Sequoia National Park partially reopens after storm damage

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — The foothills of Sequoia National Park reopened to the public on Friday after last month’s severe storm damage to the roads, but access to its giant trees remains limited. It has not been expected for several weeks, the National Park Service said.

The reopened area extends 6 miles (9.6 km) past the Three Rivers town entrance station, providing access to low-altitude trails, camping, and abundant wildflowers.

The Giant Forest and General Sherman Tree remain closed and have no plans to reopen in time for Memorial Day, the park service said in a statement.

The Park Service suggested that visitors wanting to see giant sequoias head to nearby Kings Canyon National Park, where Grant Grove reopened on April 7.

According to the park’s service statement, “Visitors should be prepared by bringing enough water, snacks, a full tank of gas, tire chains or cables, and warm outerwear for the trip. Snow is expected.”

The Sequoias and Kings Canyon sit side by side in the southern Sierra Nevada, buried under huge snow masses after a series of unusual winter storms.