Editor’s note: The following letter concerning Yosemite National Park was sent to the Secretary of the Interior by California’s two U.S. Senators and we thought it would be of interest to our readers.
July 1, 2026
The Honorable Doug BurgumSecretaryU.S. Department of the Interior1849 C Street N.W.Washington, D.C. 20240
The Honorable Jessica Bowron
Acting Director
National Park Service
1849 C Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
Dear Secretary Burgum and Acting Director Bowron,
We write to express concern with the National Park Service’s (NPS) decision to eliminate Yosemite National Park’s reservation system, and the resulting impact that decision is having on the Park. 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.
Yosemite National Park is the crown jewel of the National Park System, yet overcrowding, vehicle congestion, limited parking, and long lines have long been issues that diminish what should be a world class experience. In peak summer months, visitors are greeted not by the magnificent views of El Capitan, but with miles of gridlocked traffic, honking horns, and the oppressive smell of vehicle exhaust fumes. Particularly for first-time visitors, this is a far cry from the awe-inspiring sights Yosemite is known for. Not only does this affect visitors, but it also leads to significant pollution and degradation of the Park’s renowned natural resources.
In response to these challenges, Yosemite implemented a reservation system during the summers of 2020-2022 and 2024, which both greatly improved visitor experiences and supported visitation to the Park by spreading visitation across the peak summer months. In fact, the 2024 reservation system resulted in more than 4.1 million visitors, which was the fifth highest visitation to Yosemite in the Park’s history. The reservation system had the ability to both increase access to the Park, while responsibly managing visitation and limiting degradation to park resources. Throughout this process, Yosemite deliberately engaged the public and interested parties in a transparent civic and stakeholder engagement process over multiple years.
However, in February 2026, NPS decided to cancel this successful reservation system without providing any scientific justification or evidence of public stakeholder engagement. According to NPS data, March 2026 saw a 45% increase in visitation compared to the same time last year. According to widespread reporting and testimony from our constituents, the Park has seen bumper-to-bumper traffic around the valley floor, hiking trails backed up with people, and parking lots full in the early mornings causing visitors to illegally park off-road on vegetation and in meadows.
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