YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — Yosemite National Park is closing at the request of the local health department. Park officials announced the unprecedented total shutdown Friday afternoon.
“As of 3 p.m today, Friday, March 20, 2020, Yosemite National Park is closed to all park visitors until further notice,” stated a news release. “This closure will be enforced 24-hours a day/7-days a week and there will be no access permitted to Yosemite National Park.”
The park is closed to all individuals with the exception of: residents of all communities within the legislative boundary of Yosemite National Park and residents of Yosemite West who are using NPS roads to access their residences. Additionally, while in the official performance of their duties: authorized NPS employees, authorized contractors of the NPS, authorized employees or contractors of Yosemite Hospitality, The Ansel Adams Gallery, NatureBridge, Yosemite Conservancy, the United States Postal Service, or other authorized park partners.
Park officials are encouraging people to take advantage of the many digital tools already available to explore Yosemite National Park.
“Visitors are encouraged to learn about park resources and stories through the many multimedia presentations currently available on the park’s website,” the release stated. “In place of traveling to Yosemite National Park in person, visitors are encouraged to download the park’s free app and continue to enjoy Yosemite National Park through the park’s webcams. There are many wonderful resources available for all ages to remotely explore Yosemite National Park.”
“The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Yosemite National Park is our number one priority. The National Park Service (NPS) is working with the federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. We will notify the public when we resume full operations and provide updates on our website and social media channels. ”
Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please check with www.nps.gov/yose for specific details about park operations.
