Yosemite National Park was predictably crowded on the inaugural day of Memorial Day weekend; however, park operations appeared seamless during this initial assessment.
reduced-scale and fairly contentious tribal allocation program
implemented last month.
Even though concerns existed about the recently announced reservation policy, which differed from earlier versions implemented in past years, potentially causing chaos or misunderstanding, the opening day of the holiday weekend saw smooth operations within the park.
As you drive along the twisting Highway 120 towards the Groveland entrance of the park on Saturday, signs reminded visitors that they needed reservations to access the area from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. By almost 9 a.m., when heading toward the Big Oak Flats entrance, vehicles waited only briefly before smoothly passing through the gate or finding ample space to park at the nearby rest stop. It appeared that no car was denied entry.
Despite being bustling as usual during the holiday season, Yosemite Valley wasn’t unusually crowded. By around 10 o’clock, nearly all of the car parks had signs indicating they were complete with vehicles. Automobiles drove slowly near the visitor’s center lot hoping to catch an available slot, whereas some parked haphazardly wherever space could be found. The Chronicle team spent half an hour searching before finally locating a place to park.
However, the facilities appeared well-prepared to manage the increase in visitors. By noon, the restrooms near the Yosemite Lodge, Yosemite Village, and the visitor center were spotless and had short queues. The park’s shuttle buses were crowded yet manageable. At Yosemite Falls, the frequently used path was busy but not overly congested, filled with families and tourist groups leisurely walking and snapping photos amidst the misty sprays.
“This seems somewhat subpar,” stated Donnie Tognazzini, aged 47, who had traveled down from Santa Barbara with his kin for their customary Memorial Day campout. He mentioned that the crowd was even more overwhelming two years prior.
On Saturday, Yosemite faced an initial challenge with its less stringent reservation system, which was introduced on April 29.
the policy
Visitors entering the park during peak hours must make reservations; these times include from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. over Memorial Day weekend, daily from June 15 through August 15, and throughout Labor Day weekend. The Tioga Pass, which serves as an iconic route providing entry to Tuolumne Meadows and stands as the sole gateway on Yosemite’s eastern side, remains open.
scheduled to commence operations for the summer season at 8 a.m. on Mondays
.
Bookings are valid for three continuous days and aren’t necessary for individuals with accommodation bookings, wilderness passes, or special permissions, as well as those arriving via public transport or with an approved touring company.
Five years ago, the park introduced a reservation system aiming to reduce long waits at entry gates and ease congestion in the valley. Following the positive impact of this temporary measure, park authorities developed plans for a lasting solution. This new plan mandated reservations for all visitors entering from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting in April and running into early autumn.
However, that system was never implemented, despite being approved by park authorities in December and having completed the necessary environmental assessments. The National Park Service did not proceed with it.
paused the policy’s implementation
In February, allowing incoming Trump administration officials to review it.
The reservation system has faced criticism from certain groups, such as business owners in gateway communities, who were concerned that limiting access might reduce tourism income.
This year’s version of the reservation system considerably reduces the number of days when a reservation is needed. According to the park’s website, the updated system “allows all visitors, whether they make plans ahead of time or decide spontaneously, to enjoy the park every day” and “distributes visitor traffic throughout the day for an improved experience.”
It remains uncertain whether the new system will persist into coming years. When asked about this, a park ranger at the visitor’s center chose not to comment and suggested directing queries to the park’s official spokesperson.
Although some people criticized park officials for introducing the reservation system only last month, when many tourists usually plan their trips well ahead of time, those visiting over the weekend expressed understanding that there would be limitations during the highly sought-after holiday period.
“We figured we would eventually need a reservation, so we kept an eye on the website,” explained Julia Nehf, 27, who came along with Abbey McCormack, also 27, from Chicago just to visit the park for the first time. Although they were somewhat concerned about securing a spot, Nehf mentioned they did not encounter any difficulties in obtaining one.
Nehf and McCormack sat atop a pile of rocks near the foot of Yosemite Falls on Saturday, which marked their third day exploring the park. They observed an increase in visitors compared to earlier days. On Thursday and Friday, parking was relatively easy, but on Saturday, they spent 25 minutes searching for a space, as mentioned by McCormack.
We’re pleased that we completed many of the more popular hikes prior to the implementation of the reservation system,” Nehf stated. “That way, we can enjoy our day in a more relaxed manner.
Samuel Manual and Jodie Jiao, both aged 32, expressed their desire for more reservation slots. Despite Jiao setting an alarm to secure the tickets, they sold out in just ten minutes, leaving the pair with only half of what they wanted. As a result, their group of six ended up crammed into a single vehicle, even though it was a spacious seven-passenger model.
However, they experienced short waiting times at the park entrance gates and faced no difficulty in locating a parking space in the valley. “Everything’s going well,” Jiao commented.
Tognazzini, an experienced Memorial Day camper, mentioned that he has perfected the technique of securing a campsite reservation and encountered no issues this time around. “At 6:59:59 a.m., you must click the ‘submit’ button,” he explained.
Tognazzini expressed his preference for a balanced strategy regarding the reservation system. “I support some level of restricted entry,” he stated. “However, if it becomes overly restrictive, it fails to serve its purpose adequately.”
Leave a Reply