Closures

The superintendent's compendium for Yosemite National Park and superintendent's compendium for El Portal Administrative Site contain most closures and other local regulations. Closures not included in these compendiums are listed below (except for climbing closures).This page shows areas closed and uses limited by temporary regulation and doesn't include closures of facilities and services.

By order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and the under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, the following existing closures, public use limitation and general regulations are hereby modified:

 

 

Visiting Hours, Public Use Limits, Closures, Area Designations for Specific Uses or Activities and Conditions

36 CFR § 1.5 (a)(2) – Designate areas for a specific use or activity or impose conditions or restrictions on a use or activity

August 24, 2022

In response to Executive Order no. 13991 The following conditions apply to all federal employees, contractors, volunteers, park partners, and visitors:

Regardless of vaccination status, when local County COVID-19 community levels are considered “high” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all individuals over the age of two years must wear masks, except when actively eating or drinking, in all enclosed public transit, common areas and shared workspaces in federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service and in office space leased by the National Park Service within the specified County.

“Federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service” include, but are not limited to, visitor centers, administrative offices, maintenance facilities and shared government quarters; buildings assigned to concessioners or other park partners; and buildings leased for commercial purposes to individuals or entities other than the National Park Service.

All individuals over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status, when local County COVID-19 community levels are “high”, must wear masks in the following outdoor areas when others are present, except when actively eating or drinking, where the Superintendent has determined that physical distancing (staying at least six feet apart) cannot reasonably be maintained:

• Parking Lots and Viewpoints: Within 100 feet of any parking area or pullout

• Trails: Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, Mist Trail, trails within Mariposa Grove below the Clothespin Tree, Tuolumne Grove, and Merced Grove, and within ½ mile of any trailhead. 

• Interpretive Facilities and Programs: Indian Cultural Village and Pioneer Yosemite History Center, and within 50 feet of any park employee speaking to a group, gathering, or people attending an interpretive program. 

• Buildings: Within 25 feet of any public building, including (but not limited to) visitor centers, entrance stations, wilderness centers, campground offices, and ranger stations.

• Shuttle stops: Within 25 feet of shuttle stops (during seasons and hours when shuttles are operating). 

• Gathering Places: Village Mall (including the area from Yosemite Village Parking Area to the Yosemite Cemetery); Glacier Point area, including all trails from the parking lot to the amphitheater, geology exhibit, and main viewpoint area.  

• Eating Areas: Picnic areas and outdoor food service areas, when not eating or drinking. 

Masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face. Masks not designed to be protective, masks with ventilation valves, and face shields do not meet the requirement.

Masks are always required inside the Yosemite Medical Clinic regardless of vaccination status or community transmission level.

This designation rescinds all prior and will remain in place until rescinded or superseded.

 

Winter Storm Damage Closure – Tuolumne Meadows Sub-District

June 25, 2024

The 2022-2023 winter brought historic snowfall amounts to the Tuolumne Meadows Sub-District; many structures sustained damage, some significant. Due to concern for collapsing structures and impacts to employees working and living in these areas, the following areas are closed to all access.

By order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1.5(a) and Section (a)(1):

Starting June 10, 2024, the following areas within Yosemite National Park will be closed to access:

• All structures or areas signed as closed.
• All construction areas.
• Upper Dog Lake Parking

Employees on official business or accessing assigned housing or camping areas are exempted from this order. This designation rescinds the previous closure signed July 24, 2023, and will remain in place until rescinded.The closure area will be monitored to ensure compliance.

 

Public Safety Closure – Rockfall Hazard West of Royal Arches

August 30, 2023

Rock climbers recently reported a new crack in a cliff on the western side of Royal Arches, near the climbing route Super Slide. Subsequent investigation revealed that this crack has partially detached a large pillar of rock, and that cracking was actively occurring. As a precautionary effort to reduce risk from rockfall, the National Park Service is implementing a temporary area and trail closure while the area is investigated further.By order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1.5(a) and Section (a)(1): The following areas and trails are closed to visitor use, including climbing and hiking activities, beginning August 30, 2023 and remaining in effect until further notice:

1. Area / Trail Closure:
   The Closure includes the Eastern portion of the Ahwahnee Hotel Parking area and extends to just East of Royal Arches creek. Approx. ¼ mile section of the Valley Loop Trail is included in the closure with a marked detour route around the hazard area.

2. Serenity Crack and Super Slide Climbing Area Closure: Closure includes all routes between and including Peruvian Flake West to the Rhombus Wall. The popular routes Serenity Crack/Sons of Yesterday, and Super Slide are included in the closure.

3. Ahwahnee Boulders Climbing: Closure includes all boulders east of and including the Ahwahnee boulder.

The cliff and cracks will be monitored to provide current information on rockfall hazard, and these closures are subject to change based on this monitoring. Your cooperation in complying with these temporary closures is greatly appreciated. The designation will remain in place until rescinded.

 

 

Safety Closure

June 25, 2024

Due to high fire danger and enhanced risk to the public, employees, and first responders, by order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 2.13(c) the El Portal Woodlot and Foresta Woodlot will be temporarily closed.

• Residents and employees will not be allowed to utilize the woodlots for debris disposal until further notice.

These areas will be closed for the duration of the 2024 fire season. Notice of closure will be posted and the areas will be monitored to ensure compliance. This designation will remain in place until rescinded.

