Yosemite logs more than 836,000 visits so far in 2026, SF Chronicle reports

Yosemite National Park has recorded 836,458 visits so far in 2026, according to National Park Service data through April, putting the park roughly 97,000 visits ahead of the same point last year. The increase has come after the National Park Service said on February 18 that Yosemite would not require advance vehicle reservations in 2026. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on May 24 that the park’s first no-reservation summer in several years has brought heavier traffic backups, full parking lots and longer waits at entrance stations. Park officials have said they would rely instead on real-time traffic controls and staffing. ### How far ahead of last year is Yosemite? National Park Service figures dated May 21 show Yosemite’s calendar year-to-date total at 836,458 visits through April 2026, compared with 739,313 a year earlier, a gain of 13.14%. April alone accounted for 316,815 total visits, including 303,860 recreation visits and 12,955 non-recreation visits. The park’s March year-to-date report, generated in April, had already shown 225,817 total visits through March. (irma.nps.gov) That report also said current calendar-year data are preliminary and subject to change before finalization next year. ### Why did Yosemite drop the reservation requirement? Yosemite National Park said on February 18 that it would no longer use a timed reservation system in 2026 after reviewing traffic patterns, parking availability and visitor use during the 2025 season. (irma.nps.gov) The park said its analysis found that most weekdays had available parking, stable traffic flow and visitation levels within operational capacity. (irma.nps.gov) Superintendent Ray McPadden said in the release that reservation systems remained “one valuable management tool,” but that park data showed a season-wide requirement was not the most effective approach for 2026. The Interior Department’s park service said the broader 2026 access plan was meant to expand access while maintaining safety at high-visitation parks. (nps.gov) ### What is replacing the old system at the gates? The National Park Service said Yosemite would use real-time traffic monitoring, active parking management in Yosemite Valley, extra staffing at key intersections and improved road-condition and congestion alerts. The agency also said the park could use temporary traffic diversions when parking areas or roadways reach capacity. (nps.gov) Yosemite’s visitor planning page now tells travelers that no reservation is required to enter in 2026, but it also warns them to “pack your patience” because millions of people visit from April through October. The park recommends arriving before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. to avoid delays and traffic congestion. ### Where is the pressure showing up inside the park? The San Francisco Chronicle reported on May 24 that holiday-weekend crowds were already testing the no-reservation policy, with traffic backing up as visitors headed into the park. (nps.gov) The Chronicle’s Yosemite coverage page also showed a separate report saying Yosemite Valley parking was full before noon on Saturday and that officials warned visitors to avoid the valley. (nps.gov) April traffic counts in the park’s monthly public use report show 140,694 vehicles at the South Entrance year to date, 107,496 at Arch Rock and 76,841 at Big Oak Flat. Those figures do not by themselves explain delays, but they show where the park is tracking vehicle volumes as it manages access without reservations. ### What should visitors watch next? (sfchronicle.com) Memorial Day on May 25 is one of the next major crowd tests for Yosemite, which has already warned that spring and summer visitors should expect congestion during peak hours. The National Park Service says travelers should check Yosemite’s current alerts, road conditions and trip-planning tools before arriving and should consider destinations outside Yosemite Valley when the busiest areas fill up. (nps.gov) (irma.nps.gov)