Yosemite National Park is preparing to welcome visitors for the peak summer season with expanded access across the park, including the reopening of popular trails, climbing areas and full campground availability.
All Yosemite front-country campgrounds will be open this summer and available for reservation via Recreation.gov. Most High Sierra Camps are returning to operation, offering visitors additional opportunities to experience the park’s backcountry.
Also reopening is a section of the Valley Loop Trail near Royal Arches and several popular climbing routes that were previously closed for safety monitoring. The Ice Cut section of the John Muir Trail is expected to reopen in July following visitor safety and trail improvements.
Tioga Road is scheduled to open to vehicle traffic Friday, May 15, the earliest opening in 16 years. The seasonal trans-Sierra route across the park gives visitors access to Tuolumne Meadows and the high country.
Glacier Point Road opened to vehicle access May 9, providing sweeping views of Yosemite Valley and easy access to high elevation trailheads. These roads provide visitors with convenient entry points to Yosemite’s High Sierra, with opportunities ranging from short day hikes to more remote wilderness experiences with a permit.
Hiking to the top of Half Dome, 5,000 feet above Yosemite Valley, is scheduled to open May15 via a daily lottery. The lottery application period is two days in advance of the desired hiking date.
“Yosemite continues to expand access while protecting the park’s extraordinary resources,” said Superintendent Ray McPadden. “We’re excited to welcome visitors to more areas of the park this summer and encourage everyone to plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable experience.”
Visitors should expect traffic if visiting on weekends, especially on Saturday mornings. To help reduce congestion, park officials strongly encourage visitors to:
- Purchase a Yosemite digital site pass in advance on Recreation.gov
- Purchase a digital America the Beautiful pass to visit multiple parks
- Visit midweek
- Arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon
- Explore beyond Yosemite Valley
Digital park passes purchased in advance can significantly reduce time spent at entrance stations and help improve traffic flow into the park.
All visitors are encouraged to check current conditions, plan ahead, and prepare for changing weather and busy conditions. Parking in Yosemite Valley fills early during peak summer days, and services may be limited in some areas.
For more information, trip planning resources, and to purchase entrance passes, visit nps.gov/yose or recreation.gov/pass.
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Hmmm… the sky didn’t fall after all!