Yosemite Summer Reservation System Remains Uncertain, Affecting Plans

With peak season approaching, the Trump administration has yet to decide on reimplementing reservations, causing confusion for visitors and economic strain for local businesses.

• The Trump administration has not announced whether Yosemite National Park will require vehicle reservations for the 2025 summer season, leaving visitors and businesses in limbo.
• Yosemite previously implemented a reservation system from 2020 to 2022 and again in 2024 to manage overcrowding, but it was dropped in 2023, leading to increased congestion.
• Local tourism-dependent businesses report reduced bookings as travelers delay plans due to uncertainty about park entry requirements.
• Senator Alex Padilla has urged the Department of the Interior to reinstate the reservation system, citing its benefits for visitors and businesses, while Representative Tom McClintock opposes it, arguing it harms gateway communities.
• Operational challenges at Yosemite have been exacerbated by recent National Park Service staffing cuts, further complicating the park's ability to prepare for the summer season.

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