Massive rockfall in Yosemite National Park

Nobody hurt but trail closed

4/8/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this photo supplied by Yosemite National Park, dust rises from a rockfall on March 31. Officials say approximately 16,000 tons of rock fell 500 feet from a cliff near Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
In this photo supplied by Yosemite National Park, dust rises from a rockfall on March 31. Officials say approximately 16,000 tons of rock fell 500 feet from a cliff near Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — Officials at Yosemite National Park say a massive amount of rock has fallen from a cliff, closing a hiking trail.

The National Park Service said Monday that nobody was hurt when the 16,000 tons of rock fell 500 feet from a cliff near Hetch Hetchy Reservoir on March 31. Many boulders tumbled into the water.

Officials say the rock crashed down from a cliff east of Wapama Falls. The rock broke into numerous boulders, crushing trees and sending up a small dust cloud.

Some 400 feet of the Rancheria Falls Trail were destroyed and park staff says it will remain closed for now. Park officials say hikers can still get to Wapama Falls starting at O’Shaughnessy Dam.