Tioga Road Scheduled to Re-open June 15th
When will Yosemite National Park reopen?
In accordance with guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local public health authorities, Yosemite National Park will continue to incrementally increase recreational access. Beginning June 11, the park will open all the primary attractions to some extent and visitors will be able to enter Yosemite in a multitude of ways. Visitors will be invited to enjoy 800 miles of park trails and popular destinations including Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove, Tuolumne Meadows and Hetch Hetchy.
To increase park access while providing the public a reasonable opportunity to comply with health guidelines, Yosemite National Park will implement a temporary day-use reservation system. In the initial opening phase, the system will offer 1,700 vehicle passes each day. Passes are to be validated at the park entrance gate on the reservation date and can be used for 7 days of entry. These day use-vehicle reservations will go on sale through Recreation.gov beginning at 7 am Pacific time on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. The day-use vehicle reservation system will no longer be used when the park resumes regular operations.
Visitors with a camping or concession-operated lodging reservation, wilderness or Half Dome permit, vacation rental inside the park, and visitors entering via the local public transit system (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS buses) or with a tour from one of the local businesses that have commercial use authorizations (CUAs) will not require a day-use reservation for park entry and will also have access to the park beginning on June 11. In this initial phase, the park’s target is to allow approximately 50 percent of the average June vehicle entry rate (which equates to 3,600 vehicle entries each day). The park will monitor conditions daily and will make adjustments as needed to maintain safe conditions for visitors.
Are any areas of the park closed?
Beginning Thursday, June 11, most areas of the park will be open with some modifications. Due to public health and safety concerns, some locations and facilities are closed.
Open with modifications:
- The Mist Trail from the top of Vernal Fall to the John Muir Trail junction near the Vernal Fall footbridge is closed to downhill hiking from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm daily. Hikers may return to the trailhead using the Clark Point cutoff trail and John Muir Trail
- Backpackers campgrounds are not open to people arriving in the park by bus (wilderness permit holders arriving by bus can stay in backpackers campgrounds)
- Hetch Hetchy Road will only be open from 8 am to 5 pm.
Closed:
- Lower Yosemite Fall boulders (the area between the footbridge/viewing area and the waterfall)
- Bridalveil Fall area (this area is closed due to scheduled maintenance work)
- Crane Flat Helibase
- Chowchilla Mountain Road
Tioga Road will open on Monday, June 15.
Will I need a reservation to visit Yosemite?
Yes. All vehicles entering Yosemite National Park will be required to pay the park entrance fee and have one of the following:
- Day-use reservation (valid for 7 consecutive days)
- Upper Pines Campground or Wawona Horse Camp reservation
- Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village, or The Ahwahnee reservation
- Private lodging or vacation rental reservation in Wawona, Yosemite West, or Foresta
- Yosemite wilderness permit
- Yosemite Half Dome permit
- Commercial use authorization
Upon showing proof of your reservation and a matching photo ID at the entrance station, you will be issued a vehicle permit to enter the park.
Visitors who enter the park via YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) buses, bicycle, on foot, or on horseback will not be required to have a day-use reservation to enter the park. Park entrance fees still apply.
Credit cards are the only form of payment accepted for entrance fees.
How and when do I get a day-use reservation to visit Yosemite?
Day-use reservations are only available via recreation.gov. Reservations will go quickly; be sure to be logged in and ready to get a reservation promptly at 7 am Pacific time.
Eighty percent of reservations for June and July will become available on Tuesday, June 9 at 7 am Pacific time.
Beginning at 7 am Pacific time on the first of each month, 80% of day-use reservations will be available for the following month at https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/300015. For example, on July 1 at 7 am, day-use reservations for all dates in August will be available.
Beginning at 7 am Pacific time two days ahead of the day-use reservation date, the remaining 20% of day-use reservations will be available. For example, on July 1 at 7 am, day-use reservations for July 3 will be available.
Cancelled reservations become available immediately on recreation.gov.
Each user can make one reservation per day. Reservations are valid for seven consecutive days.
How much does a day-use reservation cost?
This cost is included in the park entrance fee. If you have an entrance pass (Yosemite Annual Pass, America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass, Every Kid Outdoors Annual Pass, Annual Pass for US Military, Access Pass, or Senior Pass), the non-refundable reservation fee is $2.
If you cancel a day-use reservation ($35), you will receive a $33 refund ($2 of the fee is non-refundable).
How long is the day-use reservation valid? Do I have to arrive on the first day?
Day-use reservations are valid for seven consecutive days from the start date indicated on the reservation. You must arrive on the start date indicated on your reservation. If you arrive after the first day indicated on the reservation, your reservation may be invalid. Day-use reservations are valid from 5 am to 11 pm each day. Day-use reservation holders may not be in the park between 11 pm and 5 am (overnight).
What if my group is arriving in more than one vehicle?
A day-use reservationis required for each vehicle that enters the park. The person whose name is on the reservation must be in the vehicle and a valid photo ID is required.
Groups with lodging or camping reservations, wilderness permits, and Half Dome permits may arrive in more than one vehicle. An occupant in each vehicle will need to provide a copy or photo of the driver license belonging to the person who made the reservation to be permitted to enter.
Do I need a reservation to enter the park if I have a reservation for a campground or lodging accommodation located outside of Yosemite National Park?
Yes. You must have a day-use reservation to drive a personal vehicle into the park.
Do I need a reservation to enter the park if I have an annual pass, Senior Pass, Access Pass, Military Pass, Volunteer Pass, or 4th Grade Pass?
Yes. You must have an in-park reservation or permit, or a day-use reservation, to drive a personal vehicle into the park.
Are same-day reservations available? Can I wait at the entrance station and enter the park if people with reservations don’t show up?
No. Reservations are not available at entrance stations. You can check recreation.gov before you arrive to the park to see if any cancellations have become available.
Leave a Reply