Can’t come up to Yosemite at the moment? Here’s what the park looks like amid heavy snow
By Bryant-Jon Anteola
Yosemite National Park remained closed through the weekend with heavy snow having pummeled the area the past few days and more snow showers expected to occur late Saturday night.
Park crews have tried to clear roads, parking areas, building roofs and other facilities.
However, two more feet of snow was in the forecast this weekend.
Yosemite already experienced snow levels of up to 15 feet in some areas earlier in the week, prompting the park’s closure since Feb. 25.
Photos of tents at Curry Village showed them covered almost completely to the top in snow.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday issued a proclamation declaring a state of emergency for 13 California counties, including Madera, Mariposa and Tulare, because of severe winter storms.
It is unclear when Yosemite National Park will reopen.
Yosemite’s iconic tunnel view unveils an unusually quiet snowy winter scene with banks piled high with snow and ice covering many of the roadways on Friday, March 3, 2023. The park has closed indefinitely due to recent heavy snowfall. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
A Yosemite Valley bus stop is covered in snow with banks piled high making many areas inaccessible. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Upper Yosemite Fall gushes with winter runoff in a park void of the usual visitors since closing due to heavy snow in Yosemite Valley. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Bridalveil Fall streams down the cliffs into a Yosemite Valley covered in thick snow following days of storms that forced officials to close the park to visitors. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
El Capitan stands out above thick blankets of snow after recent storms inundated the area and force officials to close the park to visitors. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Rocks are covered in thick snow as the water of the Merced River flows by in Yosemite National Park on Friday, March 3, 2023. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Half Dome comes into view from Southside Drive near Curry Village in Yosemite Valley on Friday, March 3, 2023. The roadway banks are piled high with snow from passing snowplows. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
The Yosemite Vally chapel stands surrounded by a heavy blanket of snow on Friday, March 3, 2023 CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
The height of a snowbank nears a sign signifying the flood water level of January 2, 1997 after heavy snowfall, on Friday, March 3, 2023. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Clouds graze the top of El Capitan, left, as Bridalveil Fall, right, flows down into Yosemite Valley and the Merced River while a heavy blanket of snow covers the roadway banks on a rare day of no visitors on Friday, March 3, 2023. Park officials closed the entrances after recent snowstorms. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
