We would never want to discourage anyone from paying respects to Mother Nature, especially not at so beloved a national park as Yosemite—and yet, we might be thinking it’d be good to postpone with a raincheck. That’s because right now the impact on this park is heavy, as reported by Thrillist, and some motorists have been waiting in line to enter for as long as four hours.
While in the past few years, a reservation system has helped cap entry, it’s not in place this year. Moreover, some of the areas of the park that are typically open to visitors this time of year are still closed due to the winter’s incredible snowfall. Those include Tioga Pass and Glacier Point Road, which always close seasonally but should be open by now.
If you’re bent on coming, we don’t blame you. And let’s share some ideas from the park’s management to have the best experience. Here goes:
- Arrive early to beat the crowds. Get to the park gates at or before 8am.
- Correspondingly, plan to stay late (if you have overnight reservations, all to the good. But if you don’t, it’s unlikely you can get them by showing up. Reserve in advance!).
- Come on a weekday rather than a weekend. Self-explanatory; fewer crowds when some folks are still working!
- Park in one spot and stay. You can use the park shuttle to get around, or better yet, bring bikes or your own determination to walk! The shuttle is free but might be just as overcrowded as the roads.
- Bring snacks and water. Don’t rely on being able to quickly queue up and get food. The restaurants in the park are impacted, too. Hot tip: don’t leave food in the car. Bears smell it and can break into your car as if it is their own snack bar.
- Understand the traffic conditions. No one’s exaggerating! Text "ynptraffic" to 333111 to receive updates and see the realistic flow of visitors in the valley.
- Keep an attitude of awe (we added this one). Yosemite’s power and grandeur are impossible to describe; don’t let the time in the car rob you of letting this park drop your jaw.