June 23, 2023 - Yosemite National Park officials report that Yosemite has been very busy this summer. Arrive by 8:00 A.M. to avoid long lines to get into the park, and full parking lots once in the park. If you arrive later than 8:00 A.M. on weekends and some weekdays, here is what you should expect:

- You will wait in line at park entrances for two hours or more.

- You will encounter additional delays with very slow or stopped traffic once inside the park, especially in Yosemite Valley.

- You will not be able to find parking.

- You will not be able to get to eastern Yosemite Valley. Once the Valley is full, all vehicles are turned around near El Capitan.

- You will not be able to use shuttle buses because they are full (if possible, bike or walk to get around).

- You will see lots of people on trails.

- You will wait in line at visitor service facilities (visitor centers, food service, restrooms, etc.)

Reservations are not required to visit Yosemite this year. Reservations were required in the summers of 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and in summer 2022 when numerous key visitor attractions were closed for critical infrastructure repairs. We have been grappling with congestion—even gridlock—for decades. We want to build from the lessons learned from the last three summers of managed access.

To stay up to date on long-term visitor management planning and upcoming public comment periods, visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm.

Source & photos: YNP