Closures remain in Yosemite National Park as flood levels rise. Here’s what it looks like now

UPDATE: Yosemite Valley will now partially open Sunday and fully open Monday. For full story, read https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/yosemite/article274883016.html

ORIGINAL STORY: Large swaths of Yosemite Valley were closed over the weekend as the National Park Service braces for raising water levels in area rivers and streams due to a combination of record snowfall levels and unseasonably warm temperatures.

The closures, announced Tuesday, will remain in place until at least May 3.

On Thursday, the National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch throughout the park.

The Merced River this weekend was expected to hit its flood stage at Pohono Bridge and peak at 11-feet early Sunday.

Once the Pohono Bridge exceeds that 10-foot mark, “roads and other critical infrastructure begin flooding, making it unsafe for visitors to be in Yosemite Valley,” the National Park Service said.

There is currently no visitor access in the closed sections of the park, which stretched east of the El Capitan Crossover and includes Yosemite Village, Curry Village, The Ahwahnee, Mist Trail to the south and Mirror Lake to the northeast.

Lodging and campground reservations for Curry Village, Housekeeping Camp, Yosemite Valley Lodge, The Ahwahnee, Upper, Lower and North Pines along with Camp 4 will be canceled and refunded automatically. Wilderness permits can be rescheduled to alternate trailheads as space allows, the park service said.

Western Yosemite Valley will remain open, but could close if traffic congestion or parking issues become unmanageable, the park service said.

Visitors to the park should expect limited opportunities for hiking and other recreation during the closure. There will also be heavy congestion and traffic delays and “extremely” limited parking and strict enforcement of parking rules. Additional road closures and detours are possible and emergency response could be delayed.

The park service says all river and streams will be cold with fast currents and are extremely dangerous.

“Do not enter or approach them.”

What’s happening in Sequoia and Kings Canyon?

Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park has reopened for visitors, with access to giant sequoias and the General Grant Tree.

The foothills area in Sequoia National Park area is also open again, though road damage has blocked public access to large sections of both parks, including Cedar Grove and Mineral King.