What:
● Beginning Friday, May 20, Yosemite National Park will implement a temporary peak hours
reservation system, meaning that all park visitors will need a reservation to enter between
6 a.m. and 4 p.m. seven days a week. Visitors entering the park outside of the peak hours
are not required to have a reservation.
● The peak hours reservation system will be in effect through September 30, 2022, and
reservations will be required for all users, including annual and lifetime pass holders. Each
reservation is valid for three days.
● Reservations are available on www.recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. on March 23, 2022.
Each peak hours reservation is valid for one vehicle and the occupants of that vehicle.
● Visitors who enter the park before 6 a.m. or after 4 p.m. will be required to pay the park
entrance fee and that pass is valid for three days outside of peak hours.
● Peak hours reservations are included for all visitors staying overnight in the park. This
includes reservations for The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village,
Wawona Hotel, Housekeeping Camp, and NPS-managed campgrounds. Peak Hours
reservations are also included for all visitors with wilderness and Half Dome permits and
visitors entering the park via YARTS buses and on permitted commercial tours.
● For more detailed information, please visit: go.nps.gov/reserve.
Why it Works:
● Yosemite National Park is among the top 25 most visited in the National Park System. The
state of travel has shifted dramatically over the last three years, resulting in increased
demand to outdoor destinations across the country. While National Parks saw a 20%
increase in visitation over the past 10 years, 2021 had an increase of 25% visitation alone
(source: National Park Service).
● With international visitation resuming, the demand will continue to grow. National Parks
across the country are utilizing reservation systems to preserve environments and natural
habitats, while also ensuring a more positive visitor experience.
● The peak hours reservation system is designed to spread visitation out and reduce chronic
congestion in the park. It also helps Yosemite National Park determine how many visitors
park operations can safely support, assessing crowding, vehicle traffic, facilities
cleanliness, and trash containment.
● Enhanced Visitor Experience:
○ Decreased wait times at entrances
○ Free-flowing traffic on roadways
○ Parking availability
“A visit to Yosemite should be about enjoying the beautiful granite-lined landscape, not sitting in
gridlock,” said Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon. “Yosemite visitors deserve
a high-quality experience in this magnificent place. Our goal with the peak hours system is to ease
overcrowding during the busiest times this summer while still offering access for all.”
