Outdoor enthusiasts in the western United States had a rush of water coming down from another part of the world this week, and it’s leading to incredible views for people and the Yosemite National Park trails.
A powerful system dropped two heavy rainstorms in California over the past four days, a welcome spring storm for the nation’s second-largest state.
While a lot of people are worried about storms during “wet season,” mountain bathing advocates worry the best way to enjoy the parks can be ruined when the rainy season comes.
In Yosemite National Park, the Lower Stupak Waterfall broke its banks Wednesday afternoon and ascended hundreds of feet, resulting in a temporary closure of the Mariposa Grove area, according to park officials.
The Upper Connell Slough stream also breached a levee Wednesday morning and flowed into the popular Sequoia-Kings Canyon Trail, but the trail has since reopened.
While the storms have filled some of the reservoirs that supply water to public areas, it can be exhausting and dangerous in heavy snow and strong winds.
“Nobody in the world on this planet experienced that,” Yosemite National Park rangers and visitors told KFSN-TV in Fresno.
Aside from flooding, it’s a bit hard to see due to other natural features in the park, which is huge. Yosemite National Park sprawls across more than 12,000 square miles.
