Yosemite National Park has announced that some of its popular recreational areas may remain closed into the summer due to rising river levels due to record melting snow.
Yosemite Valley is expected to reopen, but rafting, swimming and picnicking in areas along the river may not be available until July, a national park social post announced May 5.
“With so much snow still to melt, there could be a period from late April to early July when Yosemite Valley is inaccessible due to flooding,” the post said.
On Monday morning, the Merced River peaked several inches below flood stage and lower than its predicted peak. A snow survey conducted on May 1 found that the Merced River watershed was 231% of average and the Tuolumne River watershed was 253% of average.
“I’ve lived in Yosemite for 27 years and I’ve never seen this much snow,” said park spokesman Scott Gediman.
In late April, the National Park Service announced the river would be closed due to flooding.
Water levels at Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Yosemite Falls are “very high for this time of year,” NPS reported earlier this month.
See photos of the weather’s impact on one of America’s most iconic national parks.
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