Parks and Recreation in Yellowstone were closed by severe weather on June 4, 2004, after a record-breaking flood, said Superintendent Cam Sholly
Regular visitor vehicle traffic was allowed at the park on Saturday for the first time since June, when the gate was closed due to severe weather.
“We are very pleased to be restoring public access to the northeast corridor just four months after the June flood event,” Superintendent Cam Sholly said in a statement.
Sholly applauded the collective effort by the National Park Service, the Federal Highway Administration, and Oftedal Construction, Inc.
Yellowstone experienced record-breaking flooding during a June storm that sent rivers swelling to “unprecedented” levels, according to the National Weather Service.
The General’s Highway, the park’s main road, is closed for several days because of the combination of snow and rain, which is exacerbated by the landscape being weakened by fire. This has damaged culverts and caused erosion, landslides, downed trees and flooding. Other park roads have also been affected by washouts; at least one campground was destroyed.
For Kevin Drake, a co-owner of Tahoe’s Alibi Ale Works, challenges included both the loss of weekend business and infrastructure difficulties. Closures of mountain passes, for example, prevented the delivery of ingredients for brewing and delayed beer shipments to distributors.
The Sacramento Giant Forest: Road conditions, roads closed, and other mountain areas remain closed for the week ending March 24th through March 31st
Travelers can expect the mountains to be busy. Ms. Burke recommends visiting Mammoth midweek, and Ms. Guinn encourages downloading apps for resorts (which share current weather information and more) and checking the Caltrans website for the latest on road conditions.
A drop in elevation can be the difference between a stunning snowpack and major damage. The site of the KNP Complex fire in 2021, is where giant sequoia trees are located in Kings Canyon National Parks.
The communications director said that this would be the year because of the damage done to the area by the wildfires and the Pandemic. “Now, the pendulum has swung in the other direction.”
It could be sooner rather than later that you will be able to access the Giant Forest. Public access could be restored on February 11th with one lane of traffic in at least one section of the General’s Road.
The upper section of the road that connects Sequoia and King’s Canyon is always closed in the winter and it is unclear what conditions will be in the summer.
Yosemite has experienced significant snowfall in the entire park, resulting in snow depths of up to 15 feet in some areas.
In the Sierra Nevada mountains, there is a National Park called Yosemite which has been affected by the winter storms. Others are also closed, either fully or partially.
National and State Parks are called the Redwoods. In far Northern California on the Pacific Coast, you’re still mostly out of luck. “Due to multiple storms causing downed trees and power outages, there are closures throughout the park.”
The Joshua Tree National Park is located close to Palm Springs. “All the main roads are now open. Campgrounds, visitor centers and hiking trails are open. Water and ice may be present on the roads; drive cautiously. All dirt roads are closed and will reopen when cleared.
• California state parks: As of Thursday afternoon, 14 state parks were fully closed, and another 34 were partially closed. But with more than 280 park units in the system, plenty of options remain. The latest updates are available here.
If you were to visit the Grand Canyon on Thursday, you’d be urged to put your plans on hold. There are a lot of regional roads closed this morning. The footpaths and trails leading into Grand Canyon are covered in snow. Foot traction is advised.
And remember that just because a park remains open, it may not be easy to access. Ensure that you are well-equipped with the appropriate gear and clothing, and that your vehicle is winter- ready.