Rock slide closes Highway 140 into Yosemite

Huge boulders crashed onto a stretch of Highway 140 inside Yosemite National Park early Thursday, causing no injuries other than headaches for motorists who now will have to make long detours around the blockage.

The rock slide occurred about 5:45 a.m. near the park’s Arch Rock Entrance Station, according to a statement issued by Yosemite National Park. The area, which has seen heavy precipitation in recent days, was near the site of the Dog Rock Fire that burned in October 2014.

The slide sent massive boulders, rocks and debris onto the scenic roadway that runs along the Merced River. Park crews and rangers were assessing the blockage and gave no estimate Thursday as to when the road might reopen.

Highway 140, also known as El Portal Road, was closed from the park boundary to the junction with Highway 120, also known as Oak Flat Road. Motorists were allowed onto Highway 41, Highway 120 west and roads within Yosemite Valley, but were required to have chains in their vehicles in case road conditions warranted their use.

Lodging and other facilities on Highway 140 were available in El Portal, including Cedar Lodge and Yosemite View Lodge.

Ben Kepka, a 30-year-old travel photographer who currently lives in London, planned to stay at Cedar Lodge on Thursday night. Having entered on Highway 41 at Wawona, the rock fall added 2.5 hours to his drive to his lodging in El Portal.

“The only reason I wanted to come was for Yosemite,” Kepka, who is on his first trip to the United States, said by telephone.

“It’s a little bit of a shame that nature gets in the way,” he said, “but you can’t choose everything that happens in life.”

The road closure also will affect employees who work in Yosemite Valley but live outside the park, Yosemite spokeswoman Ashley Mayer said. They were instructed to contact their supervisors to seek an alternative work location.

Staff at the Best Western Yosemite Way Station Motel in Mariposa said they expected that guests arriving Thursday afternoon would be disappointed to learn about the closure of the nearest park entrance.

For the most current road conditions, call 209-372-0200. Press option “1,” then “1” again to go directly to the road conditions report.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 8:51 AM with the headline "Rock slide closes Highway 140 into Yosemite."