Trump Halts Much-Needed Yosemite Reservation System

Yosemite National Park has halted a plan to make its timed-entry reservation system permanent. The new Trump administration’s Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum, has put on hold all federal proposals, which includes the reservation system.

For decades, Yosemite visitors and employees have been dealing with overcrowding and traffic frustrations. To deal with the rise in tourists during the pandemic, a reservation system was put in place. Park officials realized that the reservations were alleviating overcrowding issues, so in 2024, they voted to make the system permanent.

Yosemite National Park said this in a statement: “The draft plan says a reservation system is needed to address issues associated with persistently high summer visitation, specifically, the following: high-intensity crowding and congestion at parking lots and park entrances and along roadways that limit visitors’ ability to access and enjoy meaningful experiences; traffic congestion that slows or prevents emergency vehicle access/egress and endangers pedestrians in roadways, affecting visitor and staff safety; growing and concentrated visitor use that has an increasing impact on natural and cultural resources; heavy strain on the park’s services and facilities and staff’s ability to access facilities and perform daily operations.”

The system was far from perfect, but it did reduce crowding and traffic issues. The reservation system was expected to begin in April and and last through October. “We anticipate sharing details about this year’s spring–fall reservation system early in 2025,” Yosemite National Park shared on social media. “We recognize the importance of providing clarity on that system as soon as possible to accommodate peak summer season travel planning. We are grateful for the robust public engagement in this process to shape an improved and sustainable visitor experience.”

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