Is Yosemite National Park open? How wildfire near Mariposa Grove affects travel plans

THE LATEST: Evacuation ordered as fire grows in size

A portion of Yosemite National Park remained closed on Friday due to a wildfire burning near Mariposa Grove and Wawona, begging the question: Can you still get into the park?

The short answer: yes, but it will likely require a detour for visitors headed from the south and you’ll need a reservation.

Late Friday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol said that Highway 41, the southern route to the park, was closed at the entrance station. Park officials said a mandatory evacuation order is in place for Wawona and Wawona campground because of the Washburn Fire. Officials asked for residents to leave the area immediately and evacuate north on Wawona Road toward Yosemite Valley.

Mariposa Grove Road, which winds from the park’s southern entrance to the grove, is closed until further notice, according to the National Park Service. The Mariposa Grove itself also remains closed.

All other areas of Yosemite National Park are open, the park service says.

That includes the park’s El Portal entrance on Highway 140 along the Merced River. Travelers from the Fresno area can either take Highway 41 to Oakhurst then head north on Highway 49 to catch Highway 140 in Mariposa, or take Highway 99 to Merced and head east on Highway 140 there.

The southern end of the park may experience poor air quality from the fire. The park service’s 24-hour Ground Level smoke forecast shows areas of heavy smoke and unhealthy, even hazardous conditions closest to the fire zone. For the majority of the park, the Air Quality Index is good.

Visitors can keep up with all current closures and alerts on the National Park website, and view a real-time map of the fire with the National Fire Situational Awareness Tool online. The National Park Service also suggests that visitors prepare a trip plan, which includes knowin