Yosemite's famous backcountry camps won't open this summer
In another blow to Yosemite National Park amid federal staffing cuts that have curtailed aspects of summertime operations, the park won't open its vaunted High Sierra Camps this summer.
'Unfortunately, the utilities which support the High Sierra Camps — potable water and toilets — will not be available and the camps will not be operated this summer,' according to a statement from Yosemite concessionaire Aramark. 'This decision was made in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS), which manages the utilities necessary to run the camps. Impacted guests have been contacted and can book alternate accommodations within the park and will be offered priority booking for next year's lottery.'
The reason wasn't immediately clear. However, according to SFGATE, which first reported the closure, Aramark sent an email to a prospective camper explaining that 'the park service needs to prioritize its resources to serve the broadest group of visitors.'
SFGATE and the Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently.
With tent-cabins, hot showers and fully staffed kitchens in Yosemite's world-class backcountry setting, the historic camps have long been a bucket-list destination for Californians. But ramping up operations at the remote camps is a tough task, and the seasonal sites have scarcely opened in the past six summers.
Heavy winter snowfall in 2018 caused them to close for repairs; they remained shuttered during the pandemic; and then in 2023 another winter of deep snowpack kept them out of order. Last year they opened, but late in the summer season.
The High Sierra Camps closure is the latest update to Yosemite's summertime operations. The park recently opted to re-establish its summertime reservation system for day visitors and announced the closure of the backpacker campsite in Yosemite Valley popular among Half Dome hikers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘PWC Beach,' Echo Bay pipe mat latest Lake Mead improvements for boaters
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Lake Mead is 8 feet lower than it was a year ago, and officials are making more adjustments to help boaters who are ready to get out in the water this summer. After adding a new courtesy dock for personal watercraft adjacent to Hemenway Harbor just two weeks ago, the National Park Service (NPS) said this week it is adding another pipe mat at Echo Bay, along with adjustments to the courtesy dock there. Hemenway Harbor, the closest launch point to Las Vegas, will have reduced access this summer as NPS extends the boat ramp. Construction began June 2, and the launch ramp will be reduced to one lane. The courtesy docks will be reduced down by one half, according to an NPS web page summarizing the project. 'Personal Watercraft Beach,' or PWC Beach, was announced around Memorial Day as the summer season began. It's just north of the Hemenway Harbor ramp. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area Facilities team installed two Mobi-Mats, one on each side of the new courtesy dock. The mats are portable, and have been used in recent years to help boaters with changing conditions at the lake. Some boaters have complained that they won't use PWC Beach because they don't want to drive through the dirt, but they won't have any other option nearby. 'All jet skis must launch at PWC Beach during construction,' according to a May 31 social post. Summer is the busiest time for boaters, but it's also the best time for construction, NPS said. 'Water level projections for the 2025 summer boating season are favorable for construction, allowing dive and contract teams to perform underwater and shoreline work safely and efficiently at the launch ramp. Summer and fall are generally the best times for this type of underwater construction work,' NPS said. As of noon Wednesday, Lake Mead's surface was at 1,056.59 feet, compared to 1,064.81 feet on June 15, 2024. While that drop is a bit alarming, it's better than projections last year that expected the lake to be down another 3 feet, at 1,053.56 feet. The lake typically hits its low point in July each year. On July 27, 2022, the lake hit its lowest point since it was filled in the 1930s, dipping to 1,041.71 feet above sea level. At Echo Bay, crews were scheduled to do the work on Wednesday, June 4, and finish before the end of the day. The upgrades will extend and widen the ramp for safer, easier boat launching, NPS said. Officials noted that the right launch lane remains closed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Grand Canyon Lodge and North Rim without power since Sunday
GRAND CANYON, Arizona () — The National Park Service (NPS) reported a power outage that has been affecting the North Rim and the Grand Canyon Lodge since Sunday, June 1. NPS identified the cause of the outage as an equipment failure involving a transformer near the Grand Canyon Lodge. Overnight reservations at the Lodge were cancelled beginning June 2 because of the outage. 'The National Park Service appreciates visitors' patience and understanding as we continue working closely with the concessioner to restore lodging and food services to full operations,' NPS said in a press release. Glen Canyon off-road and all-terrain vehicle access restored by Trump, Utah lawmakers Crews have been working around heavy rain and lightning storms since the outage began to restore power to concessioner facilities, including the General Store, fuel station, campground showers and laundry, the North Rim Campground, employee housing, and other administrative areas, NPS reported. Several facilities are 'open and accessible' during the outage, NPS said, including the NPS Campground and Backcountry Information Kiosk, Ranger Roost (info desk), Scenic Viewpoints, and the North Kaibab Trail. NPS also announced that evening programs will be located at the North Rim Campground until power is restored to the Grand Canyon Lodge and that the Grand Canyon Conservancy Store is expected to be open. Al Pastor Glazed Beef Flat Iron Steak Sandwich Mountain West Windows & Doors is transforming Utah homes USANA Kids Eat is feeding Utah's future First Community Bank teaches how to build credit the smart way Flood watch issued for portions of southeastern Utah Wednesday afternoon Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
E&E News
20 hours ago
- E&E News
Trump proposes fee hike for foreign visitors to national parks
Tourists to the United States could face higher costs to visit national parks under a proposal from the Trump administration. President Donald Trump's recent budget proposal for the National Park Service would introduce a surcharge on visitors from other countries. The proposal doesn't detail how much the surcharge would be, but the administration's budget summary estimates it could raise $90 million 'to keep national parks beautiful.' The proposal is part of a much larger budget plan advanced by Trump's Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and detailed in recently released documents, that would cut federal funding for national parks by roughly $1 billion. The budget also recommends transferring some national parks to state management to save costs and redirecting funds for conservation toward maintenance. Advertisement Burgum has argued that parks can be made more efficient by the reductions, while park advocates warn that parks are already understaffed and under-resourced amid record levels of tourism.
