Yosemite National Park to Remove Reservation System in 2026

The park will allow unrestricted access starting in the 2026 season after evaluating visitor patterns.

What happened

Yosemite National Park has announced that it will discontinue its timed-entry reservation system for the 2026 season. This decision follows a comprehensive assessment of visitor traffic, parking availability, and overall use during the 2025 season.

Park Superintendent Ray McPadden indicated that data showed most weekdays had sufficient parking and stable traffic flow, suggesting that a reservation system was not the most effective management strategy for the upcoming season. The park previously implemented timed-entry permits during the COVID-19 pandemic, which were in place until 2022. After a brief hiatus in 2023, reservations were reinstated for 2024 and continued through 2025.

For the 2026 season, Yosemite officials plan to adopt targeted management strategies rather than entry caps. These strategies will include real-time traffic monitoring, active parking management in Yosemite Valley, and enhanced staffing at critical intersections during busy periods. Visitors are encouraged to plan their trips on weekdays, arrive early, and explore areas outside of Yosemite Valley.

The decision comes amid a significant increase in park visitation, which rose from approximately 2.2 million in 2020 to about 4.1 million in 2024. However, some organizations, such as the National Parks Conservation Association, have expressed concerns that eliminating reservations could lead to higher traffic congestion and environmental impacts.

Why it matters

• This change reflects evolving management strategies in response to increased visitation.
• It aims to improve visitor access without the constraints of a reservation system.
• Concerns remain regarding potential environmental and safety issues associated with increased visitor numbers.

What to do next

• Visitors should consider planning trips on weekdays to avoid crowds.
• Exploring less popular areas of the park may enhance the experience while reducing congestion.

Source

Original reporting by www.outdoorhub.com: https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2026/02/23/yosemite-national-park-eliminates-reservation-requirement-2026/