Closures

The superintendent's compendium for Yosemite National Park and superintendent's compendium for El Portal Administrative Site contain most closures and other local regulations. Closures not included in these compendiums are listed below (except for climbing closures).This page shows areas closed and uses limited by temporary regulation and doesn't include closures of facilities and services.

By order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and the under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, the following existing closures, public use limitation and general regulations are hereby modified:

 

 

Visiting Hours, Public Use Limits, Closures, Area Designations for Specific Uses or Activities and Conditions

36 CFR § 1.5 (a)(2) – Designate areas for a specific use or activity or impose conditions or restrictions on a use or activity

August 24, 2022

In response to Executive Order no. 13991 The following conditions apply to all federal employees, contractors, volunteers, park partners, and visitors:

Regardless of vaccination status, when local County COVID-19 community levels are considered “high” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all individuals over the age of two years must wear masks, except when actively eating or drinking, in all enclosed public transit, common areas and shared workspaces in federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service and in office space leased by the National Park Service within the specified County.

“Federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service” include, but are not limited to, visitor centers, administrative offices, maintenance facilities and shared government quarters; buildings assigned to concessioners or other park partners; and buildings leased for commercial purposes to individuals or entities other than the National Park Service.

All individuals over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status, when local County COVID-19 community levels are “high”, must wear masks in the following outdoor areas when others are present, except when actively eating or drinking, where the Superintendent has determined that physical distancing (staying at least six feet apart) cannot reasonably be maintained:

• Parking Lots and Viewpoints: Within 100 feet of any parking area or pullout

• Trails: Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, Mist Trail, trails within Mariposa Grove below the Clothespin Tree, Tuolumne Grove, and Merced Grove, and within ½ mile of any trailhead. 

• Interpretive Facilities and Programs: Indian Cultural Village and Pioneer Yosemite History Center, and within 50 feet of any park employee speaking to a group, gathering, or people attending an interpretive program. 

• Buildings: Within 25 feet of any public building, including (but not limited to) visitor centers, entrance stations, wilderness centers, campground offices, and ranger stations.

• Shuttle stops: Within 25 feet of shuttle stops (during seasons and hours when shuttles are operating). 

• Gathering Places: Village Mall (including the area from Yosemite Village Parking Area to the Yosemite Cemetery); Glacier Point area, including all trails from the parking lot to the amphitheater, geology exhibit, and main viewpoint area.  

• Eating Areas: Picnic areas and outdoor food service areas, when not eating or drinking. 

Masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face. Masks not designed to be protective, masks with ventilation valves, and face shields do not meet the requirement.

Masks are always required inside the Yosemite Medical Clinic regardless of vaccination status or community transmission level.

This designation rescinds all prior and will remain in place until rescinded or superseded.

 

Safety Closure (Hazardous Conditions)

March 24, 2023

On February 24, 2023, a storm cycle started which, over the next 21 days, produced 21 inches of precipitation and heavy snow at higher elevations. This caused over 22 individual rockfalls, debris flows, and slope failures requiring public safety interventions throughout Yosemite National Park. The park was closed to visitors on February 25, 2023. While portions of the park have re-opened and much of the damage from these storms have been mitigated, much damage and many hazards still remain within the park. In order to maintain the safety of park visitors and residents while allowing management operations to continue unimpeded, the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park has lifted the closures to some areas while retaining closures in areas where damaged facilities or unmitigated hazards remain.

By order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section l.5 (a) and Section (a)(l):

Starting Friday, March 24 at 12:00 pm, the following areas are closed to public use:

• Mariposa Grove. This includes all areas east of the roundabout at South Entrance including the Welcome Plaza, Mariposa Grove Road, and Washburn Trail.
• Badger Pass Road and Badger Pass Ski Resort proper.
• All roadways within Curry Village (with the exception of employees of NPS, Yosemite Hospitality, and authorized contractors or delivery services).
• The road adjacent to Stoneman Meadow and the Happy Isles Loop are closed to vehicle traffic but are open to pedestrians and bicycles.

The closure area will be monitored to ensure compliance. Violation of this order is considered a Class B Misdemeanor. For more detail see map entitled 2023 Winter Storm – March 24, 2023.

This order supersedes and rescinds all prior area closures. The designation will remain in place until rescinded.

 

 

Visiting Hours, Public Use Limits, Closures, Area Designations for Specific Uses or Activities and Conditions [specific to El Portal Administrative Site]

36 CFR § 34.5 (a)(3) and 1.5 (a)(2) – Designate areas for a specific use or activity or impose conditions or restrictions on a use or activity

August 14, 2022

In response to Executive Order no. 13991 The following conditions apply to all federal employees, contractors, volunteers, park partners, and visitors:

Regardless of vaccination status, when local County COVID-19 community levels are considered “high” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all individuals over the age of two years must wear masks, except when actively eating or drinking, in all enclosed public transit, common areas and shared workspaces in federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service and in office space leased by the National Park Service within the specified County.

“Federally owned buildings administered by the National Park Service” include, but are not limited to, visitor centers, administrative offices, maintenance facilities and shared government quarters; buildings assigned to concessioners or other park partners; and buildings leased for commercial purposes to individuals or entities other than the National Park Service.

All individuals over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status, when local County COVID-19 community levels are “high”, must wear masks in the following outdoor areas when others are present, except when actively eating or drinking, where the Superintendent has determined that physical distancing (staying at least six feet apart) cannot reasonably be maintained:

• Parking Lots and Viewpoints: Any parking lot or pullout.

• Interpretive Facilities and Programs: El Portal Train Exhibit and within 50 feet of any park employee speaking to a group or gathering.

• Buildings: Within 25 feet of any public building, including (but not limited to) the entrance station, post office, fire station, community hall, and gas station.

• Bus stops: When entering, riding, and exiting buses and shuttles (during seasons and hours when buses are operating).

• Gathering Places: Prominent beaches along the river.

• Eating Areas: Picnic areas and outdoor food service areas, when not eating or drinking. 

Masks must cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face. Masks not designed to be protective, masks with ventilation valves, and face shields do not meet the requirement.

This designation rescinds all prior and will remain in place until rescinded or superseded.

 

Area Closure (El Portal Trailer Court)

July 1, 2022

In order to maintain public health and safety, the El Portal Trailer Court (EPTC) was closed to public use on March 14, 2022. Individuals who previously had housing assignment agreements with the National Park Service for government lots in the trailer court were provided official notice of the closure and given until June 30, 2022, to remove all personal property from the area. Effective July 1, 2022, at 12:01 am the EPTC (see attached map) is closed to all but administrative uses; all personal property remaining within the closed area will be considered abandoned and will be processed in accordance with the provisions of 36 CFR Sections 34.5(b)(14) and 2.22(c)(3) and 41 CFR Part 102-41.

By order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 34.5(a)(3), Section 1.5(a) and Section (a)(1):

Starting July 1, 2022, at 12:01 am the El Portal Trailer Court is closed to all public use.

Notice of closure will be posted and the area will be monitored to ensure compliance; administrative activities are exempted from this order. See attached map entitled “El Portal Trailer Court Area Closure” for more information.