Yosemite National Park will once again require reservations for visitors arriving by car beginning this spring as part of a new pilot program to manage visitation at the park.
The Peak Hours Plus program will be similar to previous versions of the timed reservation program but will include more reservation slots for afternoon entries. Yosemite last required reservations during the 2022 season.
Reservations will be required from April through October, in three stages: on weekends from April 13 to June 30; every day from July 1 to Aug. 16; and on weekends from Aug. 17 to Oct. 27.
Park officials have been working on building a visitor management plan over the past year, with input from the public, to reduce overcrowding at Yosemite during peak hours. Reintroducing the timed reservation system is part of those efforts and is a tactic that tour operators say has worked in the past.
"This summer's pilot system is built from extensive public feedback, data from three years of pilot reservation systems here in Yosemite, and lessons learned from other national parks," said Cicely Muldoon, superintendent for Yosemite National Park. "This pilot system will inform how we ensure an equitable and outstanding visitor experience while protecting Yosemite's world class resources."
Reservations will be available for purchase online beginning Jan. 5 and will be required for vehicle entry to the park between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the reservation periods. Visitors will be able to choose between full-day and half-day reservations, which allow entry any time after noon, and both types are valid for three consecutive days. The charge is $2 per reservation, on top of the $35 entry fee.
