No reservations required at Yosemite this year

Visitors to Yosemite National Park will be able to enter without booking this year after the Yosemite reservation system was suspended.

The National Park Service (NPS) announced on February 18 that it will pause the reservation requirement that has been in place at Yosemite since 2020. As a result, travelers can visit the park without securing timed-entry reservations for the current year.

According to the NPS, the decision followed a comprehensive review of last year’s traffic patterns, parking availability and visitor use data. The agency said that on weekdays, parking spaces were generally available. In addition, traffic flow and visitor volume remained within the park’s capacity limits.

Therefore, officials concluded that suspending the Yosemite reservation system would maintain safe park management while expanding public access. The NPS stated that even during peak visitation periods, conditions remained stable enough to support open entry.

However, the suspension does not mean traffic control efforts will end. Yosemite officials said they will continue real-time traffic monitoring, parking management, and staff deployment at major intersections. These measures aim to minimize congestion inside the park.

Yosemite Superintendent Ray McPadden said the timed-entry system had some positive effects. However, he added that data showed applying it throughout the entire season was not efficient.

“Our goal is to ensure every visitor has a safe and enjoyable experience,” McPadden said. “On days when crowds increase, we will respond with targeted management strategies.”

For now, the change applies only to this year. Officials said the reservation requirement could be reinstated depending on future visitor numbers.

The Yosemite reservation system was first introduced in 2020 to manage crowding during periods of high demand. Since then, it has been adjusted several times in response to traffic and visitation trends.

With the policy suspended, park access will return to a first-come, first-served basis. However, the NPS emphasized that it will continue monitoring conditions closely to ensure visitor safety and resource protection.

BY YOONSEO SONG   [song.yoonseo@koreadaily.com]