High Sierra Topix

Great, thanks. Note that the PROJECT UPDATE above (Jan. 26) does not include the boulder slide (4 of 5) and the larger mudslide (5 of 5) mentioned in my May 25 post above.

SEKI posted to their facebook page (just noticed):

"Highway 180 to Cedar Grove and Roads End: Highway 180 was severely damaged and closed throughout all of 2023. Caltrans is continuing repairs outside the park, west of Cedar Grove. Current projections are for repairs to be completed sometime in June. We hope to reopen Cedar Grove to the public shortly after Caltrans repairs are complete."

This sounds hopeful for a July opening of Cedar Grove, etc.

your hopefulness should include a plan B.

SEKI NP:

Tentatively beginning April 15 through about May 10 significant weekday, daytime closures will go into effect between Hospital Rock and the Giant Forest Museum. See image for the detailed schedule during this period. During the second 4-week phase, tentatively scheduled from May 13 to June 7, weekday, daytime delays should only be about 30 minutes.

Access from Grant Grove in Kings Canyon to the Giant Forest area in Sequoia will be open to visit the General Sherman Tree, Lodgepole, Moro Rock, and more when closures are in effect.

Similar road construction will be taking place along the Mineral King Road, but a start date or schedule have not been set. Current estimate is for work to begin in late April and take about 8 weeks to complete. Road closures with scheduled pass throughs for residents will be in effect until the Memorial Day weekend, when access typically reopens for the season to public vehicles. After the Memorial Day weekend, delays should only be about 30 minutes through project completion.

Road construction by Caltrans outside the park on Highway 180 to Cedar Grove is still projected to be completed sometime in June. We hope to reopen Cedar Grove to the public shortly after Caltrans repairs are complete.

Crystal Cave Road will remain closed for repairs and recovery in 2024.

Schedules are subject to change, and we urge anyone planning to visit during this time to check our park website for the most current information: https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/ ... uction.htm

I just checked on reserve.gov and no permits are available from Roads End yet, regardless of date. I wonder if the road does open, are the first weeks permits going to all be put in "walk-in"? I suspect if it does open, there will be a rush and permits will be hard to get. Nothing was mentioned about the campgrounds. Can we assume that all campgrounds would open when the road opens?

I would not assume the campgrounds will open at all this year, based off what I've heard from someone who operates a business in the canyon. It could happen, but it certainly won't be right when the road opens.