Kings

The Basin Fire started on the ridge between the NF Kings and the Main Kings River, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. By Friday it was spreading east up Rodgers Ridge, and had also jumped the NF Kings to the west. Sierra National Forest has closed all public roads and trails in the area. Trimmer Springs Road is closed to the public at the Big Creek junction.

Closure Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE\_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1184449.pdf

Closure Order: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE\_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1184448.pdf

At this time, there is no closure on the south side of the river in Sequoia National Forest. That would change if the fire jumps the river to the south side.

With this closure there is no access to the Banzai section of the Kings River.

The Garnet Dike Rd, along the river is open to Mule Rock where there is a suitable raft put in area. The road is closed past that point. The rockslide and washouts just before Hermits Hole Put In, still remain. Hikers or bicyclists can go further upstream if they wish. The road to Mule Rock is in reasonable condition.

The Trimmer Springs Road around Pine Flat Reservoir to the Kings River has been reopened by Fresno County. Boaters can now access the NF Kings and the end of the Banzai section. The dirt Garnet Dike road remains closed. Kirch Flat campground remains closed. The closure order ends on May 25, but could end sooner or be extended longer.

March 2023.
Garnet Dike road is gated near the Bailey Bridge until the forest service can bring in heavy equipment to clear landslides and repair washouts. There is no estimate of when that might happen. The southside road to Mill Flat Creek campground was still open at last report.
March 9, 2023:
Trimmer Springs road between Trimmer Springs and Kirch Flat is closed due to landslides and other damage to the road. The closure could last till May 30 according to the closure map. Until Trimmer Springs road is repaired and reopened, there is no access to the Banzai section of the Kings River, or to the NF Kings or Dinkey Creek.

The January 2023 rains caused a lot of rock slides and fallen trees along the Garnet Dike Road. The Mountain Warriors volunteer trail crew has cleared trees and enough rocks to make the road passable for high clearance vehicles almost to Hermit's Hole put in.
However, a major rock slide has completely blocked the road within sight of Hermits Hole. The slide is about 1.6 miles from the end of the road at Garnet Dike and 4/10 of a mile from the put in at Hermits Hole. Pedestrians can walk over the slide without major difficulty, and kayakers could carry boats past the slide.

Large rock slide blocking entire road approximately 1/2 mile before Hermit's Hole.

The heavy rains of early January 2023, have caused numerous landslides and rock slides along the dirt, Garnet Dike Road. As of Jan 2, a large tree blocks the road just past Mule Rock rapid. The road will probably not get cleared until the major rains subside. More slides and fallen trees are likely for awhile.