Union Point
Peak · 6,332 ft · Yosemite corridor
Union Point is a 6,332-foot peak in the Yosemite corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. The summit sits in avalanche terrain with exposure to afternoon wind and variable snowpack.
Union Point funnels wind off the adjacent terrain by mid-afternoon, with gusts reaching 17 mph in the rolling 365-day period. Morning calm is the rule; afternoon the exception. Snow persists into late spring, and cornices form on wind-loaded slopes. Check SAC forecasts before any winter approach.
Over the last 30 days, Union Point averaged 41 degrees and 7 mph wind with an average NoGo Score of 33. The week ahead will track similar patterns. Watch for afternoon wind spikes and persistent snowpack instability on north and east aspects. Spring conditions here are unpredictable; solid days cluster around stable pressure windows.
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About Union Point
Union Point sits at 6,332 feet in the Yosemite corridor, roughly 10 miles northwest of Tuolumne Meadows along the Highway 120 approach from the west. The peak lies in avalanche terrain and is accessed most commonly from the Tioga Pass gateway (Highway 395 junction) via Highway 120 eastbound into the Sierra. Winter and spring access requires Highway 120 to be open; chains are mandatory and closures are frequent. Drive-time from Lee Vining to the trailhead is roughly 90 minutes when roads are passable.
Temperature at Union Point ranges from 7 degrees in the dead of winter to 62 degrees in late summer, with spring averaging 41 degrees over the last 30 days. Wind averages 7 mph but spikes to 17 mph on exposed afternoons. Crowding is minimal year-round (average 3 out of 10), though the first weekends after Highway 120 opens in late spring see a temporary uptick as Yosemite traffic funnels through. The 30-day average NoGo Score of 33 reflects volatile spring conditions. Early morning visits cut wind exposure by half.
Union Point suits climbers and peak-baggers comfortable in avalanche terrain and prepared for rapid weather shifts. Winter and spring ascents demand beacon, probe, and shovel; most traffic comes in late summer when snowpack has consolidated. Experienced Sierra walkers use Union Point as part of a longer ridge traverse. Solitude is near-guaranteed except during the first surge after Highway 120 opens. Afternoon wind makes summit camps and exposed traverses risky; descend by early afternoon if wind is climbing.
Nearby alternatives in the Yosemite corridor include peaks along the Cathedral Range and high meadow approaches near Tenaya Lake, which offer lower avalanche exposure but steeper crowds. Compared to the more famous peaks visible from Glacier Point or the Tioga Road corridor, Union Point sees a fraction of the traffic and offers genuine remote conditions. Pair a Union Point ascent with exploration of the high passes and ridges west toward the Cathedral Range for a multi-day high-country loop.