 

Public Use Limit

Yosemite National Park is one of the busiest units of the National Park System. The park has piloted various reservation systems since 2020 due to the pandemic and construction closures. These systems have helped inform the Visitor Access Management Plan currently in development. This year, the park will experiment with some variations to see what solutions successfully ease overcrowding during peak times while continuing to offer access for all to this extremely popular park. Additionally, the road network, particularly in Yosemite Valley, was not designed to handle the volume of traffic typically present during the summer months, holidays, or weekends in spring and fall. When the volume of vehicles exceeds the roadway capacity of the area, the resulting gridlock creates unacceptable public safety concerns as well as a severely degraded visitor experience. To preserve public safety and visitor experience, the Superintendent has placed the following limitations on public use until further notice.

By order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1.5(a), Section (a)(1) and Section (a)(2):A public use limit is in effect within Yosemite National Park on the following dates in 2024 from 5:00 am to 4:00 pm:

• April 13 through June 30 on Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays (May 27/Memorial Day and June 19/Juneteenth)

• July 1 through August 16 on every day
• August 17 through October 27 on Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays (September 2/Labor Day and October 14/Columbus Day)

A peak-hours reservation is required for any vehicle to enter Yosemite National Park between 5:00 am and 4:00 pm on the days described above with the following exceptions:

• Vehicles with an occupant that possesses a valid wilderness permit reservation; Half Dome permit; reservation for lodging or camping within the park or private rental in Wawona, Foresta, or Yosemite West; proof of participation in an activity authorized through a commercial use authorization or special use permit; or proof of a reservation for participation in an authorized concessioner or partner activity.

• Administrative traffic, which is defined as vehicles driven by: government employees on official business; park residents; authorized contractors; commercial and USPS delivery drivers; individuals with a valid Yosemite National Park entry sticker affixed to the windshield; individuals conducting official business with NPS, a resident, park concessioners or park partners; or those who are authorized guests of park residents.
• Vehicles entering the park at the Hetch Hetchy entrance.

These measures are being enacted to maintain public health and safety. The area will be monitored to ensure compliance with these limits and/or restrictions. This designation will remain in place until rescinded.

 

Safety Closure—Merced Grove Trail

The Merced Grove of giant sequoias is at risk from high severity fire. There is no modern fire history, and there is dangerously high fuel loading. Between 2020-2021, nearly 20% of the entire population of mature sequoias were killed by fire across the Sierra Nevada. To reduce the threat of fire, the grove and access road is being closed to implement a forest health restoration project to remove the hazardous fuels. Due to the narrow roads, use of heavy equipment and truck traffic, it is unsafe for visitor access during the restoration.

By order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1.5(a) and Section (a)(1):

Starting July 8th, 2024, the following areas within Yosemite National Park will be closed:

• · All areas marked as “Area Closed” on the accompanying map entitled “Merced Grove Restoration Area” are closed to entry.
• · Merced Grove of giant sequoias
• · Merced Grove trail
• · Merced Grove road

Management actions are exempted from this order; this designation will remain in place until rescinded.

The closure area will be monitored to ensure compliance. See attached map entitled “Merced Grove Restoration Area” for more information.

 

 

Visiting Hours, Public Use Limits, Closures, Area Designations for Specific Uses or Activities and Conditions [specific to El Portal Administrative Site]

36 CFR § 34.5 (a)(3) and 1.5 (a)(2) – Designate areas for a specific use or activity or impose conditions or restrictions on a use or activity

August 14, 2022

In response to Executive Order no. 13991 The following conditions apply to all federal employees, contractors, volunteers, park partners, and visitors:

Regardless of vaccination status, when local County COVID-19 community levels are considered “high” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all individuals over the age of two years must wear masks, except when actively eating or drinking, in all enclosed public transit, common areas and shared workspaces in federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service and in office space leased by the National Park Service within the specified County.

“Federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service” include, but are not limited to, visitor centers, administrative offices, maintenance facilities and shared government quarters; buildings assigned to concessioners or other park partners; and buildings leased for commercial purposes to individuals or entities other than the National Park Service.

All individuals over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status, when local County COVID-19 community levels are “high”, must wear masks in the following outdoor areas when others are present, except when actively eating or drinking, where the Superintendent has determined that physical distancing (staying at least six feet apart) cannot reasonably be maintained:

• Parking Lots and Viewpoints: Any parking lot or pullout.

• Interpretive Facilities and Programs: El Portal Train Exhibit and within 50 feet of any park employee speaking to a group or gathering.

• Buildings: Within 25 feet of any public building, including (but not limited to) the entrance station, post office, fire station, community hall, and gas station.

• Bus stops: When entering, riding, and exiting buses and shuttles (during seasons and hours when buses are operating).

• Gathering Places: Prominent beaches along the river.

• Eating Areas: Picnic areas and outdoor food service areas, when not eating or drinking. 

Masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face. Masks not designed to be protective, masks with ventilation valves, and face shields do not meet the requirement.

This designation rescinds all prior and will remain in place until rescinded or superseded.

 

Area Closure (El Portal Trailer Court)

July 1, 2022

In order to maintain public health and safety, the El Portal Trailer Court (EPTC) was closed to public use on March 14, 2022. Individuals who previously had housing assignment agreements with the National Park Service for government lots in the trailer court were provided official notice of the closure and given until June 30, 2022, to remove all personal property from the area. Effective July 1, 2022, at 12:01 am the EPTC (see attached map) is closed to all but administrative uses; all personal property remaining within the closed area will be considered abandoned and will be processed in accordance with the provisions of 36 CFR Sections 34.5(b)(14) and 2.22(c)(3) and 41 CFR Part 102-41.

By order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 34.5(a)(3), Section 1.5(a) and Section (a)(1):

Starting July 1, 2022, at 12:01 am the El Portal Trailer Court is closed to all public use.

Notice of closure will be posted and the area will be monitored to ensure compliance; administrative activities are exempted from this order. See attached map entitled “El Portal Trailer Court Area Closure” for more information.