Closures and Restrictions in Other Parts of the Sierra

Bummer of a summer? Widespread Sierra closures dampen our enjoyment of public lands | Opinion
Marek Warszawski
Sun, May 14, 2023 at 5:30 AM PDT

One of the best parts about living in the central San Joaquin Valley is our easy access to so many great Sierra mountain destinations. Which typically begin to open up in May and early June.

This year, proximity isn’t going to be much help. Last winter’s gigantic snowpack, the latest in a spate of destructive weather events, has resulted in widespread closures of national park and national forest recreation sites. Some will remain closed all summer; others until July.

Take, for example, the latest Sierra National Forest closure order, in effect until June 13. The number of closed roads, campgrounds and trails throughout the High Sierra and North Fork ranger districts is so extensive that it takes two full pages to list them all.

Then there’s the realization that Highway 180, due to road damage, will remain closed east of Hume Lake for the entire season. Meaning no access to the Kings River Canyon, the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park or Roads End, the park’s most heavily used backpacking trailhead.

Sequoia National Park is even worse off. The Generals Highway is currently open only as far as Hospital Rock and probably won’t reopen until mid-June. Meanwhile, the road to Mineral King was destroyed by mud and rock slides; it’s unlikely the road will open this summer at all.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/bummer-summer-widespread-sierra-closures-123000352.html



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2023 04:40PM by KenS.