Highway120Adventure

Highway120Adventure Highway 120 Adventure: A perfect road trip, CA120 spans the Central Valley, Gold Rush country, Sierr The Highway 120 Adventure – A Perfect Road Trip!

State Route 120 in Northern California is about 206 miles long, you could traverse the entire highway from end to end in a day, but why would you when there is so much to see and do along the way? Let’s take a journey along this historic road, from west to east, and sample just a few of the attractions and recreational opportunities on offer, which by the way includes not only Yosemite National Pa

rk but many other unique attractions and beautiful places too! CA-120 spans from Manteca in the west to Benton Station in the east, traversing the California Central Valley, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Gold Rush country, Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park, Inyo National Forest, and the high desert of the eastern Sierra's. Highway 120 is the only road that boasts TWO Yosemite National Park gates, the Big Oak Flat entrance station in the west and the Tioga entrance station in the east. The towns of CA-120 include the significant communities of Escalon, Oakdale, Groveland, and Lee Vining as well as small historical locations such as Knight's Ferry, Chinese Camp, Moccasin, Big Oak Flat, Buck Meadows, and Benton Hot Springs.

Announcing the winners of the Great Valley Bookfest's Bookmark Contest!  Be sure to put the bookfest on your calendar, O...
08/29/2026

Announcing the winners of the Great Valley Bookfest's Bookmark Contest! Be sure to put the bookfest on your calendar, October 10th, happening along the Highway120Adventure at the Bass Pro Center in Manteca.

Congratulations to our 2026 Bookmark Contest Winners: Finley, Haiven and Grace! Stop by Great Valley Bookfest this year and pick up their original designs to add to your bookmark collection!

08/22/2026

It started with dirty toilet paper.

Seriously.

Ken Yager was tired of stepping over toilet paper and trash at the crags in Yosemite, so he and a group of climbers decided to do something about it: they started cleaning up.

This photo is Ken sitting in the back of his red truck during the very first Yosemite Facelift in 2004.

What began with a handful of climbers picking up trash has grown into five days of stewardship, community, climbing culture and thousands of people coming together to care for Yosemite.

This September, we do it for the 23rd time.

Yosemite Facelift
September 23–27, 2026

Come pick up some trash with us. 🧤🏔️ Register here: https://tinyurl.com/facelift2026

08/22/2026
08/22/2026
08/22/2026

Following its inaugural 2026 festival, the Yosemite Film Festival & Storyteller Summit returns to Yosemite Valley April 8–11, 2027.

Presented by the Yosemite Climbing Association, the festival is rooted in one of the most influential landscapes in climbing and outdoor history and celebrates films and stories that explore our relationship with wild places. Programming centers on climbing, outdoor adventure, environmental storytelling, and human-powered experiences, with an emphasis on ethics, stewardship, and sense of place.

https://filmfreeway.com/f/YosemiteFilmFestival-1

08/07/2026

From repairing roads and trails to restoring historic landmarks and upgrading water systems, we’re marking six years of the (GAOA) and its role in preserving national parks and improving the places millions of people visit each year.

Signed into law on August 4, 2020, GAOA established the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), which is investing up to $7 billion to address critical infrastructure needs across the National Park System. These projects help protect special places while improving opportunities for recreation, learning, and discovery for current and future generations.

Today, we’re kicking off Six Days of GAOA LRF. Over the next few days, we’ll highlight projects from parks across the country and showcase how these projects are helping to repair, restore, and upgrade park facilities to improve the visitor experience for all.

Image: The rehabilitation of The Ahwahnee Hotel at Yosemite National Park is one of hundreds of infrastructure projects supported by the Great American Outdoors Act, helping preserve iconic places while improving the visitor experience for generations to come.

08/07/2026
08/07/2026

It’s warming up in Yosemite National Park this weekend. Make sure you are prepared. 🌡️

Yosemite is experiencing a heat wave, with temperatures reaching over 100°F (37.8°C) in Yosemite Valley this weekend. Stay cool and safe by checking off our summer safety list:

🛟 If you plan to swim, choose popular beaches along the shores of the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, or Tenaya Lake in Tuolumne Meadows. Always use caution when walking near rivers, waterfalls, and other water sources—rocks are extremely slippery, and currents can remain dangerous even when water levels are low.

💧 If you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Drink water before, during, and after your activities. Free water stations are available throughout the park for refilling bottles. Take advantage of them whenever possible. Don’t forget to eat salty snacks, too!

🐾 Protect your pets by checking pavement temperatures. If the sidewalk is too hot to touch with your hand, it’s too hot for their paws. Don’t leave your dog in the car.

🌅 Hike early in the morning or later in the evening when it’s coolest. Take frequent breaks in the shade, and wear sun-protective clothing along with a wide-brimmed hat.

👵 Check on family members who may be more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, especially the elderly, young children, and those with medical conditions.

💫 Recognize the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke: fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. If someone shows confusion, loses consciousness, or has a body temperature above 103°F (39.4°C), call or text 911 immediately.

For the latest park conditions, visit: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

08/07/2026

Yosemite Correction: Come to the 35th Annual Parsons Memorial Lodge Summer Series!
Saturday, August 8
Yosemite Wildlife
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
A talk by author Beth Pratt
3:15 – 4:00 p.m.
A talk by photographer Robb Hirsch
Reception and book signing to follow

Sunday, August 9
What an Owl Knows has been cancelled. Alternative program is being scheduled. Check local listings.
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Admission is free. Arrive early to find parking. Allow 30-50 minutes to walk to Parsons Memorial Lodge.

Address

Groveland, CA
95321

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