California’s national parks returning to normal operations

Rangers opened the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center this morning for the first time in 37 days. (Photo: Yosemite National Park/Facebook)

Yosemite National Park’s entrance stations were staffed by rangers on Monday to collect fees and provide information.

Elsewhere in the Sierra Nevada, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks said they would resume regular winter season operations Tuesday.

In the deserts, staff is back at work at Death Valley and Joshua Tree, although the parks advise that not all functions or areas will be immediately back to normal for reasons including the need to flush and test water systems and clear storm debris.

Operations have also resumed in the huge Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area west of Los Angeles but large areas remain closed due to damage from the Woolsey wildfire.