It has not been a great year for some national parks in terms of natural disasters. Fires and floods might be normal occurrences, but they’re no fun for us!
Two fires have been burning inside or near Yosemite National Park for several days now. The fires have engulfed several homes and businesses. The growth of the fires, being battled by at least 2,000 firefighters, has made this one of the largest fires of the year for California. It has forced thousands of residents to evacuate. One source has the number of evacuees up to 6,000 residents.
For those of you with plans to travel to Yosemite National Park, please make sure that you check out their website for updated information on road closures and other restrictions taking place at this time.
Yosemite National Park Website
Here is what we found about closures:
Park Closure
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A reservation is required to drive into or through Yosemite during peak hours
A reservation is required to drive into or through Yosemite National Park from 6 am to 4 pm daily. If you are planning to arrive after 4 pm, please do not arrive at a park entrance station until after 4 pm. Vehicles blocking roads will be cited.more
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Wawona and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias are closed due to a fire
The community of Wawona, Wawona Campground, and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias are closed. Wawona Road (continuation of Highway 41 into the park) is open, with no stopping or parking from the park’s southern boundary to Wawona.more
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Glacier Point Road is closed
The entire Glacier Point Road is closed in 2022. The only access to Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome, Taft Point, and other Glacier Point Road destinations is via a long, strenuous hike. No water or toilets are available at Glacier Point.more
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Face masks are required indoors
Masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings and enclosed public transportation, regardless of vaccination status.more
So, according to this, the park is still open. However, you only have access through having a reservation. Here are some more important information before traveling to Yosemite:
Fire and Smoke
The Washburn fire is burning near the Mariposa Grove; smoky conditions are possible mainly in the Wawona area. The Oak Fire is burning in the Midpines and Mariposa areas west of Yosemite and will also degrade air quality.
Yosemite air quality may be affected by fires elsewhere in the region or by prescribed fire in Yosemite; hazy or smoky conditions are possible.
Fire and Smoking Restrictions
Tweets About The Yosemite Fire
They’ve survived over 2 Millenia, the worlds largest tree’s, they’ll survive this! 🙏 The giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove, Yosemite. #mariposa #yosemitefire #YosemiteNP pic.twitter.com/N8MPX5MELx
— Mark Houde Photography (@MarkHoudePhoto) July 14, 2022
“Emergency evacuations are underway in California as a giant wildfire just got even bigger. The Oak Fire near Yosemite National Park has exploded in size, now burning more than 6,000 acres, and it is 0% contained," CNN's Jim Acosta reported.
So tragic.
My visit in Nov 2019. pic.twitter.com/ijHjIoqTXY
— Christopher, Esq. 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@ChrisAlbertoLaw) July 24, 2022
Hundreds of firefighters are battling a fast-moving fire burning near Yosemite National Park in California. A mandatory evacuation order was issued as the Oak Fire quickly exploded to thousands of acres, according to state fire officials. https://t.co/GP1szQRLsC pic.twitter.com/JMw1QUhO0L
— ABC News (@ABC) July 24, 2022
This Friday I will update both Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks. These are both heavily visited during the summer months. With flooding and fires , these elements of nature have caused two of our best national parks to alter plans for visitors.
Keep up with the latest news on travel inside our national parks by checking out That Park Place. Feel free to drop a comment or suggestion for us.
Be blessed and safe travels, friends!!!
