Elimination of Reservation System
In February 2026, the National Park Service announced the end of timed entry requirements at Yosemite National Park, along with Arches and Glacier National Parks. The agency planned to rely on real-time traffic management measures, temporary traffic diversions, additional seasonal staff, and innovative technologies instead. However, park advocacy groups including the National Parks Conservation Association warned the removal would create hours-long traffic jams and damage park resources.
Dramatic Visitor Surge
Without reservation requirements, visitation to Yosemite increased dramatically. March 2026 data showed 225,817 recreational visits compared to 155,758 in March 2025—a 44.98% increase. This surge in visitors occurred despite the park facing staffing challenges, with the National Park Service continuing to cut jobs and some entrance gates left unstaffed during business hours in March 2026.
Parking and Traffic Crisis
The increased visitation immediately overwhelmed infrastructure. On May 2, 2026, Yosemite Valley parking lots reached capacity by 10:59 a.m., prompting warnings for visitors to avoid the area. The Hetch Hetchy parking lot also filled, and traffic delays of approximately 90 minutes were reported at the south entrance on Highway 41. Visitors were observed parking inappropriately along roadsides as official lots exceeded capacity.
Visitor Experience Degradation
Executive Director John Buckley of the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center reported that crowding and congestion have become the norm following the reservation system's end, particularly on weekends. Visitors described experiencing wall-to-wall crowds with people tripping over each other, comparing the atmosphere to a day at Disneyland rather than a natural park experience. 
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