This from the SEKI website--about three hours ago:
Park Closures in Effect Due to Wildfires
Active wildfires caused by a significant lightning storm on Thursday September 9 are still growing and have the potential to affect Sequoia National Park infrastructure and resources. We are aggressively attacking these fires to suppress them. The Colony and Paradise fires are in steep and dangerous terrain, and numerous aircraft are using water and retardant to slow the rate of spread. Detailed information about these fires is available on the Inciweb KNP Complex web page (the KNP Complex includes the Paradise and Colony fires). Incident overviews are also posted on our Current Fires web page, and on our KNP Complex Frequently Asked Questions page.
Residents
of Three Rivers, CA and surrounding areas joined staff from the National Park Service, Cal Fire, Tulare County Fire, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, and others for a community meeting to address the current situation with the KNP Complex on the evening of Sunday, September 12. Check our Facebook page for a recording of the meeting and for notices of future meetings.
Road Closures
The Generals Highway is closed from the Sequoia National Park entrance (near Highway 198 and Three Rivers) to Quail Flat, 4 miles south of the Highway 180/Generals Highway Junction and 5 miles south of Grant Grove Village). Highway 180 to Grant Grove Village and Cedar Grove are open, as are facilities and wilderness areas in Kings Canyon National Park.
Area, Services, and Facilities Closures
These areas will remain closed until the fire threat is diminished, and listed closure dates may be extended:
The Tulare County Sheriff's office has issued mandatory evacuation orders for the Silver City and Cabin Cove area on Mineral King Road. The evacuation order applies to all of Mineral King Road.
All facilities and services in Sequoia National Park are closed. These include:
Lodgepole, Buckeye Flat, Potwisha, and Cold Springs campgrounds. Reservations will be fully refunded through Recreation.gov. No new reservations will be available for campgrounds in Sequoia National Park until the wildfire threat is diminished.
Visitor centers and park stores, including Giant Forest Museum and Foothills Visitor Center. Ranger programs are also cancelled throughout Sequoia National Park.
Crystal Cave and Crystal Cave Road. Tour reservations for Crystal Cave will be fully refunded through Recreation.gov. No new reservations will be available for tours until the wildfire threat is diminished.
Wuksachi Lodge. Please contact Delaware North at (866) 807-3598 for reservation support. Lodgepole Market is also closed.
* All wilderness permits for trailheads in Sequoia National Park have been cancelled (see below for details). Roads to all trailheads in Sequoia National Park are closed.
Air Quality
Fire both inside and outside the parks are impacting air quality in and around Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Conditions are changing quickly depending on location, fire behavior, and wind and weather
patterns. For real-time air quality information and location-specific air quality updates, visit the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.
Please also visit our Air Quality Information web page. If you're hoping for far-reaching views at park overlooks such as Panoramic Point, visibility may be better earlier in the day. Most importantly, follow our current fire restrictions that prohibit wood and charcoal fires at all elevations to avoid human-caused wildfires when conditions are dangerously dry. Outdoor information stations at visitor centers may close and ranger programs may be cancelled due to poor air quality.
Closures In Sequoia National Park Wilderness
Currently, there are both trailhead closures and area closures in Sequoia National Park.
When trailheads are closed, permits to depart those trailheads are cancelled and permit holders are contacted.
With area closures, all trails and lands that fall within a mapped closure area are not open to public use. A map of the closed area is provided.
Trailhead Closures in Sequoia National Park Wilderness
Due to wildfire activity in the area, we are closing all trailheads that enter into Sequoia National Park to backpacking and day use hiking. All existing permit reservation holders will be issued a full refund. Beginning September 12, backpackers will not be able to get overnight wilderness permits that start from the Mineral King Valley, Lodgepole or Giant Forest area, or Ash Mountain (foothills). Other areas in the wilderness remain open but are heavily affected by smoke and hazardous air quality. Thank you for understanding. For more information, please contact SEKI_Wilderness_Office@nps.gov or call (559) 565-3766. Please note that we are experiencing a high volume of calls at this time.
Area Closures in Sequoia National Park Wilderness
Due to fire impacts from the Walkers Fire, the following areas are temporarily closed to the public: • The Tar Gap Trail from Mineral King to Hockett Meadow. • The Atwell Mill Trail from Atwell Mill Campground to Hockett Meadow. • The South Fork Trail from Garfield Grove to Hockett Meadow. • The general area (as shown on the Walkers Fire map) beginning from the southern boundary of Sequoia National P
ark at Falcon Peak, generally northwest along the ridgeline to White Chief Peak, Hengst Peak, west along the ridge to the intersection of the Atwell Mill Trail and the Tar Gap Trail, generally south along the plateau to the South Fork Trail west of Hockett Lakes, generally south to the park boundary just east of the Touhy Trail (excluded), east and then north back to Falcon Peak.
The Dillonwood area wilderness area closure in Sequoia remains in effect, due to impacts from the SQF Complex fires.
Neighboring US Forest Service Closures
The U.S. Forest Service announced a California statewide closure of the lands they manage. All national forests neighboring Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are fully closed due to fire danger. For more information, please contact (707) 562-9113 or SM.FS.R5inquiries@usda.gov.