Muir Woods, Muir Beach and Yosemite Valley are back open to visitors today after storms caused flooding over the weekend.
The Stinson Beach parking lot, however, remains closed to vehicles after flooding caused severe storm damage and will require maintenance work. Tennessee Valley Beach and part of the Tennessee Valley trail will also likely reopen early this week, pending damage assessment.
Parts of Marin and Sonoma counties got the heaviest rain totals over the weekend, with six to seven inches falling in Sebastopol, Occidental and Mill Valley, according to the National Weather Service. The two-day storm was also the tenth wettest two days on record for March and April.
The heavy rains prompted closures at many popular parks. People who had reservations at Yosemite over the weekend were refunded for the cancellation. But visitors who do make it to Yosemite now are likely to see active waterfalls and more water at many of the park's attractions, said park ranger and spokesperson Jamie Richards.
"You're gonna see really high water in the water falls, gushing water. Upper and lower falls looks absolutely spectacular right now. Bridalveil Falls is the highest I've ever seen it. It's absolutely beautiful," she said.
Richards said El Capitan Meadow looks like a lake right now, and so does Cook’s Meadow.
The valley's roads are open, but proceed with caution as crews finish clearing water, dirt and debris. Water levels in the Merced River crested at 13.73 feet, according to park officials, and park roads were under two to four feet of water Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night.
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