The reservation system was first introduced at the onset of the pandemic and California s stay-at-home order. It returned temporarily in February to deal with the influx of visitors hoping to see the popular firefall attraction, which is only visible for about two weeks each year when certain conditions are meant.
Though case rates are improving, many Central Valley counties remain in the red and orange tiers of California s Blueprint for a Safer Economy plan, meaning most businesses are only able to operate indoors with limited capacity.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that most of California s economy will reopen on June 15 provided vaccines are readily available and hospitalizations remain low.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite, CA Effective May 21, Yosemite National Park will again start requiring visitors to have a pass before entering the park.
The National Park Service says it is so park officials can manage visitation levels and reduce the risks associated with COVID-19. Day-use passes will be required for anyone entering, including those with annual or lifetime passes. The requirement will remain in place through September 30. Reservations will be available starting April 21 and are valid for one vehicle and those people inside.
Yosemite is currently planning to allow 70-percent of the typical summer attendance, which equates to just over 5,700 vehicles each day. The percentage could increase or decrease later this summer depending on the regional COVID-1
Yosemite National Park is bringing back the day-use reservation for summer crowds
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Visitors look at a sign that explains the one-way trail ahead on June 11, 2020, in Yosemite National Park, Calif.Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
As coronavirus cases decline in California and the state begins to reopen, Yosemite is preparing for an uptick in visitors.
The national park announced Thursday it will launch a day-use reservation system Friday, May 21, to manage the number of people in the park and prevent the spread of COVID-19, park officials said.
Every visitor entering the park will need a day-use reservation, including annual and lifetime pass holders. The reservation is valid for three days with unlimited re-entries.
It s Time To Leave The House, Hit The Road And Visit A National Park forbes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from forbes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
As of press time, some trails, campsites, and businesses are closed due to COVID-19 precautions. To check for safety protocols and potential closures, check individual websites before you go.
It’s no exaggeration to say that some of the most formative outdoor experiences of my adult life happened at Yosemite National Park in California. It’s where I went backpacking for the very first time (and where I learned that you do not, in fact, need to haul along a full-size pillow and roughly ten pounds of Swedish Fish in order to survive). It’s also where I completed my first multi-pitch climb, saw my first bear, and dug my first cathole (necessary after viewing my first bear). I even completed my first long-distance hike, a two-month stint on the Pacific Crest Trail, which meandered through the park’s Tuolumne Meadows, where Alex Honnold offered me a wave from one of his famous paws