If you’ve visited Yosemite National Park in the past, one of the first differences you’ll notice if you return this year is the new reservations system. This change means you’ll need to book a reservation online at Recreation.gov (and pay a $2.00 fee per vehicle) to access the park during peak hours.
You won’t be able to enter Yosemite from any direction without a reservation. From July 1 through August 16, reservations are required each and every day between the hours of 5 am to 4 pm. For the weeks from April 13 - July 1, and from August 16 through October, you only need reservations on the weekends and holidays.
There’s no arguing that this change isn’t a pain for many visitors. Hundreds of people make their way to the park each day and are turned away because they had no idea they needed a reservation. However, there is also no denying that this program was put into place for a number of very good reasons.
Yosemite National Park was created in 1890 through an act of Congress. John Muir led the movement to protect this expanse of nearly 750,000 acres in an effort to preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the area. Giant sequoias were being felled for lumber and sheep were overgrazing the meadows, leaving the future of the region at risk.
Today, the park faces an entirely new set of challenges. In an effort to increase public use of all National Parks, the National Park System launched an advertising campaign in 2016 called “Find Your Park.” That effort, combined with the explosion of social media, led to record numbers of visitors to national parks around the country.
Instead of logging and sheep, Yosemite’s biggest threats today are a direct result of increased tourism. The current infrastructure struggles to handle the more than 4 million visitors who enter Yosemite each year. Managing that much trash, that number of vehicles, and that many toilet flushings is a challenge.
Rangers are finding substantial trash along the trails and within Yosemite’s waters. Human fecal matter, in addition to toilet paper, is accumulating along trails and even in public pullout areas along the roadways. Noise pollution is also a problem. Vehicle sounds, talking, and music are not only disruptive to other visitors, it also affects the migration and mating behaviors of area wildlife.
The current reservation system is a pilot program aimed at trying to find ways to continue to make Yosemite accessible to everyone while also preserving it for generations to come. At the end of the 2024 season, the program will go through extensive evaluation to determine if limiting access to the park during peak seasons is achieving the desired improvements.
Additional measures under consideration include:
Relocating or enhancing entrance gates
Improving public transit and park-and-ride options
Contactless entry
New or redesigned parking areas
Viewed from a conservation perspective, it’s easier to understand why you need a reservation this year to enter the park. That doesn’t make it any easier, however, for those visitors who arrive excited to experience Yosemite only to be turned away at the gate. There are a few options if you find yourself all the way up here and unable to secure a reservation.
Enter anytime before 5am
Enter anytime after 4pm
Enter on one of our guided tours
Get a Half Dome or wilderness permit
Make lodging or camping reservations inside of Yosemite National Park
Enter on the YARTS bus
Enter the park on foot, bike or horse
Our partner, Echo Adventure Cooperative, is a worker-owned, certified B Corporation and locally-based tour provider. They offer a wide range of trips, with options to fit virtually every set of needs. From easy guided tours of Yosemite Valley to multi-day backpacking adventures, there are plenty of choices. Check out their schedule here on our site or visit EchoCoOp.com for more information. Feel free to stop by our Outfitter and Fly Shop in Groveland, California for more information on how to make the most of your visit.
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