Yosemite National Park crews have a huge task ahead of them: clearing a boulder field that slid across about 400 feet of the trail to Rancheria Falls near the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
The landslide occurred early in the afternoon on March 31. No visitors were injured, but the trail was closed just east of the Wapama Creek footbridges for safety purposes, and due to boulders preventing access beyond Wapama Falls.
Roughly 16,000 tons of rock fell from a source about 500 feet above the base of the cliff, according to a park release.
"Rock debris hit the slope below the cliff, breaking into numerous boulders, crushing trees, and creating a small dust cloud," the release said.
Hikers can still access Wapama Falls starting from the O'Shaughnessy Dam. The trail to Rancheria Falls just after Wapama Falls will be closed until further notice. The park is working to reopen the trail at a later date.
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