Oak Rock Hideaway

06/11/2025

06/11/2025

📌📌📌 Yosemite Reservation System Update 📌📌📌

The following statement was issued by a Yosemite National Park spokesperson April 30, 2025 at 3:36 pm.
“Visitors who plan to enter Yosemite National Park between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Memorial Day weekend, any day between June 15 and August 15, or Labor Day weekend are likely to need a reservation. Visit the Yosemite National Park trip planning website or the NPS App for details, exceptions, and how to make a reservation. This system ensures all visitors, whether they plan in advance or decide last minute, can experience the park each day. It also spreads visitation across the day so that visitors have a better experience.”

With this official announcement, many visitors coming in summer 2025 are likely to need a reservation depending on their date of visit.

Here is what we know:

Reservations will be available on Recreation.gov
(https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745) beginning Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. PDT.

A reservation will be required to drive into or through Yosemite National Park on some days from May 24 through September 1, 2025, for those driving into the park between 6 am and 2 pm as follows:

*May 24 through May 26* (Memorial Day weekend): A reservation is required from 6 am to 2 pm on Saturday through Monday.

- May 27 through June 14: A reservation is not required at any time.

*June 15 through August 15*: A reservation is required from 6 am to 2 pm every day.

- August 16 through August 29: A reservation is not required at any time.

*August 30 through September 1* (Labor Day weekend): A reservation is required from 6 am to 2 pm on Saturday through Monday.

Important: A reservation is still required even if you're only driving *through* the park between 6am and 2pm on restricted days. Drive-through visitors arriving before 2:00 p.m. without a reservation should not queue early — vehicles blocking roadways will be cited.

Reservation Details:

Reservations are valid for three consecutive days.
The standard park entrance fee still applies.
No Vehicle Reservation Required If Visitors:

- Enter before 6:00 a.m. or after 2:00 p.m.
- Arrive via YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System)
- Are part of a commercial tour or paid guided experience
- Hold a wilderness or Half Dome permit

For details, please visit:

NPS Yosemite Vehicle Reservation Information

Make a Reservation – https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745

We will continue to keep you informed as more details become available.

Explore Yosemite National Park Ticketed Entry in Yosemite National Park, California with Recreation.gov. Visitors who plan to enter Yosemite National Park between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Memorial Day weekend, any day between June 15 and August 15, or Labor Day weekend

06/10/2025

It may feel like summer in many areas of Yosemite, but the high country is just waking up from its long winter slumber! Planning to stay a while? Wilderness permit reservations for Tioga Road trailheads for June 7–18 will go on sale on Wednesday, June 4, at Recreation.gov at 7 am PDT. Reservations for June 19 and beyond will release seven days in advance. The Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center is scheduled to open for the season on Saturday, June 7, and will be open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.

Until June 7, wilderness permits for the Tioga Road area only are available at the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center via self-registration. Bear canister rentals will not be available at this location before June 7, so be prepared with your own bear canister.

Before you venture out on one of the many marvelous trails from Tioga Road, make sure you know what to expect. Many high elevation trails still have significant snow coverage, making navigation more challenging. Shady trails, northern aspects, and highest elevations are still holding lots of snow. As snow continues to melt, streams are flowing strongly and hikers may encounter many wet crossings in the high country. Rotting snow bridges, flooded or muddy trails, and downed trees across trails are also common this time of year. Stay on the trails to protect the meadows!

Plan ahead, be flexible, and prepare for route finding and wet feet!

04/17/2025

Enjoy Yosemite for free this weekend!

📰 | https://bit.ly/3Eks8LA (learn more)

On April 19th, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply).

02/07/2025

If you’re planning on driving to Yosemite in February, this is a reminder that day-use entrance reservations are required on February 8–9, February 15–17, and February 22–23 in order to manage the Horsetail Fall event. This is required for all visitors to the park. Initial reservations immediately sold out in November, but the remaining 50% of day-use reservations will be available two days prior to a day-use reservation date beginning at 8 am PST at https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745. For example, on February 21 at 8 am, day-use reservations for February 23 will be available.

If you have a lodging reservation for Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Foresta, or Yosemite West, you don’t need an additional entrance reservation.

Campground reservations will be required for Camp 4, Hodgdon Meadow, and Wawona Campgrounds from February 8 through February 23, 2025 (these campgrounds normally operate on a first-come, first-served basis in February). If you have a reservation for a campground inside the park, you don’t need an additional entrance reservation.

Learn more: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm.

We anticipate sharing details about this year's spring–fall reservation system early in 2025. We recognize the importance of providing clarity on that system as soon as possible to accommodate peak summer season travel planning. We are grateful for the robust public engagement in this process to shape an improved and sustainable visitor experience.

12/20/2024

Yosemite National Park will require day-use entrance reservations for the last three weekends of February 2025 to manage the Horsetail Fall event.

During February, thousands of visitors visit Horsetail Fall, a waterfall that can glow orange when it's backlit by sunset, which can make it appear to be on fire. This unique lighting effect happens only on evenings with a clear sky when the waterfall is flowing and when the sun is at the right angle in mid– to late February. This event attracts many visitors to a small area, causing traffic congestion, parking issues, safety concerns, and impacts to natural and cultural resources. To manage this event, a reservation will be required to enter Yosemite National Park on the weekends of February 8–9, February 15–17, and February 22–23, 2025, even for those not visiting Horsetail Fall. Visitors who arrive Mondays through Fridays (except Monday, February 17) won't need a reservation. The $35/car entrance fee is valid for entry for seven days, regardless of day of arrival. A similar system has been implemented for this event the past several years.

Beginning at 8 am Pacific time on November 18, 50% of day-use reservations will be available for all three weekends at https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745. Beginning at 8 am Pacific time two days prior to a day-use reservation date, the remaining 50% of day-use reservations will be available. For example, on February 21 at 8 am, day-use reservations for February 23 will be available.

If you have a lodging reservation for Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Foresta, or Yosemite West, you don’t need an additional entrance reservation.

Campground reservations will be required for Camp 4, Hodgdon Meadow, and Wawona Campgrounds from February 8 through February 23, 2025 (these campgrounds normally operate on a first-come, first-served basis in February). Campground reservations will be released on December 15 at 7 am PST on recreation.gov. If you have a reservation for a campground inside the park, you don’t need an additional entrance reservation.

Learn more: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm

You no longer need a reservation to drive into Yosemite in 2024. The $35/car park entrance fee still applies when you arrive. A reservation is required to drive into Yosemite on some days in February.

07/06/2024

Summer is in full swing at Sequoia and Kings Canyon! As holiday weekends bring bigger crowds, here are 7 tips for a safe and enjoyable visit:

1. Buy Entrance Pass Online: Get your park pass from Recreation.gov for faster entry.
2. Arrive Early: Beat the crowds by arriving before 9am or after 3pm.
3. Expect Delays: Be prepared for traffic and lines.
4. Limited Parking: Use the free Sequoia Shuttle to avoid congestion.
5. Plan Ahead: Visit nps.gov/seki or download the NPS App.
6. Fireworks Prohibited: Protect our parks – no fireworks allowed.
7. River Safety: Stay out of rivers and be cautious near water.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

07/06/2024

First pic shows the town of Mariposa (blue circle) last night 7/4/24. Firefighters did an awesome job protecting Mariposa. 2nd pic is this morning, 7/5/24. Thank you Firefighters!

French Fire is now 15% contained and HWY 140 to Yosemite is now open.