Yosemite: Dome Fire burns near Wawona, a few trails closed
An active wildfire northeast of Wawona is closing some trails and sending smoke across parts of Yosemite, and here's what it means for your visit.
By Jocelyn Pion,
If you're planning a visit to the south side of Yosemite, here's a situation worth keeping in mind before you lock in your plans. A wildfire called the Dome Fire is currently burning in the wilderness northeast of Wawona, the small, historic area known for its giant sequoias and a quieter feel than the main valley.
First, the good news. For now, the impacts are minimal. The fire is staying in a remote area, well away from the main travel corridors. In practice, it has closed a few hiking trails within that zone. Nothing that derails your trip, but enough to rethink a walk if you were counting on exploring the paths in this particular corner.
The second thing to plan for is the air. When a fire smolders in the backcountry, smoke travels with the wind, and smoky conditions are possible around Wawona. That's nothing unusual in western parks late in the season, but it's worth taking seriously. If you're traveling with young kids, older adults, or anyone with a respiratory sensitivity, keep an eye on the air quality the day you go and have a backup outing ready, over in the valley, say, where the air may be clearer.
Here's our practical tip. Check on trail conditions at a park visitor center right before you head out to hike, because a fire moves fast and a closure list gets updated by the hour. To place Wawona within the wider park and plan the rest of your stay, lean on the Yosemite park guide, which sets each area within the big picture.
And if Yosemite is part of a bigger trip, this park sits on our road trip itinerary that runs through it, handy for arranging your stops around a possible change of plans. Nothing alarming at this stage, then, but a useful bit of caution so you set out well informed.