Kings Canyon, Sequoia mobbed after Yosemite closes

Park rangers direct visitors out of California�s Yosemite National Park, July 25, 2018. Thousands of tourists were evacuated on Wednesday as one of the country�s most iconic natural preserves was blanketed with thick smoke from a 38,000-acre fire that has burned for nearly two weeks. (Jim Wilson/The New York Times) less Park rangers direct visitors out of California�s Yosemite National Park, July 25, 2018. Thousands of tourists were evacuated on Wednesday as one of the country�s most iconic natural preserves was blanketed ... more Photo: JIM WILSON, NYT Photo: JIM WILSON, NYT Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Kings Canyon, Sequoia mobbed after Yosemite closes 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

What do you do when your long-anticipated Yosemite trip is ruined by a raging wildfire? Switch to Plan B.

For many visitors thwarted by the park closure, that meant traveling to the nearest non-burning national park, namely Sequoia and/or Kings Canyon, about a 2-hour-and-40-minute drive south from Yosemite.

Unfortunately, the less-visited Sequoia-Kings tandem has been suddenly swamped by an influx of campers and sightseers.

Earlier this week as Yosemite Valley was shutting down, park spokesman Scott Gediman suggested visitors go to Sequoia and Kings Canyon, or Tuolumne Meadows on Yosemite's northern edge, instead.

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"There are wonderful places to visit in the region, so we're asking people to consider alternative plans," Gediman told the Hollywood Reporter.

Photo: PhotoAlto/Jerome Gorin/Getty Images/PhotoAlto Sequoia and Kings Canyon Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park...

Apparently, a lot of people followed Gediman's advice.

National Park Service officials said all campgrounds and lodging at Kings Canyon and Sequoia — including the first-come, first-served campsites — are full.

Because of road congestion and limited parking, the NPS discouraged commercial tour bus operators from traveling to either park.

The next closest national park, Death Valley, has space, however.

If you don't mind a little 121-degree heat.