Yosemite logs more than 836,000 visits in 2026 after timed‑entry reservations dropped

Yosemite National Park entered the 2026 peak season without the timed-entry vehicle reservations it used in recent years, and park officials said on May 18 the park had already logged more than 836,000 visits this year. The National Park Service announced in February that Yosemite would not require vehicle reservations in 2026 after reviewing 2025 traffic, parking availability and visitor-use patterns. A May 13 park release also laid out a series of summer reopenings, including Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road and the Half Dome cables. Together, those changes mean visitors are entering a busier park with fewer access restrictions but the same warnings about congestion, parking shortages and the need to plan ahead. ### Why did Yosemite drop the reservation system this year? Yosemite National Park said on February 18 that it would no longer use a timed reservation system in 2026 after a “comprehensive evaluation” of 2025 conditions. Park analysis found that most weekdays still had available parking, stable traffic flow and visitation within the park’s operating capacity, according to the National Park Service. The National Park Service said the decision was part of a broader summer 2026 access plan covering several high-visitation parks. For Yosemite, officials said a season-long reservation requirement was not the most effective approach this year, though they continued to warn that weekends — especially Saturday mornings — would remain crowded. ### What do the official numbers show so far? The National Park Service’s Yosemite year-to-date report for March 2026 showed 225,817 estimated recreation visits and 1.13 million recreation visits counted across locations and categories in the report. The March report is preliminary and subject to revision, the agency said. The 836,000 figure cited by Yosemite on May 18 appears to refer to a later year-to-date count than the March report. The park’s public-facing visitation pages note that current-year figures are preliminary and are finalized later, which means totals can shift as additional monthly data are posted. ### Which roads and trails have reopened for summer? Yosemite National Park said on May 13 that Tioga Road was scheduled to open to vehicle traffic on May 15, the earliest opening in 16 years. The road gives visitors access to Tuolumne Meadows and other high-country areas, according to the park. Glacier Point Road opened to vehicles on May 9, the park said. Yosemite’s current conditions page now lists both Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road as open, alongside the park’s main entrance roads and Yosemite Valley roads. The Half Dome cables were scheduled to be in place starting Friday, May 15, according to Yosemite’s current conditions page. The park said hiking to the top of Half Dome would open the same day. ### Does dropping reservations mean easier access for everyone? Yosemite Superintendent Ray McPadden said in the May 13 release that the park was expanding access while trying to protect resources. The park urged visitors to buy digital park passes in advance, visit midweek, arrive early or later in the day, and look beyond Yosemite Valley. Yosemite also said parking in Yosemite Valley fills early on peak summer days. The park’s visitor guidance says millions of people visit from April through October and advises travelers to arrive before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. to avoid the worst delays. ### How does the Half Dome permit system work now? Recreation.gov says a smaller number of day-hike permits for Half Dome are available every day the cables are up through a daily lottery held two days in advance. Yosemite’s May 13 release said the daily lottery application period is two days before the desired hiking date. The Half Dome permit page says the hike is 14 to 16 miles round-trip with about 4,800 feet of elevation gain and usually takes 10 to 12 hours. A permit is required when the cables are up, Yosemite says. ### What should visitors watch next? Crane Flat Campground is scheduled to open on May 21, according to Yosemite’s current conditions page. The park also said the Ice Cut section of the John Muir Trail is expected to reopen in July, and all front-country campgrounds this summer are available for reservation through Recreation.gov.