YOSEMITE — After years of drought, the central Sierra has experienced much welcome precipitation, and reports from the higher elevations of Yosemite National Park are encouraging. Park staff have completed the April 1 snow surveys, and report that the water content of the snowpack in the Tuolumne drainage is 177 percent of average. In the Merced drainage it is 168 ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park reports that significant progress has been made on repairs to the Big Oak Flat road. Road crews have hit the bottom of an underground spring that caused soils to erode, and are working to stabilize and rebuild the road. The park pledges to announce an opening date for the Big Oak Flat road as soon ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — A Winter Storm Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the Sierra Nevada above 7,000 feet, from Yosemite National Park to the Tulare and Kings county line. The watch is in effect from late Friday morning, Apr. 7 through 11 a.m. Saturday morning, Apr. 8. Hazards may include snow and blowing snow, with accumulations of ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park and Yosemite Conservancy today announced the launch of KeepBearsWild.org, a new website to protect the park’s iconic black bears. The website features the National Park Service’s first online bear tracker, information on ways for the public to help save bears, and eye-opening photography and videos not before available to the public. “KeepBearsWild.org is an important ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park continues to repair the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 West) leading to Yosemite Valley from Crane Flat to Foresta Junction. The road has been closed since late February. Severe winter storms that have given new life to an underground spring have caused saturated, heavy soils under the road to slide downhill. Over 200 feet ...

YOSEMITE — The Glacier Point Road will be closed to public access at the end of Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area’s last day of the season – Sunday, Apr. 2. The gate at Chinquapin will be closed and locked at 7 p.m. that evening. The road will be open to administrative traffic only to Badger. Roads crews will begin snow ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite Conservancy is providing $12 million in support to Yosemite National Park for 34 projects in 2017 including building a new trail to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias along a historic stage-coach route, restoring bee, butterfly and hummingbird habitat, and studying species in Ackerson Meadow, the newest area of the park. “Incredible work is being done in ...

OAKHURST — Here’s your reminder about delays north of town on Highway 41 this week, as Caltrans reports that hazard tree removal continues. Traffic control/road closure is in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Tree removal will continue at mile marker 43.1, about one mile north of Cedar Valley Road. The crews will work moving north from there on ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The massive hazard tree removal project that has been underway along Highway 41 and Highway 49 in the foothills since last fall has been given the funding to continue, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Caltrans spokesman Cory Burkarth announced today that $3 million more in funding has been allocated for the project, and operations are ...

YOSEMITE — After being closed for nearly three weeks for major repairs, Highway 41 into Yosemite reopened yesterday afternoon to one-way traffic. However, Highway 120 remains closed due to severe road damage. Yosemite National Park continues work to repair the Big Oak Flat Road (continuation of Highway 120 ) leading to Yosemite Valley. Severe winter storms have impacted the road ...