Drones can offer incredible vantage points for photographers, but they also can be a danger to aircraft. And so when a drone appeared in the air near Glen Aulin in Yosemite National Park, a park helicopter had to land rather than risk collision.

A lightning-sparked fire burning Wednesday in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park was being monitored by firefighters but not considered a threat to visitors or structures.

It’s the summer tourist season, and Yosemite Park is gridlocked with traffic.

Yosemite National Park's famous Tioga Road, which has remained closed since last fall due to the huge winter snowpack that buried the Sierra, was to open to cyclists and hikers on Wednesday, and then to wheeled traffic on Thursday, park staff said. However, there will be limited visitor services available from the Tioga Pass Entrance Station to Crane Flat and motorists were urged to drive carefully due to debris and water that might be on the road.