Yosemite Overcrowding Sparks Calls to Reinstate Reservations

In the summer of 2026 Yosemite National Park experienced severe congestion after the Department of the Interior eliminated the timed-entry reservation system that had regulated visitor flow since 2020. Visitors reported bumper-to-bumper traffic on the valley floor, full parking lots by early morning, and hour-long waits at entrance stations. The surge in crowds coincided with reports of illegal parking in meadows, increased bear-vehicle collisions, and a fatal slip-and-fall at Nevada Fall.

New York Post

The reservation system was introduced in 2020 to spread out demand during peak seasons and was reinstated for the 2024 summer. In February 2026, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed the National Park Service (NPS) to cancel the system, citing a directive to keep parks “open and accessible.” The decision was made without a publicly released scientific justification or documented stakeholder engagement, according to a letter from California’s U.S. senators.

The Spokesman-Review

• Visitor numbers rose 45 % in March 2026 compared with the same month in 2025, and May 2026 attendance was up 13 % year-over-year (source 9).

New York Post

• Permanent NPS staffing fell 25 % nationwide since January 2025; at Sequoia and Kings Canyon, 48 % of permanent positions were vacant (source 9).

Business Insider

• Park officials recorded multiple bear strikes and a 22-year-old visitor’s death at Nevada Fall during the same period (source 4).

The Spokesman-Review

• NPS interim assistant secretary Kevin Lilly claimed wait times as short as 12 minutes during a holiday weekend, while on-site reports described queues lasting several hours (sources 2, 4).

Sacramento Bee

Kevin Lilly, interim assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, told a Senate hearing that eliminating reservations “greatly reduced” wait times, boosted attendance, and increased revenue, noting “wait times as short as 12 minutes.” The NPS later issued a statement that it is employing a “park-by-park, conditions-based approach” using traffic monitoring and active parking management to balance flexibility with visitor-impact mitigation. Interior Secretary Burgum and Acting NPS Director Jessica Brown received a formal letter from Senators Padilla and Schiff requesting data and a reconsideration of the policy.

Sacramento Bee

Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff warned that “the increased visitation we have seen without the reservation system… leaves us deeply concerned about how the Park will be able to manage visitation safely and effectively protect park resources during the peak summer months.” Park advocates described the situation as “pure chaos” and highlighted staff reductions that “created critical gaps in park operations.” Cassidy Jones of the National Parks Conservation Association warned that focusing solely on visitor experience “neglects half the equation” of resource protection.

The Spokesman-Review

The NPS’s claim of short wait times directly conflicts with multiple eyewitness accounts of hour-plus lines, traffic gridlock, and illegal parking. No comprehensive scientific study or stakeholder analysis has been released to explain the decision to drop reservations, leaving a gap in the public record.

Sacramento Bee

• “We have actually greatly reduced that wait time, sir, and we have increased the attendance and also increased the revenue generated by the park in one of its busiest seasons. And in fact, last week during the holiday weekend, we had wait times as short as 12 minutes,” — Kevin Lilly, interim assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks

Sacramento Bee

• “The increased visitation we have seen without the reservation system, mixed with the reduction in staff and resources over the past year, leaves us deeply concerned about how the Park will be able to manage visitation safely and effectively protect park resources during the peak summer months,” — Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, U.S. Senators

The Spokesman-Review

• “If you're only focusing on higher quality visitor experiences with your hiring, you're neglecting half the equation,” — Cassidy Jones, senior visitation program manager, NPCA

Business Insider

• “These tools were created to make park experiences better, more predictable, protect resources, and make operations more effective and sustainable,” — Cassidy Jones, NPCA

Business Insider

The senators have asked the Interior Department for a “comprehensive evaluation” of the reservation removal and have indicated they will push for reinstatement if the 2026 peak season proves “too disastrous.” The NPS says it will continue to monitor traffic and adjust management tools as needed, while park advocates urge travelers to plan early, consider off-peak visits, and support staffing initiatives.

The Spokesman-Review