FISH CAMP – Let the summertime fun officially begin — the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, located only four miles from the south gate of Yosemite National Park, opens for the season today. Beginning Friday (June 12), visitors and train enthusiasts can once again ride the open-air “logger” on a one-hour excursion through the Sierra Nevada. The Thornberry Museum, onsite ...

YOSEMITE — “Yosemite Hospitality looks forward to welcoming back visitors, guests and our team members, when Yosemite National Park reopens on Thursday, June 11, with our lodging re-opening June 13,” said an update issued late this week by Aramark, the concessionaire at YNP.“Some services and operations have been modified and adjusted to protect against the spread of COVID-19,” the “guest ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — In accordance with guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local public health authorities, Yosemite National Park will “continue to incrementally increase recreational access,” stated a press release issued by park officials Monday.“Beginning June 11, the park will open all the primary attractions to some extent and visitors will ...

I told my puppy Fannie the Corgi all about a special place called Nelder Grove and how it wouldn’t be a long drive or hike. I tried to explain to her just how huge the Giant Sequoias were. I don’t think she totally grasped the concept but she said let’s do it!Where: Sierra National Forest, Nelder GroveDistance: 2.31 miles, but ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — Wilderness fans rejoice — the official reopening process starts Friday at Yosemite National Park.NPS officials announced today that beginning Friday (June 5), “YNP will reopen access to the Yosemite Wilderness to those with existing wilderness permit reservations and to those with an existing Half Dome permit.”Yosemite National Park has been closed to all park visitors since ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – Sierra National Forest (SNF) officials issued an order Friday banning campfires outside of developed recreational sites. The campfire restrictions are meant “to protect the health and safety of employees and communities,”  said a statement released this afternoon by the agency.The restrictions are “effective immediately and until further notice,” the release stated. “Outside of developed recreation sites and ...

MADERA — Supervisors made it official Tuesday morning: Former Sheriff Jay Varney is now the County’s top day-to-day administrator.At the start of today’s (June 2) meeting, which was chaired by Supervisor Rob Poythress, the board formally appointed Varney to be the County’s new chief administrative officer. “He will take over as a strong leader,” said Supervisor Frazier. “Jay is exactly who ...

MARIPOSA — Emphasizing that visitor safety remains their top priority, tourism officials of gateway communities in Madera and Mariposa counties are nonetheless voicing concern over planned new restricted access to Yosemite National Park.  “On May 18, Yosemite National Park leadership shared its draft reopening strategy with the region’s gateway communities. The proposal would limit daily access to 3,600 vehicles, 1,700 ...

Walking up historic wagon roads near my house on a cool day after a rain was a party for my senses, full of fresh smells of the forest and flowers. Dogwoods were blooming like crazy and those animal tracks were easy to spot while the gnats and skeeters slept in. Distance: 10.62 Miles (but you can go shorter or longer)Difficulty: ...

BASS LAKE – The Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) will be providing mobile drive-through COVID-19 testing in Bass Lake on Tuesday (June 2) from 9 a.m. to noon.To be stationed in the the administrative parking lot of the Pines Resort, MCDPH’s mobile testing unit will be offering the FREE tests to all adults — both symptomatic and asymptomatic.The ...