Massive rock fall in Yosemite closes Rancheria Trail
A massive rock fall has forced officials to close a popular hiking trail in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park.
Park officials said Monday that more than 16,000 tons of rock fell 500 feet, toppling trees and scattering boulders that destroyed a section of Rancheria Falls Trail. The tumbling rocks kicked up large clouds of dust along Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, according to a photo provided by the National Park Service.
The Rancheria trail was closed just east of the Wapama Creek footbridges until further notice, Yosemite officials said in a statement.
No visitors were injured by the rock fall, which occurred March 31 in the afternoon. The boulders fell from the base of a cliff just east of Wapama Falls.
Park officials said that hikers could reach Wapama Falls from O’Shaughnessy Dam.
Twitter: @LAJourno
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