Yosemite Targeting June Reopening, With Limits

Above, Upper Yosemite Falls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yosemite National Park is hoping to reopen sometime in June, and when it does, it comes with some limits.

The Mercury News reported:

Yosemite National Park may finally reopen as early as June, but with major changes: Visitors who want to spend the day at the famed Sierra Nevada destination would need a reservation and crowds would be limited to roughly half of normal. 

Aimed at reducing the risk of spreading the coronavirus, the plan drafted by Yosemite park officials has not been made widely public and still needs approval from the Trump Administration’s Department of the Interior. 

Yosemite’s pending move comes as several prominent national parks throughout the United States —  including Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Joshua Tree — reopened in a limited way this week, some without hotels or restaurants. 

Yosemite, which drew 4.4 million visitors last year, closed on March 20 as the coronavirus pandemic widened.

Park officials do not have an exact reopening date. But under their plan, when the park reopens — likely sometime in the next few weeks — park shuttle buses would not run in Yosemite Valley due to concerns from local health officials about crowds of people sitting in close quarters. 

Visitors — who would be encouraged, but not required, to wear masks or face coverings — should expect changes. Many trails would be one-way. Bathrooms would be cleaned more often. And social distancing signs would be up at grocery stores and gas stations. 

The Ahwahnee Hotel and Yosemite Valley Lodge would fully reopen, as would at least two campgrounds in Yosemite Valley. Curry Village would reopen at half capacity, and Housekeeping Camp would remain closed.

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