Yosemite National Park Road Closed Due to Dome Fire
Glacier Point Road is shut down as wildfire smoke impacts visibility and firefighting efforts.
A wildfire in Yosemite National Park has forced the closure of Glacier Point Road, a route leading to one of the park's most iconic viewpoints, park officials announced.
The Dome Fire, which ignited north of Wawona Dome near the Chilnualna Falls Trailhead on September 15, has consumed over 4,000 acres as of Thursday, according to CalFire. The road was closed Wednesday night due to smoke reducing visibility and to facilitate ongoing firefighting operations.
The closure affects a 16-mile stretch connecting Wawona Road to Glacier Point, a location renowned for its panoramic views of Yosemite Valley, including Half Dome and Yosemite Falls.
In addition to the road closure, some trails south of Glacier Point Road, including the Chilnualna Falls Trail and its routes toward Buena Vista and Crescent Lakes, have also been closed due to smoky conditions that have led to unhealthy air quality in certain areas. However, the Four Mile Trail and Panorama Trail remain open to hikers.
Park officials expect Glacier Point Road to remain closed until conditions improve. The fire, which began September 15 in Mariposa County, was 15% contained as of Thursday. Yosemite National Park remains open to visitors, with the exception of the closed road and specific trails.
The wildfire effort has been marked by tragedy, with two helicopter crew members killed on September 20 when their aircraft crashed around 3 p.m. in Mariposa County while assisting in combating the Dome Fire. The crew members, identified as Greg King and Ryan Cutter, were employed by aerospace company Fly Precision. The company released a statement expressing devastation and requesting privacy for the families and their team.
CAL FIRE noted that the Dome Fire has encountered areas previously burned by other wildfires, such as the 2017 Empire Fire. These areas have experienced reduced fire behavior due to less vegetation. While the fire is exhibiting creeping and smoldering behavior in these zones, winds continue to carry embers ahead of the main fire front, causing spot fires to the north.