosemite Lakes CG, the staff said that there were supposed to be warnings for any vehicle more than 30' fore to aft. We saw no such warnings. The staff said that there was a newer "Grade" road, much easier to navigate. Google Maps needs to update it routing. Does anyone know how to ring Google Maps bell? Anyone else had this problem? This was a very dangerous shortcut.
Roads and Routes

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  • 1320Fastback's avatar
    1320Fastback
    Explorer
    Aug 29, 2017
    I have a cousin who is a world traveller and he told me one night in Switzerland the navigation had him drive across a narrow foot bridge to a mountain hostel. In the morning when he walked outside he felt sick looking at what they drove across and realising they had to drive back across it.

    Also in Japan while navagating to a fish market it wanted him to drive down a boat ramp and cross a bay. He said he people had done it.
  • Ed_Gee's avatar
    Ed_Gee
    Explorer II
    Aug 29, 2017
    There is a large yellow "warning" sign and a larger white sign prohibiting trucks, trailers and RVs from using that road. This is followed quickly by another smaller white sign stating a weight limit of 7500 pounds. Sounds to me like someone is not paying attention. Had you not exited onto that road you would have remained on the newer and perfectly reasonable Highway 120.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Aug 29, 2017
    Best stories often begin with taking a shortcut ;)

    Actually there is a sign.

    "trucks buses motorhomes trailers prohibited"

    google street view

    Then a second sign "weight limit 7500"
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Aug 29, 2017
    "Old Priest Grade is one of the steepest paved roads in Tuolumne County, and some hill-climbing bicyclists believe it’s one of the steepest in the Golden State. Duke York, deputy director for Tuolumne County roads and engineering, said the road is 1.97 miles from bottom to top, with grade steepness up to 18 percent, and the steepest stretch might be closer to 20 percent." per Union-Democrat, a Sonora, CA newspaper.

    I did CA 4 in my youth with a trailer but never OPG.

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