The “Temporary Advanced Summer Reservation System in Yosemite National Park will Expire September 30, 2022
Yosemite National Park News – September 27, 2022 – The Great summer Rush to Yosemite National Park is over. Travelers and national park enthusiasts will again be able to show up at the gates without a reservation starting Saturday, October 1, 2022. In May of 2022, Yosemite National Park enforced a “Temporary reservation System to provide guests a better experience and control visitors’ effects on the park. We are on record here, saying this will likely be in place every summer. It is a system that is working to some extent in reaching its ultimate goal.
What does Open Yosemite Mean for you?
So what does that mean for you? Come Saturday, you are free to show up at any gate and pay your daily fee or flash your annual pass and access one of America’s Greatest National Parks. It means travelers on Highway 395 can choose to drive through the high country across to the West over Tioga pass and Hwy 120 if they like, instead of making the northern trek over Sonora Pass (108), free but an extra 20 miles up the road.
It means unlimited Hiking opportunities in the park for fall day hikers, incredible photo opportunities of the fall colors for visitors just looking to get out for the weekend, and likely for at least the weekends, a return to a little more of a crowd int he Yosemite Valley.
Fall Recreation in the Sierra High Country
For Fall Visits, we love taking family and friends to the High Country for a cool fall hike. Hikes to May Lake or Mt Hoffman, Spillway Lake or Parkers Pass, or even a hike out to Granite Lake right there on the park’s border provide exceptional fall hiking conditions. Get into the park early and head up Raftery Creek to Vogelsang Area for your choice of great fall lake destinations. (Although, bring a headlamp because you’re likely to run out of light on your way back down)
A swim in Tenaya lake is always refreshing, but as the air cools, the dip is slightly less shocking than in the mid-summer heat. Of course, peak baggers love the cooler weather when taking hikes to Clouds rest or Sunrise Lakes, and Climbers headed to the Cathedral range area are graced with a bit cooler rock.
Down in the Yosemite Valley
The colors should be spectacular if you are headed to the Yosemite Valley. Mirror Lake and the Merced River provide great color options for all photographers and sightseers. Then, hike up Yosemite Falls or the Panoramic trail to gain an upper view of the colors. And don’t forget to check out the ranger programs as they highlight night skies, wildlife, and landscapes.
