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Yosemite National Park Reopens Today

Starting June 11th, Yosemite is open, but reservations are required and shuttle buses are banned
By - posted 6/11/2020 No Comment

Yosemite National Park posted an update on their website and Facebook page that, the park will reopen to the general public for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic forced it to shut its gates in March.

Read Full Press Release and Plan your visit.

Beginning June 11, the park will open all the primary attractions to some extent and visitors will be able to enter Yosemite in a multitude of ways. Visitors will be invited to enjoy 800 miles of park trails and popular destinations including Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove, Tuolumne Meadows, and Hetch Hetchy.

Temporary Day-Use Reservation System

Yosemite National Park will implement a temporary day use reservation system. In the initial opening phase, the system will offer 1700 vehicle passes each day. Passes are to be validated at the park entrance gate on the reservation date and can be used for 7 days of entry. These day-use vehicle reservations will go on sale through Recreation.gov beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. The day-use vehicle reservations system will no longer be used when the park resumes regular operations.

Overnight Camping

Beginning June 11, overnight camping will be available in Yosemite Valley. Beginning June 13 lodging provided by Yosemite Hospitality will be open. Retail and food and beverage services will be available, and the park’s visitor center services will be moved outdoors to provide information and education programs. Some facilities and services that have been offered in the past will not be possible this year due to the pandemic. Shuttle buses, High Sierra Camps, and Housekeeping Camp will not open this year. Additional services may be available as conditions warrant.

Social Distance Rules

They ask visitors to recreate responsibly by following local area health orders, maintaining social distance, and avoiding high-risk outdoor activities. Please do not visit if you are sick or were recently exposed to COVID-19. Park staff will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.

  • Keep your distance. Give others plenty of room whether you are on a trail or in a parking lot. If staying at least six feet from others is not possible, wear a cloth face covering as recommended by the CDC.
  • Keep it with you. If you brought it, take it with you. Trash pickup and restroom facilities will continue to be limited in many park areas. Follow Leave No Trace principles.
  • Know your limits. Yosemite National Park is one of the busiest search and rescue parks in the country. Many of these incidents could be avoided with visitors planning and making responsible decisions. During the ongoing health crisis, it is critical to make wise choices to keep our national park rangers and first responders out of harm’s way.
  • Protect wildlife. Obey speed limits and be aware of wildlife. During the closure, due to lack of vehicular traffic, park rangers have observed more wildlife congregating adjacent to or on internal park roads.