Current Status of Yosemite Post 2018 Fires: I am in the process of planning my first Photography trip to Yosemite in mid April 2019 and would like to know if I should wait another year...

geezer76 Loc: Prineville, Oregon

I am in the process of planning my first Photography trip to Yosemite in mid April 2019 and would like to know if I should wait another year to visit. Not interested in photographing a burned up forest full of charcoal tree stumps/etc. Any information/comments will be most appreciated. Roger

htbrown Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

My understanding is that Yosemite was closed because the approach roads were threatened by fire, and because of the health hazards posed by the thick smoke. The fires did not reach Yosemite Valley.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Call the park.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

geezer76 wrote:

I am in the process of planning my first Photography trip to Yosemite in mid April 2019 and would like to know if I should wait another year to visit. Not interested in photographing a burned up forest full of charcoal tree stumps/etc. Any information/comments will be most appreciated. Roger

Why not contact Park staff. Very likely they will have credible knowledgeablevand advice.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

geezer76 wrote:

I am in the process of planning my first Photography trip to Yosemite in mid April 2019 and would like to know if I should wait another year to visit. Not interested in photographing a burned up forest full of charcoal tree stumps/etc. Any information/comments will be most appreciated. Roger

Photographing a burned up forest could result in stark and haunting landscapes. A different type of beauty.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

That could actually make for some interesting pictures

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

geezer76 wrote:

I am in the process of planning my first Photography trip to Yosemite in mid April 2019 and would like to know if I should wait another year to visit. Not interested in photographing a burned up forest full of charcoal tree stumps/etc. Any information/comments will be most appreciated. Roger

The fires did not penetrate into Yosemite valley, so everthing is good. Glacier Point is open. Quickly, you need to check reservations, because last minute (April is last minute) you may be stuck with unheated tents in Curry Village. Look at availability in Coarsegold as an alternative.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

I live within an hour of the South entrance into Yosemite. The fires affected some of the areas along the main highways leading into the park, as well as areas inside the park at higher elevations. (Along Highway 140 and Highway 41) Most of the well known and commonly visited areas in the park, including Yosemite Valley were untouched.

2mdman

I was in the park last August after the fires and its fine. Took some nice pictures outside the park of the burn area. Great contrast to the lush valley floor and the Merced ought to be roaring. Bring a ND and polarizing filter.

geezer76 Loc: Prineville, Oregon

htbrown wrote:

My understanding is that Yosemite was closed because the approach roads were threatened by fire, and because of the health hazards posed by the thick smoke. The fires did not reach Yosemite Valley.

Thanks, very helpful!!

geezer76 Loc: Prineville, Oregon

2mdman wrote:

I was in the park last August after the fires and its fine. Took some nice pictures outside the park of the burn area. Great contrast to the lush valley floor and the Merced ought to be roaring. Bring a ND and polarizing filter.

Thanks for your reply!

geezer76 Loc: Prineville, Oregon

2mdman wrote:

I was in the park last August after the fires and its fine. Took some nice pictures outside the park of the burn area. Great contrast to the lush valley floor and the Merced ought to be roaring. Bring a ND and polarizing filter.

Thanks this helps with continuing my plan.

geezer76 Loc: Prineville, Oregon

jdub82 wrote:

I live within an hour of the South entrance into Yosemite. The fires affected some of the areas along the main highways leading into the park, as well as areas inside the park at higher elevations. (Along Highway 140 and Highway 41) Most of the well known and commonly visited areas in the park, including Yosemite Valley were untouched.

Thanks for the information, I had used Google Earth and could not really tell much. This helps.

geezer76 Loc: Prineville, Oregon

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

The fires did not penetrate into Yosemite valley, so everthing is good. Glacier Point is open. Quickly, you need to check reservations, because last minute (April is last minute) you may be stuck with unheated tents in Curry Village. Look at availability in Coarsegold as an alternative.

Thanks rgrenaderphoto, I will check out the "Coarsegold" suggestion. I realize I might be a little late with the reservations, and that is why I was considering next year as an alternate.

geezer76 Loc: Prineville, Oregon

jim quist wrote:

That could actually make for some interesting pictures

Thanks Jim, however, that is not the type of Landscape images I am hoping for. However, appreciate your response.