Nestled deep in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite National Park is one of the most amazing places in California. There are legendary hikes, jaw-dropping scenic vistas, and wildlife galore. It is also one of the most visited national parks, with nearly 3.7 million visitors each year. That’s a lot, but even more so when you consider it’s barely visited at all in the winter. Almost all those people are also funneled into a relatively narrow valley, it can get quite crowded.
While Yosemite is definitely worth visiting, doing so during the peak season, especially on weekends, might not give you the experience you were hoping for. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you visit.
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Certain times throughout the year Yosemite requires a reservation. This is because it’s an incredibly popular park, but also because of limited parking in the valley. Even on days where a reservation isn’t required, it’s very possible the park will be extremely crowded. During the summer, during school holidays, even weekends, might be extremely busy.
You’ll also need a permit to climb Half Dome, which is distributed via lottery.
If you’re visiting in the late fall, winter, or spring, there are likely to be snow chain requirements.
If you’re not staying in the park, it’s worth keeping in mind it’s going to be a long drive to get in. Worse, the narrow roads to enter the park get backed up often. There’s regularly a line of cars just to enter the park, and you still have more to drive to find parking.
You should already be on the road by 6AM, and some guides say even that’s too late. If you leave as “late” as 7, that means you likely won’t even be able to start looking for parking before 8:30-9, and by that point most or all of the lots will be full.
Even if you’re taking a bus from one of the nearby towns (and you should consider this), that bus will likely be stuck in the same traffic.
Many of Yosemite’s main sights are in a long, narrow valley, and as such, there is limited parking. It’s not like they can build much more, or some unsightly parking garage, in an area of such epic natural beauty. So expect lines at parking lots, lines and fights for spaces, and if you’re not assertive, people will steal a spot from right in front of you.
Ideally, you’ll bring a small car and not a big SUV or RV, but that’s not an option everyone can make. If you only have a large vehicle, consider taking one of the shuttles from a nearby town.
There are two free shuttle loops inside the parks that go between various sights and parking lots. You should absolutely take these, or walk, and not try to find
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