Sequoia National Forest advises Memorial Day visitors to plan ahead

Sheyanne N Romero, Visalia Times-Delta
·4 min read

Memorial Day weekend marks the kickoff of summer and is one of Sequoia National Forest services' busiest.

With the strong storms and heavy snow over the past few months, some forest areas and sites are closed due to snowpack, flooding, or road damage. Crews are "using all available resources" to safely reopen these areas for the public, forest officials said.

"With closures or delayed openings at popular recreation sites, the USDA Forest Service asks for your patience," forest service officials stated in a recent press release.

As warm weather melts the southern Sierra's record snowpack, forest service officials urge the public to make backup plans before visiting because many of the forest’s facilities and roads are not open or are under the seasonal closure order until June 15.

There is also a heightened risk of flooded roads and bridges, landslides, and debris flow from snowmelt, especially in or downstream of recent wildfires. Visitors should watch out for snow-covered and slippery roads, trees fallen across roads and trails, erosion washouts on hiking trails and off-highway vehicle (OHV) routes, and many other hazards.

Hume Lake Ranger District

Campgrounds are open for Memorial Day.

Open roads include Highway 180 to the Hume Lake Junction, Chicago Stump, Millwood OHV and approximately eight miles of the northern portion of Generals Highway. Open campgrounds include Hume Lake Campground, Tenmile Campground, Princess Campground, and Aspen Hollow Group campground.

There are closures in effect from winter storm damage. Many popular roads remain closed including the Kings Canyon Scenic byway at the Hume Lake Junction, Big Meadows Road, and the Boole Tree Road.

Western Divide Ranger District

The iconic Trail of 100 Giants is open, however, it is not accessible from Springville this summer due to storm damage-related closures of Highway 190. Instead, visitors can travel through California Hot Springs, Kernville, and Johnsondale.

Redwood Meadow Campground (near Trail of 100 Giants) and Long Meadow (group only) Campground is now open. Other developed campgrounds: Quaking Aspen and Holey Meadow will tentatively open in mid-June.

Golden Trout Wilderness trailheads is not currently available for vehicles. Once the Lloyd Meadow Road is repaired, Jerkey Meadow and Forks of the Kern trailheads will be open. Lower Peppermint Campground will also open once the Lloyd Meadow Road is cleared, estimated mid to late June.

Highway 190 was damaged in several locations, making it impassible between Springville and Ponderosa. Caltrans is working on repairs in anticipation of having it open from Springville to Camp Nelson by late summer and from Camp Nelson to Ponderosa before winter sets in, forest officials stated.

Kern River Ranger District

The Kern River Ranger District has campgrounds available for public use around Isabella Lake and the Kern Plateau. Kern River water levels are higher, and the water is moving fast.

Although the river is beautiful, water flow from the storm system could increase the powerful rapids to dangerous levels. Avoid camping and recreating near rivers and streams, as water levels are expected to rise rapidly during and after the storm.

On May 4, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux issued a temporary river closure for parts of the Kaweah, Kern, and Tule rivers. Sections of the Kings and St. John's Rivers are also closed to the public.

Water Safety

Forest service officials offered these tips for everyone to have a positive experience on national forests:

  • Before heading to a forest, have a backup plan.

  • Know Before You Go. Check in with the Sequoia National Forest Ranger Stations listed below or the website for closures and alerts. It is your responsibility to know the area and any restrictions to areas, roads, and trails within the national forests.

  • Pack essentials. Hikers and campers should always bring essentials including navigation, light sources, first aid supplies, clothes for changing weather, food, water, and a smartphone. We recommend hikers send someone not on the hike a detailed plan of where they plan to travel and GPS location when arrive, in case of an emergency.

  • Observe all posted signs and warnings. There may not be barriers or signs at each closed location. Remember, GPS is not always reliable with current closures and conditions. And gates should never be opened when closed, even if GPS shows the best route through the area. Citations may still be issued even if no signs exist when a forest order is in place.

  • Be aware of your surroundings. Many campgrounds and hiking trails are near lakes and rivers with changing water conditions. Water could be colder and swifter with the record-breaking snowpack now melting. Be aware of winds and avoid areas with dead standing trees. Look up before you choose a trail, park your car, or set up camp. And no matter how tempting, do not park your car illegally and block emergency vehicle access.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Memorial Day weekend expected to be busy at Sequoia National Forest