Secondary driving routes to Yosemite NP (Blue Highways)

As we were discussing here:
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,62618,62672#msg-62672
there are some interesting driving routes into & out of Yosemite, other than things like the Highway 580-205-120 path I've followed so many times from the Bay Area.

Here's my favorite Westbound option. Right off 108/120 it goes through picturesque Knight's Ferry (there's a great swimming hole at the city park between the highway and town - good for a cleansing rinse after backpacking), bypasses main streets in Oakdale, and passes through some very pretty rural Central Valley locations (can save time on an overloaded holiday weekend where there's traffic in Oakdale & Escalon):







You can also jump in there beyond Knight's Ferry by exiting at Lancaster (East of Oakdale) and following Orange Blossom across the river to Rodden Road - saves some windy bits near the beginning.

Inspired by William Least Heat-Moon's great Blue Highways book:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Highways

As Graham Parker says - GET ON the Blue Highways!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQNdWQEMgdM

What would you suggest for someone coming from the south?

Quote
eeek
What would you suggest for someone coming from the south?

Hard to say, really - depends on where you're starting. I lived in the Central Valley for a while, and grew to love the open two-lane roads and funky little towns. River crossings limit choices for sure. Any of those main roads that criss-cross the valley can be interesting, if you're in that frame of mind. Helps to have a passenger that's good with maps & directions. Where would you be starting from?

Oh, and almond trees in blossom around March are especially wonderful:



:-)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/29/2013 01:10AM by vdrummer.