Wawona Chilnualna Falls Trailhead Parking Delineation

Yosemite National Park » Wawona Chilnualna Falls Trailhead Parking Delineation » Document List

The visitation and parking demands at the Chilnualna Falls Trailhead has grown substantially in the last few years. Natural obstacles and slope limit the possibility of expanding the current parking area. Vehicles parking outside of the delineated parking area are threatening resources and causing traffic and pedestrian hazards by obstructing the roadway. Despite attempts by Wawona District Visitor Protection to better delineate the current parking area, visitors have continued to expand the original parking footprint.

Temporarily allowing parking to occur alongside the road will help alleviate this problem and allow the park to access needs and options for the future adjacent to the existing parking that would serve this purpose and provide space for roughly 10-15 vehicles to park. The park has identified an area on park land to be used for temporary parking. The park will assess the need for long-term options and effects of providing this additional parking after the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

The proposed area is outside of a currently identified archaeological area. Parking would occur in a straight-in configuration, delineated with large logs (timbers already cut and on the ground from tree-thinning), preventing further encroachment into the vegetation. Delineation will be achieved by machinery operated by park personnel to move the timbers into place. No paving will occur. Local wood chips will be used to prevent erosion and rutting. The project will not require the removal of any vegetation.