National park closure/delays/road construction thread.

With the National parks being so popular this time of year, and many of them only having a short season to repair the roads, you can always visit the NPS website and find the park[s] you are visiting for up to date info on conditions.

This summer there is quite a big construction program in Yellowstone.

Expect delays on the Mount Carmel highway between Zion and Bryce with day time closures and long diversions.

The Wawona Rd [41] to the Southern entrance of Yosemite has delays of up to 30 -60 mins.

In the Grand Tetons there are a few projects and you can expect up to 30 min delays on Teton park Rd near to Jenny lake.

Large vehicle [RV] alert. The Generals highway in Seqouia NP has expected delays of up to 1 hour and a new 22ft lenght restriction for the time being !!

Trail ridge Rd in RMNP is being worked on and could have combined delays along it's lenght of up to 1 hour.

Keep up to date with the goings on at the Grand canyon.

All links will update automatically so info may differ to that I posted today.

Anyone who has recently visited a park and can report any updates, please do !

Dave,

This is a good idea! -- Too bad we didn't think of this back in the Spring...

Mark

With fall fast approaching, the Sun Road in Glacier will be restricting travel starting September 19. It's in the middle of a multi-year rehab project.

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Mark] Too bad we didn't think of this back in the Spring...

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Better late than never !

It could come in handy for when we get into the Fall and Winter seasons for temporary and permanant closures due to weather conditions.

Two updates from my recent cross-country road trip:

1. There is significant construction on Route 9 in Utah going through Zion NP -- a long stretch of the route inside the park is reduced to a dirt road with some pretty hefty bumps/potholes. Allow extra time for driving through there.

2. The major construction in Yellowstone is on route 89, or "Grand Loop Road," between West Entrance Road and Norris Canyon Road. There is a 3-mile stretch that's down to 1-lane, and getting through there going either direction will involve at least 30-minute delays. Also, that stretch of road closes from 10 pm - 8 am daily.

I knew about Yellowstone -- but hadn't heard about the Route 9 issue in Zion. (oops, it's in SW Dave's post... above).

So, thanks for this!

Mark

Construction on the 'Going to the sun' road is now well underway, and the section between Avalanche and Logan is closed to traffic. You can drive part of the road [15.5 miles from the West Entrance to Avalanche, and 18.5 miles from the St. Mary Entrance to Logan Pass] but not across it's entire lenght.

Keep up to date here.

The Yosemite NP team are advising you call ahead if you're travelling over the Sierra's via Tioga pass today, as there has been a closure from mixed reports of snow and rockfall.

At this time of year it is not unusual for the pass to close, and then re-open periodically before it closes permanently for the season. For the most up to date info click here.

At the time of posting Sonora pass [SR108] just North of Yosemite is also closed East of Strawberry, visit Caltrans for the latest updates here.

I mentioned it in this post, but this is a better spot for specific details - Skyline Drive received ARRA funds and they are currently working on several of the scenic overlooks (which are closed during the construction) as well as paving some sections of the road.

Rocky mountain NP

Trail ridge Rd is currently closed at the "Many park curves" section at the East end and the "Colorado river Trail head" to the West, it is unknown at this point whether it will re-open again this Fall.

"Old fall river Rd" is closed for the season.

Get the latest here.

Yellowstone.

The "Beartooth highway" is closed for the season from Red Lodge to the Northeast entance.

Note that the part of the Beartooth (US-212) from the northeast entrance through Cooke City to the WY-296 junction is open and maintained all winter, conditions permitting. This allows access between the park and Cody via 296 (Chief Joseph Scenic Highway), again, conditions permitting. The Beartooth closed early this year, not due to weather but to complete a reconstruction project.

It is reported on the official Yosemite site that Glacier point road has opened today !

That's very good news for all of those lucky road trippers heading to the park this weekend. Wish I was in that group!

Mark

If you are travelling to Yellowstone soon, check out the latest travel news. A minor rock slide has caused a road closure between Mammoth Hot springs and Tower junction. The road is clear but still closed due to rock stability worries above the roadway. It would seem that 'Beartooth highway' crews have been pulled off to help out in other areas of the park.

Original report here and theUpdated info here.

The Beartooth highway [US212] is now open end to end !

Yellowstone NP.

Great to hear Dave... although I would not count on it.

When I drove it in 2009 it had been open for some days, and then I heard that two days later it was closed again. Guess mountain roads are like that... remember it took me five attempts to drive the Trail Ridge Road, and all attempts were in July, August and September.

Nature is our master.

Lifey

Just a heads up for anyone planning a 'quick' visit to Sequoia NP.

Construction work along sections of the Generals highway could cause delays of up to an hour over the next couple of weeks with night time closures. At night you can drive through the construction zone at 1130pm only] Vehicles over 22 feet [combined lenght] will have to enter via the 180 entrance to Kings canyon. Check the link for other possible delays around the park.

Crystal cave is also closed Aug 16-18.

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Originally Posted by Mass Tim

and they are currently working on several of the scenic overlooks (which are closed during the construction) as well as paving some sections of the road.

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How long ago was this? We were there a month ago and there was no sign of construction along the roads or scenic overlooks on Skyline Drive.



Donna

Donna.

It's a thread that is designed to be updated with latest info, so it is important to check the dates of when the posts were made. In the case of Tim's post you refer to, it was made on 10-6-2010.

Dave.

An update on the recent rock slide on the Big Oak Flat road.

After temporary repairs to get the road open, it is now being closed 24/7 to make a permanent repair. This could go on for 6 weeks, starting Weds Feb 29TH so check before travelling into Yosemite. Yosemite Valley remains accessible via El Portal Road (Highway 140) coming from Merced/ Mariposa and via Wawona Road (Highway 41) coming from Fresno/ Oakhurst. The Foresta Road, between Foresta and El Portal, is not accessible.

Yosemite NP

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February 17, 2012
Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) in Yosemite National Park to Close for Rockslide Repairs
Yosemite National Park announces that the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) within the park will close at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, for the park to repair damage to the road caused by a large rockslide on January 22, 2012. The closure, in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week, is expected to last until early April. Crews will be working around the clock which necessitates a “hard-closure.”

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With less subsurface damage than first thought, plus kind weather conditions, the CA120road into Yosemite from the west, is to officially reopen tomorrow morning at 6am, although there is news of it already being open to traffic.[?]

Yosemite Park News release.

Good work !

For anyone travelling to Yosemite from the west you should check on current conditions here. The fire has really taken hold and spread in the last 24 hours according to news reports. Although CA120 is closed, the park and all other entrances are currently open, including CA120 from the east [Tioga Pass]. CA 140 from Merced should be used to enter from the west. Hetch Hetchy road is closed as are a couple of campgrounds. [see above link]

Dave.