Glacier Point Road reopens in Yosemite

Yosemite National Park reopened Glacier Point Road to vehicles on May 9, restoring one of the park’s main summer routes to panoramic views above Yosemite Valley. The National Park Service said the road gives drivers access to Glacier Point and to high-elevation trailheads used for day hikes and overnight wilderness trips. The reopening came as Yosemite expanded seasonal access elsewhere in the park ahead of peak summer visitation. Park officials said overnight backcountry travel still requires a wilderness permit reserved in advance. The National Park Service said Glacier Point Road opened at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, and warned that drinking water was not yet available at Glacier Point, though vault toilets were open. Parking at Glacier Point and elsewhere in Yosemite remains limited, officials said, and visitors were advised to arrive early. Yosemite’s broader summer update this week also said Tioga Road opened to vehicles on May 15, the earliest opening in 16 years. ### When did Glacier Point Road reopen, and what does it connect to? May 9 was the reopening date for Glacier Point Road, according to Yosemite National Park’s road plowing update. The route branches from Wawona Road at Chinquapin and leads to Glacier Point, a viewpoint overlooking Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and the High Sierra. The park’s Glacier Point page says the drive from Yosemite Valley or Wawona takes about an hour when the road is open. (nps.gov) Yosemite said the road also restores access to trailheads serving the park’s higher-elevation south rim area. In its summer reopening announcement, the park said Glacier Point Road provides “easy access to high elevation trailheads,” linking the reopening not only to sightseeing but also to hiking and wilderness travel. ### Do you need a permit just to drive to Glacier Point? (nps.gov) A reservation is not required to enter Yosemite in 2026, according to the park’s permits and reservations page. That means visitors can drive Glacier Point Road without a separate day-use entry reservation tied specifically to the road reopening, based on current park guidance. Standard park entrance fees still apply. Glacier Point itself is accessible by car when the road is open, the National Park Service says. (nps.gov) The park also notes that the Glacier Point Tour generally operates when Glacier Point Road is open, though current operating details should be checked separately before travel. ### What if you want to stay overnight in the backcountry? Wilderness permits are required for overnight stays in the Yosemite Wilderness, the National Park Service says. (nps.gov) That rule applies even after Glacier Point Road has reopened, because road access and overnight backcountry authorization are handled separately. Yosemite’s summer reopening notice said overnight wilderness trips require a wilderness permit that can be reserved in advance on Recreation.gov. (nps.gov) Recreation.gov is the booking platform Yosemite directs visitors to use for advance wilderness permits. The park’s wilderness permit pages say permits are required year-round for overnight wilderness travel, while reservations are generally available for trips from May through October. ### What services are available now at Glacier Point? Drinking water is not yet available at Glacier Point, Yosemite said in its May 7 road update. (nps.gov) Vault toilets are open, according to the same notice. The park told visitors to plan accordingly, especially as spring openings can precede the full return of seasonal services. Limited services are also part of the broader early-season picture in Yosemite’s high country. The park said visitors using newly opened Tioga Road should bring their own food and water because only limited facilities were available there as of the May 15 opening. (nps.gov) ### Where should visitors check before they go? Yosemite National Park’s current conditions page lists road alerts, closures and operational updates that can change with weather, maintenance work or seasonal staffing. (nps.gov) The park’s Glacier Point, wilderness permits and road plowing pages provide the most specific guidance for travelers heading to Glacier Point Road or planning overnight trips from those trailheads. Recreation.gov remains the site Yosemite names for advance wilderness reservations. (nps.gov) As of mid-May, the park is pairing Glacier Point Road’s reopening with permit reminders rather than waiving overnight requirements, so visitors planning backcountry trips will need both an open road and a valid permit before heading out. (nps.gov)