A group of 61 California lawmakers is pushing the Trump administration to reject a proposed federal land swap that would facilitate the construction of a less-than-half-mile road into Yosemite National Park. The road is intended to provide access for a private development project by Nevada-based Kingsbarn Realty Capital.
Coachella Valley Republican Assemblymember Greg Wallis spearheaded the effort, sending a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum urging him to halt and reject the proposed exchange. The plan reportedly involves the federal government giving Kingsbarn 1.1 acres of federal land within Yosemite in exchange for an equivalent parcel owned by the developer elsewhere in California. This exchange would allow Kingsbarn to connect its 83-acre Hazel Green property, situated just outside the park's western boundary, to the park's existing highway network.
Kingsbarn's attorney, Lanny J. Davis, argues that the proposed road would reduce air pollution and improve driver safety. "Without a direct access route, every trip from the Hazel Green area requires a significantly longer drive—twice as long, at a minimum—on unpaved forest roads and thus more air pollution," Davis stated. He added that the company has collaborated with National Park Service staff on an environmentally sound access plan.
However, the lawmakers and environmental groups contend that the land exchange would benefit a private developer at the expense of public land and could establish a problematic precedent for development near protected areas. Any formal agreement would be subject to comprehensive environmental reviews and public comment periods.
The proposal emerges as Yosemite National Park grapples with the challenges of overcrowding. The park receives over 4 million visitors annually, leading to significant traffic congestion at entrances and within the park. "We have people already waiting for hours just to get inside the park, and then they get inside the park and they spend another hour circling around looking for parking. Yosemite right now is in complete chaos," Neal Desai, senior program director for the National Parks Conservation Association, told The Washington Post.
Kingsbarn purchased the Hazel Green property on February 1, 2024. The site is located in the Stanislaus National Forest, approximately five miles from a giant sequoia grove and surrounded by public land, which currently complicates access. The developer has indicated plans to build short-term rental accommodations and a tourist lodge on the property, though specific designs have not yet been released.