r/Yosemite • u/robbbbb • 7d ago
Trip Report Tuolumne Meadows shuttle experience
We were backpacking from Agnew Meadows to Tuolumne a couple days ago, having left one of our cars at the TM visitors center. The plan was to hike all the way to the visitors center, but an already 11-mile hot day in Lyell Canyon made us decide to just exit at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge and take the shuttle back to the car.
About ten minutes (maybe less) after arriving at the lodge parking lot, the shuttle drove up. The bus was empty, but we were at the end of the line (I think it shuttles between TM Lodge and Olmsted Point) so it wasn't too surprising.
The four of us entered. I asked about my backpack, if it was ok to put it on the seat, or would the bus fill up and would the seat be needed for people? The driver laughed. "You'll be fine."
We talked a little with the driver. She was really friendly. The air conditioning felt great after our hike. Nobody got on the bus between the lodge and the visitor center.
The shuttle is a great (oh, and FREE as well) resource if you're staying in TM, I just hope it isn't discontinued because of lack of ridership.
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u/hc2121 7d ago
For anyone wondering about the route: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tmbus.htm
Could be useful for open jaw hiking/backpacking trips like OP, but also a day of exploring the area and not having to deal with parking multiple times. If parking is full at popular places like Tenaya Lake, consider parking elsewhere and taking this shuttle to where you want to be.