SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, Calif. – June 17, 2019 – The Bearpaw High Sierra Camp in Sequoia National Park will remain closed and will not open for the 2019 season due to damage to tent cabin structures as a result of above-average snowpack and delayed access for pack animals critical for repairs and supplies, the National Park Service (NPS) and concessioner Delaware North announced today.
Following a heavy winter with above-average snowpack, currently 175 percent for this time of year, and inclement weather through May, Delaware North, the concessioner for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, assessed the conditions for opening the camp. They encountered high water along the 11-mile trail to Bearpaw as well as trail damage blocking access for pack animals. Tent cabin structures were also found to be damaged and in need of significant repairs. With delayed access for pack animals, repairs are not currently possible.
“Ultimately, our guests’ safety and comfort are our top concerns, and given these conditions, we feel that it is in everyone’s best interest for Bearpaw to remain closed for the 2019 season,” said Dan Cornforth, general manager for Delaware North at Sequoia and Kings Canyon. “We apologize for any inconvenience this will cause and we truly appreciate everyone’s understanding.”
Bearpaw High Sierra Camp was established in 1934 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Weather permitting, it’s six tent cabins are open from mid-June to mid-September. The camp is about 12 miles east of Giant Forest on the High Sierra Trail.
Delaware North is emailing guests with Bearpaw reservations this summer to let them know they will be automatically cancelled and rebooked for the same week in 2020. If guests do not want to use their 2020 Bearpaw reservation and want to cancel it and have their deposit refunded, or if they have additional questions, they can call Delaware North’s reservation center at (866) 807-3598 for assistance.
Guests who have reservations at Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia before or after their 2019 Bearpaw reservation can call the Wuksachi Front Desk at (559) 625-7700 for assistance.
About Delaware North
At Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Delaware North features lodging at Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia; the John Muir Lodge, Grant Grove Cabins and Cedar Grove Lodge in Kings Canyon; and the Bearpaw High Sierra Camp. For more information visit http://www.visitsequoia.com/.
About Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
These two parks, which lie-side-by-side in the southern Sierra Nevada in Central California, serve as a prime example of nature’s size, beauty, and diversity. Over 2 million visitors from across the U.S. and the world visit these parks for the world’s largest trees (by volume), grand mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, the highest point in the lower 48 states, and more. Learn more at http://www.nps.gov/seki.
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Heavy Sierra snow and structure damage prompt closure of Bearpaw High Sierra Camp in Sequoia National Park for 2019 season
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