September 2, 2024 – Yosemite National Park officials announce that right across from the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center is Puppy Dome Meadow. This is a busy segment of the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails that had deep trail ruts from years of people walking through a wet meadow. These ruts diverted water away from the meadow, causing soil erosion, meadow drying, habitat loss, and conifer encroachment. We are working to reverse this damage and rejuvenate this precious ecosystem.

First, the trail crew built a new durable trail parallel to the road. This new path provides hikers with a dry alternative, allowing the old, rutted trail to be closed off for restoration. Then, the front country restoration crew began salvaging native plants, filling ruts with locally sourced soil, reestablishing the meadow's natural topography, and sowing native plant seeds and spores to help this meadow flourish once again.

To those who may find themselves recreating in the area: Give plants a chance! Please stay on the newly established trail and out of the restoration area. This sensitive meadow needs time to grow, and by sticking to the official path, you’re helping revive an entire network of life!

By staying on the trail, anywhere you are out exploring, you can protect meadows and the community of life that depend on them. Walking off the trail can form social trails, that can turn into deep ruts like those recently restored in Puppy Dome Meadow.

Thanks for helping us keep Yosemite's meadows healthy and vibrant!

Video description: Before and after images of a trail through a meadow. The before pictures show rutted trails that are gradually leveled with dirt. The photos after show grasses growing where there were formerly tracks.

View video of pictures here.

Source & photos: NPS