Yosemite Has Room as U.S. Parks Reopen
The National Park Service reopened California’s national parks Saturday, including Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, after the federal shutdown finally ended.
“We are up and running,” said Yosemite park ranger Kimberly Cunningham-Summerfield.
She said all the popular campsites, including Sunnyside Walk-In, Hogdon Meadows, Lower Pines and Wowona, were open. The Ahwahnee Hotel and Yosemite Lodge were back in business with limited menus but plenty of empty beds.
“We have lots of rooms available,” said Collen Cassidy of the Ahwahnee.
“The park is beautiful right now with somewhat spring-like conditions,” said Emily Parsons, front desk manager at Yosemite Lodge.
After being away since Dec. 16, Cassidy and Parsons said they were delighted to be back at work.
By Tuesday, the Ahwahnee and Yosemite Lodge were expected to resume full operation. The Wowona Hotel was expected to reopen Thursday and Curry Village Lodge on Friday.
On Friday, it was a different scene as deer, above, explore the closed park, while a bus station, right, stands empty and the doors of the Ahwahnee are chained shut.
Sign up for The Wild
We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
