McDonald Pass
Peak · 10,656 ft · Yosemite corridor
McDonald Pass is a 10,656-foot Sierra Nevada peak in the Yosemite corridor, sitting between the Merced River drainage and Highway 120. Winter and spring storms bring variable conditions; wind and avalanche terrain demand caution.
Wind funnels through the pass with afternoon acceleration; mornings are calmer. Expect the 30-day average wind of 9 mph to spike to 29 mph by mid-day, especially spring through early summer. Snowpack persists well into June. Exposure is high; avalanche terrain requires current stability assessment before approach.
The 30-day average NoGo Score of 33 reflects McDonald Pass's spring character: marginal conditions on most days, with occasional windows. Temperature averages 29 degrees Fahrenheit; afternoon winds peak at 29 mph. The week ahead will track the seasonal transition. Use the chart below to spot the calmest mornings and lowest crowding windows in the forecast.
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About McDonald Pass
McDonald Pass sits on the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada at 10,656 feet, straddling the boundary between Tuolumne and Mariposa counties in the Yosemite corridor. Highway 120 (Tioga Pass Road) lies to the east; the Merced River drainage runs west. Access is via Highway 120 from the western approach near Yosemite Valley, or from the eastern gateway near Lee Vining. The pass is not a resort or developed trailhead; approach via backcountry ski touring or summer scrambling. Gateway towns are Groveland (45 minutes west) and Lee Vining (60 minutes east). The peak sits in Sierra Nevada avalanche terrain flagged by the Sacramento Avalanche Center.
Conditions at McDonald Pass swing sharply with season and time of day. The 30-day rolling average temperature sits at 29 degrees Fahrenheit, with recorded extremes from 15 degrees (winter low) to 43 degrees (early summer high) over the past year. Wind is the dominant constraint: the 30-day average is 9 mph, but afternoon gusts reach 29 mph, especially in late spring when thermal heating accelerates flow through the pass. Snowpack typically lingers until June; melt rates accelerate in May. Crowding is minimal (3.0 average on the 30-day roll), reflecting the pass's remote backcountry status and avalanche hazard. Early morning hours before 10 a.m. offer the calmest wind regime.
McDonald Pass suits experienced backcountry skiers in winter and spring, and summer scramblers or high-pass trekkers. Winter approach demands current avalanche forecast assessment from SAC; stability varies week to week with new load and solar exposure. Spring visitors should plan for wet-slab risk as freeze-thaw cycles intensify. Summer parties may find the pass more accessible via off-trail scrambling once snow clears, though exposure to afternoon wind and exposed ridge sections remains constant. Bring water, shelter from wind, and navigation tools; cell service is unreliable. No established parking facilities exist; dispersed parking near Highway 120 is standard. The remote access and avalanche exposure filter casual visitors.
Nearby alternatives include Tenaya Lake to the southwest (lower elevation, more developed, stronger afternoon wind), and Mono Basin passes to the east (drier, colder, less snow persistence). The Yosemite corridor offers multiple high-pass options at varying elevations; McDonald Pass sits at the corridor's eastern extreme and receives full sierra frontal loading during spring storms. Visitors comparing McDonald Pass to more popular crossings like Tioga Pass should expect steeper avalanche commitment and minimal infrastructure.