Yosemite Valley Entrance Closed Indefinitely

Yosemite, CA — Big Oak Flat Road, a continuation of Highway 120, is closed because of a rockslide that occurred at 11:30 last night.

Yosemite National Park Spokesperson Scott Gediman says a boulder, “the size of a house,” fell into the road and brought with it tree branches and several smaller rocks.

Gediman says the best case scenario is that the debris will be removed over the coming days and Big Oak Flat Road will reopen “within the next several days.” He says the worst case scenario is that there is structural damage to the road and it will need extensive repairs. Gediman says this scenario could result in the road being closed for “several months.”

At this point Yosemite is calling Big Oak Flat Road “closed indefinitely.”

Once Highway 120 enters Yosemite National Park it becomes Big Oak Flat Road. It is the path into Yosemite Valley for motorists coming from Groveland and Sonora. Many of the south Tuolumne County businesses rely on the Highway 120 tourist traffic. Yosemite Valley is currently only accessible from Highway 140 and Highway 41.

Gediman says more information will be known over the coming days when crews can start assessing the damage.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the rockslide.