Group gathers in Yosemite Valley to protest against proposed sale of land

A group of people gathered for a last-minute protest in Yosemite National Park on Sunday, Sept. 20, advocating for the protection of public lands.

“Yosemite is not for sale,” said one at the assembly.

They were demonstrating in objection to a controversial plan which could allow an out-of-state developer to build a private access road inside Yosemite National Park.

“Our public lands are under attack and need our help,” according to a flyer for the event. “Yosemite is at risk: a proposed land exchange for a private access road into the park threatens the integrity of Yosemite’s boundaries and the protection of public lands.”

The group was sending a message to leadership and sharing information on recent news Las Vegas-based Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a private real estate firm, purchased an 83-acre plot of private land outside Yosemite’s western boundary for $4 million in 2024.

The developer wants to build luxury cabins and homes with direct access into the national park.

In Washington, D.C., the Trump administration is said to be considering the easement for an exchange: because the land in Yosemite cannot be sold but can be swapped, Kingsbarn buys land of equal value elsewhere in California and gives it to the National Park Service.

The deal has not yet been finalized and the value of the exchange has not been made public .

During the protest, event leader and wilderness EMT Kyra Taylor read a portion of the original National Park Service Organic Act, enacted when President Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service.

The purpose in 1916 was “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations,” Taylor quoted.

She then asked the crowd, “How does a private access road, only available to the small group of extremely wealthy individuals, fit into this mission?”

Taylor said no matter a person’s political identity or background is, they can all “feel the pressure and importance of protecting landscapes that hold so many precious species, generations of cultural and historic resources and magical experiences, connection and adventure that often times become some of the core memories in our lives.”

“We cannot allow the trade, sale or carving up of our public lands and national parks for the sake of greed, private development or so-called “land exchanges,” she continued.

“To some, another road into the park might not seem like big deal but it sets the dangerous precedent for even more private development in national parks and goes against the very core of what public lands represent.”

Residents of and visitors to the Sierra Foothills region of the state appreciate its openness and access to the mountains and outdoor spaces, said Catherine Wortmann of Groveland.

Wortmann and Taylor both are wilderness guides and yoga teachers with Balanced Rock, Yosemite’s leading health and wellness nonprofit.

“Hunters, anglers, outdoor motorists, backpackers, climbers and environmental groups don’t always agree on policy but our public lands are worth uniting over,” Wortmann said.

“Sunday’s peaceful march in Yosemite Valley was a reminder of that.”

The event began in the afternoon with about a dozen people, she said, and grew to as many as 20 when the crowd would ebb and flow and individuals joined in or tapered off.

“There was a lot of support from park-goers as we stayed in the designated First Amendment area between the Yosemite Exploration Center and the Welcome Center.”

The designated First Amendment area is a place where groups of 25 or fewer people can conduct free speech activities, demonstrations or public assemblies without needing a permit.

Taylor at the rally urged people to “call your senators, support organizations that oppose the land exchange and the sale and development of public lands, leave public comments with the National Park Service and spread education and awareness about these issues.”

Another gathering of its sort was scheduled for the Lee Vining entrance to Yosemite on Sept. 26.