These Yosemite campgrounds may not open this summer. Half Dome cables behind schedule

Two campgrounds in Yosemite National Park may not open for the season following the harsh winter and record-breaking snowpack.

The forum site Yosemitenews reported Wednesday that the seasonal lodges at Tuolumne Meadows and White Wolf would not open in 2023. The National Park service confirmed to The Bee on Thursday that those lodgings on Tioga Road will remain closed and opening dates for campgrounds and other facilities at those sites have not yet been determined.

The Tuolumne Meadows campground wasn’t expected to be open because of an ongoing rehabilitation project. That project should last until 2024 or 2025, according to the park service’s website.

The White Wolf campground usually opens in mid-July, with the exact dates based on the opening of the Tioga Road.

Tioga Road, which connects Yosemite to the east side of California near Lee Vining, is closed each winter and typically reopens in late May or early June. It is expected to open later than usual this summer.

See crews take on a wall of snow blocking Tioga Pass across Sierra. ‘It’s gonna be a while’

When will the Half Dome cables go up?

It’s a similar situation at Half Dome, said Yosemite spokesperson Scott Gediman. The rock’s cable system, which allows hikers to climb the summit without equipment, is usually installed around Memorial Day, but heavy snowpack has delayed that installation.

There is no estimate on when the cables will be installed this season, Gediman said.

In the past (with less snow than this season), the cables have gone up in early to late June.

The park is feeling other effects from the winter storms and recently reopened parts of Yosemite Valley that had been closed due to fear of flooding.

The Merced River ultimately peaked below flood stage, but snow survey levels in the river basin were 232% of normal for May 1, the park service said on social media.

“There is still a lot of snow to melt, so there may be some periods between late April and early July when Yosemite Valley is inaccessible due to flooding. River-related recreation, like rafting, swimming, and picnicking in picnic areas along the river, is likely to be unavailable until sometime in July even when Yosemite Valley is open.”