Looking to get into Yosemite National Park? Your plans may need a reroute if you’re coming in from the Merced, California, area. A landslide near Yosemite has shut down a major access route—indefinitely.
Rerouting from Merced due to landslide near Yosemite
Yosemite National Park officials say that Highway 140 is closed between Midpines and El Portal due a rock slide. If your plans call for using Highway 140, you’ll need to add some extra distance and time to enter Yosemite via Highways 41 or 120 (from the west). While the route will get you there, chains are required.
The road-closing rockslide happened sometime Monday night, and closed a two-mile stretch of the roadway. Regional media outlet SFGATE quoted Caltrans spokesperson Brian Hooker, who said it may take a while to clear up the mess. “So, for right now, we do have it closed from Forrester Road through Incline out to Briceburg. And that’s going to be a long-term, extended closure until our crews can go out there and remove the debris and inspect the hillside so that we can reopen the road safely for motorists,” Hooker said.
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Thank you for the news, Russ and Tina! Hmm, … “chains needed” for the alternate route?! I did not realize that winter still had Yosemite in its clutches. Have a great day and safe travels!