The 395 and Owens Valley-Eastern Sierra Region

Needs "Now go home" tagline

Just kidding.

 

Needs a new coat of paint.

 

These signs always go up with great fanfare only to deteriorate into the next generation sign. Like the 50th Super Bowl. City did all these beautification projects that look horrible now because there’s no money to maintain them.

Looked nice when it first went in and again after it filled in. Now, only after the annual maintenance

 

Since 395 and Sequoia & Kings Canyon are related, it's worth mentioning the park is seeking input on their mgmt plan. It's worth reading about their plans and making your thoughts known.

I'm guessing they will adopt reservations. In fact, I'm betting more parks will begin mandating reservations in the next few years.

 

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/yosemite-reservations-17586554.php

 

This go around was only temporary and allegedly because of all the construction projects. Though the article makes it sound like demand made it stop, it did have an end date. Construction will continue next year--whether the reservation system does, idk--the original plan was to continue for the summer season.

 

The park has received so much negative pressure about the reservation system that it had to go. While I like the idea of a less crowded park I hate the idea of not being able to climb in the Meadows without a reservation. My wife and I met in the Meadows. We got married in the Meadows. Last year was the first time in 20 years that we didn't climb in the Meadows. I'm glad to see the reservation system gone.

 

I for one of many, I'm sure, don't think you should have to make a reservation to enjoy the outdoors. I also feel that if the park is receiving that kind of visitation, the NPS should consider expansion.

 

I'm a huge proponent of Zions system. You park and get bussed in. For years friends and I have talked about how great that would be for Yosemite. The problem lies where it usually does. Money. For this idea to work the park would need to build HUGE parking areas at all entrances. Then they'd need to at least 20X the amount of buses currently serving the Valley. I really thought Zion's system would be a litmus for the rest of the parks. 20 years later and AKAIK Zion is still the only national park bussing people in.

 

Does that really work for Yosemite, though? There's a lot of through-traffic.

 

I'm fine with the buses Yosemite has. It really is pretty easy to get around once you're in the valley. Yosemite did, at one time, entertain the thought of a huge parking structure in El Portal. There was a master plan and well, I guess only some stuff ever got done.

 

That's the other part of the equation we have't got a good answer for. Closing 120 to through traffic is an issue. It's exactly what the park has done with the reservation system though. For the last 2 years you can't drive 120 without a reservation unless you go super early or super late. Is closing it to through traffic even legal? Is that the real reason the reservation system got canned?

 

Front and center parking at Copper Top?

 

Copper Top! Got spooked that they went out of business this summer, before we realized they moved a block up the road.

 

Denali is bus only. Devil’s Postpile is as well, but it’s a Monument and not a Park.

As some of these places get overloved buses certainly seem to make sense.

 

If you've got a float tube you can drive into Devil's Postpile at anytime. Can't fit them on the bus so there's an exception for them. lol

 

It's called Tioga Pass Road and technically shares the 120 designation. So yeah, they can close it. It is frustrating when it's closed.