Yosemite National Park
Sierra Sun Times file photo
October 2, 2017 – After last year's record setting number of visitors to Yosemite National Park, August 2017 stats has the number of recreation visitors down by 12.0% year over year.
The Arch Rock Entrance Station (Mariposa -Highway 140) had an increase of visitors by auto of 5.1% compared to August 2016. Year to date numbers show an increase of visitors by auto of 15.9%.
The Big Oak Flat Entrance Station (Groveland - Highway 120) had a decrease of visitors by auto of 3.5% compared to August 2016. Year to date numbers show a decrease of visitors by auto of 22.4%.
The South Entrance (Oakhurst - Highway 41) had a decrease of visitors by auto of 42.0% compared to August 2016. Year to date numbers show a decrease of visitors by auto of 17.5%.
The East Entrance (Tioga Pass) had a decrease of visitors by auto of 2.1% compared to August 2016. Year to date numbers show a decrease of visitors by auto of 42,5%.
The Tioga Pass entrance was greatly affected this year with the late opening of the pass due to heavy winter snows. June of 2016 had 181,439 visitors by auto while this year with the pass closed until June 29th only 6,105 visitors by auto were counted. This is a 96.6% decrease.
The total recreation visitors to Yosemite National Park for August 2017 was down by 12.0% compared to August 2016. Year to date numbers show a decrease of recreation visitors of 16.8%. Possible reasons for the decrease in visitors this year were the large number of fires that were burning in the area of the entrances, some entrances being closed for awhile due to rock slides, collapsing of roads and the late opening of Tioga Pass due to heavy winter snows.
Source: NPS