The "Rim Fire" continued its spread into Yosemite National Park on Saturday, though the fire was about 20 miles north of the iconic Yosemite Valley. While some park roads and campgrounds were affected by the blaze, most were open, park officials said.
The northern part of the park, including part of Tioga Road, has some smoke, the park reported. Conditions could vary as winds shift, they added. Among the key impacts to the park:
* The Big Oak Flat Road (the continuation of Highway 120 inside Yosemite) and Highway 120 west of Yosemite are closed between the Highway 49 south junction (outside the park) to Crane Flat Campground (inside the park). If you are trying to get to Yosemite from the west, use Highway 140 from Merced. You may also enter Yosemite via Highway 41 from the south and 120 from the east (Tioga Pass).
* Hetch Hetchy Road and Evergreen Road are closed.
* Hodgdon Meadow Campground and Hetch Hetchy Backpackers' Campground are closed. (All other campgrounds in Yosemite are open.)
* Merced and Tuolumne Groves of Giant Sequoias are closed.
* Wilderness trail closures: The area west of the Harden Lake/Pate Valley trail, north from Pate Valley to the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and continuing north along the PCT to Bond Pass is closed. The park’s boundary serves as the closure’s northern and western edge south to the Merced Grove. The closure continues east along (but not including) the Tioga Road (Hwy 120 through the park) to the White Wolf Road. The Tioga Road and the trails serving as the eastern boundary of the closed area (including the PCT) remain open. View a map showing the closure.
All other roads and areas are open. Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Wawona, Mariposa Grove, Crane Flat, White Wolf, and Tuolumne Meadows areas are all open.
Add comment