Clearing air is allowing Yosemite National Park to reopen on Friday. This image was captured Wednesday afternoon just before 2 p.m. Nearby Kings Canyon National Park reopened on Wednesday/Yosemite Conservancy

Clearing air allowed Kings Canyon National Park to reopen on Wednesday, and nearby Yosemite National Park is scheduled to reopen on Friday.

Thick, choking clouds of smoke from wildfires forced the two parks in California's Sierra Range to close their gates last week.

At Kings Canyon, the park has reopened the entrance station on Highway 180 into Kings Canyon, the Kings Canyon Visitor Center, trails, facilities and parking areas. Sequoia National Park and Sequoia National Forest, however, remain closed.

Air quality has shown improvement within the park and is forecast to range from moderate to unhealthy in some areas over the next two days, a park release said. The park will continue to assess the smoke impacts, air quality index, and fire activity throughout the region.

For now, Sunset Campground in Grant Grove will reopen Thursday for those with reservations. Grant Grove concession services including the market, gift shop, restaurant and lodge will begin opening on Friday, but could be delayed. 

For detailed information about current conditions, air quality, and smoke impacts, visit Kings Canyon's Current Conditions web page: www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm. For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, please call 559-565-3341, press 1 and press 1 again. Updated information is also available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/seki.

To the north of Kings Canyon, Yosemite is scheduled to reopen to visitors on Friday at 9 a.m. Some visitor services will be available and other visitor services will open incrementally over the weekend.  

The park has been closed since September 17 due to smoke impacts and hazardous air quality throughout the park.    

Campsites in Yosemite Valley will be available for incoming campers beginning on Friday. To book a campsite, visit www.recreation.gov.  

Yosemite continues to require day-use reservations to enter the park. For more information and to secure a day use reservation, visit www.recreation.gov .  

Yosemite officials continue to monitor air quality conditions throughout the park. The park continues to confer with local and federal public health experts on air quality, smoke impacts, and resulting impacts on public health. Yosemite National Park, or portions of the park, may close intermittently due to changes in air quality and smoke impacts.

For information on current air quality and smoke impacts, you can visit https://fire.airnow.gov/?lat=37.672508866650354&lng=-119.80573.  

For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, call 209-372-0200, and press 1. Updated information is also available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/yose and on the Yosemite National Park Facebook page.