A wildfire burning near Yosemite Valley has prompted closure of some trails and caused poor air quality, park officials said.
The Pika Fire, started by lightning on June 29, had burned 50 acres near North Dome as of Thursday, July 13, the National Park Service said.
The map above shows the trail and forest closures that were announced Tuesday, July 11, including parts of the Yosemite Falls, Snow Creek and North Dome trails.
Yosemite National Park is warning of smoky conditions. Early Friday, July 14, the Air Quality Index at Yosemite Village exceeded 300, considered hazardous, because of high levels of particulate matter.
Yosemite Valley and other low-elevation areas of the park are expected to reach temperatures of more than 100 degrees this weekend. The park is urging caution near rivers and creeks, which are running unusually high and cold during the melting of the winter’s deep snowpack.
Tioga Road (Highway 120) remains closed, as snow is still being cleared. There is no estimated opening date. Previously, the latest opening date on record was July 1, in 2019 and 1998.
Visitors should expect traffic and parking congestion this weekend, with multi-hour waits at the park entrances. For more information, see the park’s Plan Your Visit webpage.