What to know before going to Yosemite as crowds surge after reservation system ends

Yosemite National Park has seen heavy weekend crowds after eliminating its reservation system. Visitors report hourslong waits to enter, congestion on shuttle buses, and crowded conditions on popular trails, creating a stressful, chaotic experience. Parking fills quickly, with Yosemite Valley and other areas reaching capacity by about 8 a.m., and no entrance consistently provides shorter wait times. Experts expect the surge to continue through the summer, especially on holidays and weekends. Visitation has risen sharply, adding nearly 100,000 more visitors overall compared with last year. Officials urge travelers to plan ahead, arrive early, visit weekdays, avoid Yosemite Valley, and follow safety guidance by staying on designated trails and out of rivers.

"Crowds have been flooding Yosemite National Park after the park eliminated its reservation system, leading to long lines and heavy traffic on weekends. Visitors reported hourslong waits to enter the park, along with congestion on shuttle buses and popular trails - far from the quiet experience many expect. "Like an amusement park, there's just people everywhere. It seems chaotic, people are kind of stressed out, driving around," said visitor Alfonso Saldana."

"Experts with the National Parks Conservation Association say the surge is unlikely to ease and are urging travelers to plan ahead. They recommend arriving early, visiting on weekdays and avoiding Yosemite Valley, the park's most popular area. They note that no entrance consistently offers shorter wait times. "Parking is filling up as soon as 8 a.m. in Yosemite Valley and other parts of the park. So getting there early, having a plan," said Mark Rose with the association."

"Data shows visitation has risen sharply compared to last year - up 12% in February, 45% in March during good weather, and 2% in April - adding nearly 100,000 more visitors overall. "I think every weekend from here throughout the rest of the summer is going to be busy. Holidays, weekends, especially July 4," Rose said. With the increase in visitors, safety concerns are also growing."

"Officials are urging caution, including staying out of rivers and remaining on designated trails. "Emergency response times can be much slower if ambulances or searchandrescue teams are stuck in traffic or on crowded trails," Rose said. Travelers are being encouraged to plan ahead to reduce delays and improve safety during peak periods."

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