Yosemite Park Remains Closed Indefinitely Following Historic Snow Storm in California

Recent snowfall rests on trees in Yosemite Valley as clouds begin to clear from the last of a series of atmospheric river storms to hit California in Yosemite National Park on Jan. 19, 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Yosemite National Park has been forced to close indefinitely after two consecutive storms battered the beloved outdoor destination over the last week, officials announced March 2.

The park broke its 54-year record, receiving 40 inches of snow Feb. 28. The previous record was 36 inches received on Feb. 28, 1969.

“Yosemite has experienced significant snowfall in all areas of the park, resulting in snow depths up to 15 feet in some areas,” the park’s alert system said today on its website.

Yosemite spokesperson and park ranger Scott Gediman told The Los Angeles Times March 1 “this is the most [snow] any of us have ever seen.”

As one of California’s premiere nature spots, Yosemite is the sixth most visited national park in the U.S. and had nearly four million visitors last year.

Several images were shared on the park’s Twitter account that showed the dramatic impact of the snowfall on Half Dome, a well-known granite landmark in the park, entirely covered in snow. Other photos showed building entrances completely obstructed by snow.

Meanwhile, Joshua Tree National Park and Big Bear Mountain Resort reopened March 2 after being closed Wednesday due to the weather conditions.

California has been hit with an unusual amount of snowfall this season, with over 40 feet blanketing mountain regions. The extreme conditions have led to entire towns shutting down, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency in 13 counties late Wednesday evening.