Summer line reserves for Yosemite National Park have postponed indefinitely.
After the park announced several months that a new system was being prepared, the online reservation page now says: “Yosemite National Park anticipates sharing details about this year's reservation system at the beginning of 2025”.
The implementation of a new system has apparently delayed to first obtain the approval of the Trump administration, according to park officials.
A park spokesman was not available to respond to an email from the Times asking when reservations would be accepted.
Currently, no reservations are needed to visit the park during the days of the week, except holidays and on weekends, until the end of March.
No reserve plan appears online to visit from April to October.
The park began its reservation system in 2020 and the summer of 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, reservations were taken due to infrastructure repairs, then again in 2024 to relieve traffic on roads and trails.
Reserves will still be required for the next fire fire event in Hortel Fall Trail. The event is Saturday and Sunday from February 15 to 17 and 22-23. The number of visitors on weekends can add in the low thousands.
The fire reserves are designed to limit erosion and damage to the environment as visitors cry to see El Capitan when they resemble an active volcano. When the sunset becomes the light of the backlight, water cascade by the granite cliff, 3,000 feet to the floor of the valley, becomes a “firefall”, taking an orange shine.
Even those who do not visit Hortesail fall on the dates listed above, they must request a reservation.
The $ 35 input rate per car is valid for the entrance for seven days, regardless of the day of arrival.
That online system was implemented in mid -November, giving interested parties to plan months.
San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday that national parks service officials were delaying system implementation because THello, I wanted “the blessing of the new administration.“
Teri Marshall, director of Marketing Communications at Rush Creek Lodge And Spa in Yosemite, said she understood that the Trump administration put a complete stop to the reserve system for cars.
“For us, it is not confusing,” he said, “but it is very confusing for international travelers and others who try to plan.”
Marshall's main concern was to avoid a “free for all” with a large number of visitors overwhelming the infrastructure and natural beauty of the park.
“We should all love this park,” he said, “but not love him until death.”
He encouraged visitors to use the regional transport system of the Yosemite area, or Yarts, a luxury bus that offers trucks and falls regularly scheduled throughout the park, the Yosemite Valley, the gigantic lakes and other nearby places.
Some hotels and cabins, including Rush Creek, also offer private tours with ferries.
“We want to welcome everyone, we simply do not want everyone to enter their car and lead to the park,” said Marshall. “Use alternative methods and do better for everyone.”
Yosemite officials have been dealing for months with how to balance Park access and conservation “Due to rapid growth in daily use visits during the high -use use season.”
The new Peak Hours Plus program had a reserve rate of $ 2 and intended to relieve heavy traffic and complete parking lots, especially in the popular Yosemite Valley.
Firefall is the link of that battle.
The site has seen an increase in popularity in the last decade, with Yosemite officials pointing out that almost 2,500 visitors on February 19, 2022.
The guests then and since then have trampled the vegetation, overflowed on the banks of the river and an increase in erosion, while the overwhelming parking and other facilities, Yosemite officials said.
The Park responded with the reservation system for February visits.
The Native of Lake Tahoe, Kyle Roberton, 27, photographed Hortel Falls in February 2023 and captured the evasive effect of “fire fall.” Robertson is a fan of Yosemite reserves to limit damage to the environment and provide a pleasant visitor experience.
(Courtesy of Kyle Robertson)
Lake Tahoe's native, Kyle Roberton, 27, is called a fan of visits limitations.
“You can easily obtain a couple of thousands of people in Horteetail and reservations improve the experience of everything there, while providing a less harmful impact on the environment,” said Robertson, said A part -time landscape photographer.
Robertson has reservations for Hortetail Falls this month and has previously visited four times.
It was in 2023, however, when he said that the conditions were correct for him to capture the majestic effect of “fire fall.”
“We had an adequate snow layer that year, a really clear sky and the sun in the right position,” he said. “It is a visual effect that you can really only capture with your camera, so everyone crowds on the few visualization platforms in the valley.”
Robertson said he had seen greater garbage along with erosion and destruction of nature over the years as the number of visitors increased.
“If reservations help with at least some of these problems,” he said, “it's a mutual benefit.”
