FLOODS CLOSE YOSEMITE, AMTRAK ROUTE.

Byline: Daily News and wire services

Northern California floods have forced closure of Yosemite National Park, a favorite spot for campers and hikers. The park will remain closed at least through the end of January because of damage to roads, sewers and drinking water supplies, officials said.

Damage has also been reported to the Yosemite Lodge cabins and some campsites, but details were not immediately available.

Fred Sater, a spokesman for the California Division of Tourism, said a National Park Service team will assess damage in the park and catalog needed repairs.

About 500 employees of Yosemite Park & Curry Co., the concessionaire that runs the park, were evacuated earlier this week. They had been stranded several days by floods. Campers were evacuated earlier.

All camping reservations for Yosemite through Jan. 18 have been canceled, according to a recording at the concessionaire's office. Campers who hold reservations in January are asked to call [phone] to reconfirm or make alternate arrangements.

Washed-out tracks forced Amtrak to cancel passenger train service on the Coast Starlight between Oakland and Eugene, Ore., until at least Jan. 24. Buses are carrying Coast Starlight passengers between Eugene, Portland and Seattle.

Until next week, buses also are ferryingMount Baker International passengers between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Tracks were washed out and service disrupted by the series of ice, snow and rain storms that hit the Northwest beginning the day after Christmas.

Statewide, winter storms and resulting floods have caused damage totaling more than $1.6 billion, state officials estimate, and crippled the state's tourism industry.

Because of roads blocked by mudslides and washouts, skiers can't reach Sierra Nevada resorts and many gamblers can't get to casinos in Nevada.

Meanwhile, Lake Tahoe businesses and transportation agencies have outlined alternative routes to the area while U.S. 50 remains closed due to mudslides. Each route is about a three-hour drive.

From Sacramento:

Take Interstate 80 east to Truckee, exit at Highway 267, south to Highway 28 at Kings Beach, follow around Lake Tahoe to U.S. 50.

Or, take U.S. 50 in Sacramento to Highway 16 east at Bradshaw Road, then take Highway 49 south to Jackson. Take Highway 88 to Kirkwood, then Highway 89 north to rejoin Highway 50, then east to South Lake Tahoe.

From Stockton:

From Stockton, take Highway 99 north to Highway 88 east, follow to Highway 49 and turn south to Jackson. Take Highway 88 to Kirkwood, then Highway 89 north to rejoin Highway 50, then east to South Lake Tahoe.