Yosemite Closes All Campgrounds

Above, The Beast at Yosemite's North Pines Campground in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The "powers that be" have decided to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at Yosemite National Park by closing all of the park's campgrounds.

They must be afraid squirrels, deer or bears may contract it and spread it to humans.

My Mother Lode reported:

Yosemite, CA — Yosemite National Park has made the decision to close all of its campgrounds as a way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Earlier this week all of the park’s visitor centers, the Yosemite Valley Theater, Yosemite Valley Museum, and all restaurants and lodging in the park were closed. Those closures, and the new campground measure, are all in effect until at least March 31st. 

That said, the park’s entrances, hiking trails, comfort stations and outdoor spaces around Yosemite Village are open.

To read more, go here. 

Yosemite Visitor Numbers Down, But Spending Up

Above, Yosemite's Bridal Veil Fall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The economic benefits that national parks brings to nearby (or gateway) communities is well worth the cost of maintaining them.

The numbers are in on Yosemite National Park. Although visitor numbers were down compared to the year before, spending in nearby communities was up.

According to My Mother Lode:

Yosemite National Park, CA — Well over four million Yosemite visitors spent nearly a half-billion dollars in nearby communities, according to a just-released National Park Service (NPS) report. 

Official figures count 4,009,438 visitors to Yosemite National Park in 2018 with a total spending estimate in surrounding communities of $495,245,000, which supported 6,184 jobs in the area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $624,129,000. Nearly 97 percent of those visiting Yosemite were nonlocal. 

Compared to last year’s numbers reported here, while the 2018 visitor numbers were down 7.8 percent, spending increased 9.6 percent. Job numbers decreased 7.5 percent, however cumulative economic impact rose 5.7 percent.

To read more, go here.

Communities Near Yosemite Benefited Economically In 2017

Above, early morning view of Yosemite Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Local communities near our national parks derive great economic benefit from visitors. Such is the case for communities near Yosemite National Park.

My Mother Lode reported:

Yosemite National Park, CA – Despite a 13 percent dip in visitors and their spending last year, new National Parks Service numbers reflect the continued enormous impact of Yosemite National Park tourism to the Mother Lode. 

Figures shared in this latest NPS report show that 4,336,889 visitors to Yosemite in 2017 spent $451,782,000 in communities near the park; also that the spending supported 6,666 local jobs and had a cumulative $589,343,700 impact on the local economy. The supported jobs figure reflects about a 15 percent decrease from the previous year. 

It is worth noting that 2016 was the year of the highly anticipated and promoted National Parks Centennial Celebration.

To read more, go here. 

Yosemite's Highway 41 Re-Opened

Above, a view of Yosemite from Highway 41. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Highway 41 into Yosemite National Park has been re-opened.

My Mother Lode reported:

Yosemite, CA — Highway 41 re-opened over the weekend, allowing access via that route to Yosemite National Park. 

The highway had been closed due to the 12,358 acre Railroad Fire burning in the Sierra National Forest. The fire is now 70-percent contained and growth was very limited over the weekend.

For more on this and other Yosemite fires, go here. 

Sanitation Concerns Keeping Tioga Pass Road Closed

Above, Tioga Pass road last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tioga Pass (Highway 120) through Yosemite National Park remains closed so that crews can complete repairs related to record snowfalls last winter.

My Mother Lode reported:

Yosemite, CA — Yosemite National Park officials report repairs along Highway 120 Tioga Pass continue as rising water from melting snow have flooded several sections of the roadway creating safety and sanitation concerns. 

Tioga Road remains closed to all traffic, including bicycles. Following a record-breaking winter snowpack, Park staff continues to make repairs to power, communications, water, and sewer systems along the roadway. 

To read more, go here. 

Yosemite Brought In Over Half Billion Dollars To Local Communities

Above, Half Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The national parks had a banner year in 2016, due in part to the centennial celebration of the National Park Service. The big surge in visitors benefited their local communities.

The local economies surrounding Yosemite National Park were no exception.

My Mother Lode reported:

Yosemite, CA – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows Yosemite brings more than half a billion dollars to nearby communities. 

As earlier reported here, Yosemite National Park already smashed its previous visitor record by 21 percent with 5,028,868 visitors coming through its gates in 2016. This reports looks at what that number means for the Gateway communities along the Highway 120, Highway 140, and Highway 41 corridors. It found that visitors to the park spent $520,629,100 in communities near the park, which supported 7883 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $686,339,500.

I visited Yosemite twice last year.

To read more, go here.