In the latest impact as California’s massive Sierra Nevada snowpack begins “the Big Melt,” from warming spring temperatures, much of Yosemite National Park will close from Friday night until at least Wednesday morning due to flood risk.
The Merced River, which flows through the middle of Yosemite Valley, is rising and is expected to peak Monday at about 2 or 3 feet above its flood stage. At that level, vehicles won’t be able to drive on Northside or Southside Drive in and out of Yosemite Valley.
“Its a difficult decision and we understand that people are disappointed. But the health and safety of visitors is our primary concern,” said park spokesman Scott Gediman. “We’ve had our biggest snowpack on record. We’ve needed it here in California. We’re thankful for that. But it inevitably leads to snow melt.”
Yosemite Valley areas east of the El Capitan Bridge — located about 2 miles west of the park visitor center — will close at 10 pm on Friday. There will be no public access to the visitor center, Yosemite Lodge, Ahwahnee Hotel, Curry Village, and other attractions in the eastern part of Yosemite Valley for the next four days.
Rangers plan to reopen the park fully by Wednesday, although that date could change based on river conditions.
Visitors with reservations at campgrounds and hotels in Yosemite Valley for Saturday through Tuesday nights will be notified Tuesday and receive refunds, Gediman said.
Other parts of the park, including Wawona, Tunnel View, Crane Flat, Hetch Hetchy and the westernmost end of Yosemite Valley up to the El Capitan crossover bridge, will remain open. The closed portions of Yosemite Valley also will be closed to hikers and pedestrians.
The flooding is expected to be modest, Gediman said. Park officials will put sandbags near low-lying employee homes, the Yosemite Valley School, and other at risk buildings, but otherwise will allow nature to take its course.
“These type of closures typically have been four, five or six days, in the past,” Gediman said. “This is totally different than what we saw from the snow where we had to close for 3 weeks.”
The upcoming flood disruption is the latest in a string of Yosemite closures in recent years, due to everything from wildfires to the COVID pandemic. The most recent lasted three weeks in February and March due to massive amounts of snow that cut power, blocked roads and caused rockslides.
“The water is only going to continue to rise over the next several days,” Gediman said. “That means more water across the road. People are driving through it now. But it is getting close to the point where it isn’t going to be safe for smaller vehicles.”
