Yosemite Draws 100,000 More Visitors After Ending Reservations, Triggering Summer Congestion
Updated
Updated · KGO-TV · May 25
Yosemite Draws 100,000 More Visitors After Ending Reservations, Triggering Summer Congestion
5 articles · Updated · KGO-TV · May 25
Nearly 100,000 more visitors have entered Yosemite so far this year than at the same point in 2025, and the park's first summer without timed reservations has brought hour-and-a-half entry waits, packed shuttles and full parking lots.
By 7:30 a.m., visitors said parking was effectively gone across the park, with crowding at popular viewpoints and videos showing dozens of cars illegally parked on meadows and off pavement.
Park officials ended the reservation system after a "comprehensive evaluation," saying season-wide reservations were not the most effective tool and that active traffic management would protect access, safety and resources.
Environmental advocates and even some former reservation critics now say the park lacks the infrastructure and staffing to handle unrestricted vehicle volumes, raising concerns for resource damage as peak summer approaches.
With no immediate cap on entries, Yosemite Conservancy is urging visitors to arrive early, go on weekdays or use buses to avoid the worst congestion.
Beyond reservations, what smart-tech solutions could solve overcrowding while preserving the visitor experience?
With visible environmental damage, how will park leadership justify its decision to end the reservation system to future generations?
Is Yosemite's chaos a local issue or a warning of a systemic crisis across all underfunded US national parks?