Pika Fire Trail Closures Lifted: Update 8/8/23

Location: Just west of North Dome
Elevation: 7,100'
Discover date: June 29, 2023
Size: 841 acres
Containment: 80%
Cause: Lightning

Yosemite Fire crews are using a management strategy utilizing natural barriers and trails to confine the spread of the fire in a predefined area. A confine and contain strategy under favorable conditions allows fire to move naturally across the landscape, providing ecological benefits to plants and wildlife, while also meeting protection objectives to minimize risk to people and infrastructure. Fire management in Yosemite provides for the reduction of hazardous fuels, increasing the diversity of habitats, promoting new plant growth and a return of a natural fire cycle to the landscape.

Starting August 7th, 2023, at 8:00 AM, all previous trail closures associated with the Pika Fire instituted after June 29th, 2023, are hereby rescinded. Areas will continue to burn within the perimeter of the Pika fire. To maintain the safety of park visitors and allow management operations to continue unimpeded, the area within the Pika fire will remain closed. Smoke from the Pika Fire is expected to impact Yosemite Valley in the evenings and overnight with conditions improving as smoke lifts during the late mornings. Slight impacts may also be seen on trails near the fire including in Yosemite Valley.

For current smoke conditions: http://nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/aqmonitoring.htm
Current Fire Conditions INCIWEB: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/caynp-pika-fire