Yosemite: No reservations required

Photo by: Lauren Avila. Tunnel View at Yosemite National Park.

MARIPOSA, Calif– Yosemite National Park will no longer require reservations to visit this summer. This is the first time since 2023 that the park will be open to anyone at any time. 

This is a welcome change for spontaneous visitors to the park. It can also be particularly appealing for locals who would like to visit for the day and do not need to book accommodations months in advance. Visitors, like Fresno State Criminology student Gustavo Martinez Montero.

“It’s a good opportunity just to go one day and then just see how it’s like,” Montero said.

Montero will be joining the summer crowds. The park receives most of their annual visitors between May and October. Without reservation requirements, the numbers may tick up even more. 

The number of visitors per month was larger in 2025 than in 2024, except for February because of weather conditions, according to National Park Service reports.

The weather is quickly changing from snow to sunshine, creating an ideal and welcoming environment for visitors from all over the world. 

Tyler Kinsman, a portrait photographer from Idaho, decided to visit the park now to enjoy the spring weather following a seasonal winter job. 

“I think spring is prime time,” Kinsman said. “With the snow melt and the rain that’s still coming through, the waterfalls are just gushing.”

Kinsman is a return visitor. He has experienced the park in Spring, Summer, and Fall in the past. In that time he’s figured out a few ways to navigate the crowds better. 

Courtesy of National Park Service. Yosemite Shuttle Service map.

“Get on those shuttle boxes,” Kinsman said. “Ride the shuttle bus around. It’s seriously one of the most enjoyable hour-and-a-half rides of your whole life, right? The Yosemite Valley has everything to offer.”

Kinsman suggested arriving early and eating at off times. He also offered one more helpful bit of advice.

“Another way to beat out other tourists is to kind of find unique photo-taking spots,” Kinsman said. “I think it’s more interesting on your Instagram feed if you aren’t taking the same pictures as everybody else. So, if it feels a little crowded at a given area, move 20 feet to the right, 20 feet to left, move up hill a little bit, go for a little hike, and you’ll find beautiful vantage points.”

Fortunately, the idea of crowds is not deterring Montero from venturing to Yosemite this summer. 

“I’m going because I want to go and experience and go and see how it’s like with my friends,” Montero said. “Honestly, we’ve been talking about going and it seems pretty fun and enjoyable.”

If you would like to visit this summer, it may be helpful to have a plan of what you want to see and where you want to go, just like Montero.

“I’m interested in the waterfalls,” Montero said. “It looks really cool and the reason why I want to go.”

Kinsman believes that the best part of exploring the park is being open to who and what you may encounter at any time. 

“I’ve met people from Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, just today, talking to people up here at Tunnel View, and it’s just interesting to hear their experiences, because for a lot of people, it’s incredibly special,” Kinsman said. “They’re enchanted, truly enchanted by the Yosemite Valley. It’s fun to talk to people like that.”

Although visiting Yosemite this summer, without the reservation system, may require more patience, there is plenty to make the trip worthwhile. In fact, beyond the waterfalls, rock climbing, massive trees, ranger walks, and educational centers, Yosemite is also participating in America’s 250th Anniversary celebration.