Yosemite National Park To Suspend Reservations System In 2023

During the pandemic, many US national parks introduced reservation policies to address increasing visitor numbers. However, one is now dropping its reservation system, at least temporarily. In fact, Yosemite National Park has announced that its reservation policy for summer visits will be suspended in 2023.

Yosemite National Park to drop reservations in 2023

The decision came three years after launching the reservations system. However, Yosemite National Park announced in late November that reservations will be suspended in the summer of 2023.

Jonathan Farrington, CEO and Executive Director of the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau (YMTCB) spoke about dropping reservations, saying:

This decision will help our visitors, especially those from other states and countries who tend to plan their once-in-a-lifetime vacations to Yosemite about a year in advance.

Meanwhile, Farrington, who represents the interests of local tourism business owners added that for their friends, who live closer to the region, this allows them to be “more spontaneous with their plans to visit.”

Why were reservations introduced?

In 2021, a lottery system for reservations was one of several projects to manage the influx of visitors wanting to get outdoors during the pandemic. Meanwhile, later, the system allowed park officials to manage a number of construction projects. These included repairing roads, campgrounds, trails and visitor facilities, using funds received from the Great American Outdoors Act.

However, it wasn’t the ideal solution, as the online lottery required potential visitors to secure their spots at least six months in advance. Moreover, they had to compete with thousands of other hikers and campers to book their preferred day.

When people missed out on getting tickets, or couldn’t get the preferred times, they gave up on visiting parks. The system took the spontaneity out of visiting the great outdoors and they couldn’t visit the park without a ticket.

During 2022, those planning to visit Yosemite National Park from late May through September, entering between 6 am and 4 pm, needed a reservation. On top of this, they had to pay the park entrance fee, or show an America the Beautiful park pass.

However, now that most of the construction projects are complete, or close to being finished, and social distancing isn’t the rule of the day, officials feel that now is the time to suspend the pass.

Visitors needed in Yosemite National Park

In Mariposa County, 50 percent of employment depends on tourism. For this reason, the YMTCB hopes that in 2023 visitor numbers could reach pre-pandemic numbers without the need for the pass.

Meanwhile, businesses in the wider community, especially the accommodation sector, have struggled with occupancy over the last three years. In fact, many blame the Yosemite reservation system for cutting down on visitor numbers during peak season.

Will the park get overcrowded again?

The reservation system is intended to promote visitor safety and enjoyment while protecting Yosemite’s natural resources and wildlife. Some wonder if suspending the pass will bring back the problems associated with overcrowding.

However, overcrowding happened long before the pandemic started. Meanwhile, Yosemite has suggested a similar and more long-term solution for overcrowding could be in place by 2024. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), a nonprofit advocating on behalf of the National Parks System, is concerned that suspending the pass could send mixed messages to visitors.

While some parks, like Zion and Glacier, have suspended reservations during the off-season, Yosemite is planning to do so for an entire year.

Long-term solutions to come

In the meanwhile, Yosemite park officials will be looking into more permanent ways to reduce overcrowding. The NPCA says that a long-term solution would need a more thorough legal process, which is what the park intends to start with.

For now, visitors can do their part by arriving early to avoid the queues at Yosemite’s gates. They could also visit outside of peak hours (10 am to 2 pm) and use public transport or commercial tours such as the Yosemite Valley Shuttle system instead of cars. Another way visitors can reduce congestion is by visiting in the off-season and spending full days in the park instead of trying to do as much as possible in a short visit.

According to Farrington, Yosemite Mariposa County is a “four-season destination,” saying each season is spectacular and worth visiting. He added:

If you’ve visited in summer, you’ll love the beauty and cooler temperatures of fall, the tranquility of winter and the waterfalls and wildflowers of spring.