Yosemite Draws 225,817 March Visitors After Ending Advance Reservations

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 26

225,817 recreational visitors entered Yosemite in March, up from 155,758 a year earlier and making it the park’s busiest March since 2016.
February’s policy change scrapped advance reservations even for peak summer periods, with the National Park Service instead relying on temporary traffic diversions and extra seasonal staff.
California media and visitors reported parking lots filling early, packed shuttle buses and long waits, especially on weekends, with some describing Yosemite Valley as "wall to wall."
National Park Service officials disputed broad overcrowding claims, saying Yosemite sees periodic high visitation tied to weather and holiday weekends and remains open and accessible.
The surge is arriving before the main summer rush, sharpening concerns that crowding could intensify between Memorial Day and Labor Day at one of the nation’s most popular parks.

Is Yosemite's no-reservation policy sacrificing the park's future for today's visitor numbers?

Can real-time traffic management solve the overcrowding from record-breaking visitor numbers?