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Yosemite National Park Plans To Slowly Reopen On Saturday

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By NPT Staff - March 17th, 2023
The high country of Yosemite National Park has received more than 15 feet of snow since February/NPS photo

The high country of Yosemite National Park has received more than 15 feet of snow since February/NPS photo of Lembert Dome on March 12, 2023

Though yet another atmosphere river is in the forecast for California, Yosemite National Park officials are planning to slowly reopen to the public on Saturday.

The park has been closed since February 25 due to a series of storms. Since February 21, the park has received nearly two feet of liquid precipitation, and Tuolumne Meadows has received more than 15 feet of snow, according to the park's social media channels. The park has documented 22 rockslides, debris flows, and other slope failures along park roads during this time, most of which have been mitigated.

According to the Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers, the settled snow depth up there is now at 146 inches, topping out the previous record from 1983 by six inches.

For now the plan is to restore minimal public access starting Saturday, when the Yosemite Valley will be open from sunrise to sunset with very limited services available. The only access to Yosemite Valley will be via Highway 140 and El Portal Road, with a short detour in El Portal. Hetch Hetchy will reopen from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, but will only be accessible via Highway 120 west of Yosemite and Evergreen Road. All other roads and areas of the park, including Big Oak Flat and Wawona Roads, will remain closed. 

While several miles of paved pedestrian paths in Yosemite Valley are plowed, all hiking trails are covered in snow, said a park statement posted on social media channels.

"Winter weather is again in the forecast next week. However, conditions permitting, Yosemite Valley will open 24 hours per day starting Monday, with limited overnight lodging," the statement added. "Campgrounds are still buried in snow and will not open immediately."

Visitors should be prepared for the possibility of road closures and tire chain requirements. To check road conditions you can call 209/372-0200.

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