Ashley Harrell

California

Associate Editor at SFGate

Writer at California Parklands Newsletter

Associate editor for @SFGate covering California’s parks, Lonely Planet author, writing coach, photographer. Beats most people at ping pong.

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Articles

Yosemite scientists now forced to clean bathrooms

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Ashley Harrell

In Yosemite National Park, where the hiring of seasonal employees was delayed by the Donald Trump administration, a resulting shortage of custodial workers now means the park's scientists, rangers, IT workers and leadership team will pick up shifts cleaning campground bathrooms.
Scientists will now clean bathrooms in short-staffed Yosemite National Park

1 week ago | sfgate.com | Ashley Harrell

An internal email shared with SFGATE detailed the staffers’ new custodial duties, which were also confirmed by several Yosemite employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity (which was granted in accordance with Hearst’s ethics policy, because the employees feared losing their jobs).
'A win for all': Yosemite to bring back reservation system in 2025

3 weeks ago | sfgate.com | Ashley Harrell

It won’t be the permanent reservation system that park officials signed off on in December, which President Donald Trump’s administration did not approve. But after three months of pressure from lawmakers, the media and conservationists, the administration has signed off on a new pilot reservation system for the spring and summer.
California’s most underappreciated national park is quietly in crisis

1 month ago | sacbee.com | Ashley Harrell

For the lucky people who had a chance to visit Channel Islands National Park on March 9, it seemed like a perfect day. The cornflower blue sky was clear, and the sapphire-colored sea was remarkably calm as the Island Explorer catamaran set out from Ventura Harbor toward Santa Cruz Island, the largest and most visited of the five islands within the park.
California's most underappreciated national park is quietly in crisis

1 month ago | sfgate.com | Ashley Harrell

On the ground at Santa Cruz IslandHow the Channel Islands staff is keeping it together
Calif. senator to White House: Approve Yosemite’s reservation system now

1 month ago | sacbee.com | Ashley Harrell

California Sen. Alex Padilla sent a letter Tuesday to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging him to approve Yosemite National Park's permanent reservation system and to adequately staff the beloved park during its busiest time of year. "I am writing to express my strong support for the Park's efforts to better manage the visitor experience and reduce overcrowding through a permanent online reservation system," Padilla states in the letter, which his staff shared with SFGATE.
Calif. senator to White House: Approve Yosemite's reservation system now

1 month ago | sfgate.com | Ashley Harrell

“I am writing to express my strong support for the Park’s efforts to better manage the visitor experience and reduce overcrowding through a permanent online reservation system,” Padilla states in the letter, which his staff shared with SFGATE.
Calif. congressman infuriates locals with response to Yosemite cuts

1 month ago | sacbee.com | Ashley Harrell

Over the last several weeks, as Yosemite National Park fell into chaos due to the Trump administration's whiplash-inducing executive orders and indiscriminate layoffs, people began asking what Rep. Tom McClintock was going to do about it. McClintock, a Republican, represents the 5th Congressional District, a sprawling Central California territory that contains Yosemite. He's been conspicuously absent from town hall meetings in gateway towns and hasn't been making public statements.
Yosemite's congressman thinks everything's fine at the park

1 month ago | sfgate.com | Ashley Harrell

Over the last several weeks, as Yosemite National Park fell into chaos due to the Trump administration’s whiplash-inducing executive orders and indiscriminate layoffs, people began asking what Rep. Tom McClintock was going to do about it. McClintock, a Republican, represents the 5th Congressional District, a sprawling Central California territory that contains Yosemite. He’s been conspicuously absent from town hall meetings in gateway towns and hasn’t been making public statements.
National Park Service staff told to downplay record-breaking visitor stats

1 month ago | sfgate.com | Sam Hill |Ashley Harrell

The National Park Service recorded the highest number of visitors across the national park system ever in 2024 — a staggering 331.9 million visits, representing an increase of 2% over 2023. But you won’t hear park employees discussing those figures publicly.