Visit Tuolumne County offers tips for avoiding crowds at Yosemite National Park, now that reservations are no longer required.
Visitors are advised to purchase a Yosemite Entrance Pass online before arriving at the park.
Yosemite National Park has announced that it will no longer use a timed reservation system for vehicle entry in 2026. The decision follows a comprehensive evaluation of traffic patterns, parking availability and visitor use during the 2025 season.
Even without the reservation requirement, Yosemite National Park will see millions of visitors this year. Many flock to the popular Yosemite Valley Floor and fight crowds to snap the perfect picture of Half Dome or El Capitan, but that’s only one way to experience the grandeur of the park.
“Now more than ever, we want to encourage visitors to enjoy places like Hetch Hetchy, Tuolumne Meadows and the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. These less crowded areas are just as awe-inspiring as the popular landmarks but come with many bonuses,” said Lisa Mayo, president and CEO of Visit Tuolumne County.
“Also, while you won’t need a reservation, we highly encourage you to purchase your digital Yosemite Park Pass up to two days before you arrive at the gate. If you purchase your pass at the gate, be prepared to pay with a credit card or other mobile payment method. Park entrances do not accept cash,” Mayo added.
To purchase a digital Yosemite Entrance Pass, go to www.recreation.gov and search for the Yosemite National Park Site Pass.
Visit Tuolumne County offers these tips for a more streamlined and less-crowded experience at Yosemite National Park:
1. Before arriving, purchase a digital Yosemite Entrance Pass at www.recreation.gov (search for Yosemite Entrance Pass).
This will help make the lines at the park entrance efficient. For the visitor, that means less time in the car and more time exploring Yosemite.
2. Use the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park on Highway 120. Highway 120 is the most direct route into Yosemite National Park from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Northern California locations. The Big Oak Flat entrance is roughly 24 miles (39 km) east of Groveland, CA.
Wifi is now available at the Big Oak Flat entrance but again, it’s best to purchase the pass online before arriving at the park entrance.
Visit Tuolumne County offers detailed information about the Big Oak Flat entrance at www.visittuolumne.com/big-oak, including links to the Yosemite Entrance Pass required for entry, and things to do in and outside Yosemite National Park, including the Beyond Yosemite Valley brochure.
3. Wake up in the woods and get an early start. Visitors should plan to arrive at the park entrance early (before 8 a.m.), which is easier if they sleep nearby the night before.
There are a variety of lodging options nestled in the forest within an easy drive to the Big Oak Flat entrance. Historic hotels, resorts with “mountain luxury,” B&Bs, cabins, vacation rentals and campgrounds in and around Groveland match every taste and price point.
Under Canvas is opening their first glamping resort in California just 10 minutes from the park entrance. Reservations are now being accepted for April 16-October 26, 2026. Evergreen Lodge also offers glamping accommodations.
For the best experience, visit on weekdays or Sundays when hotel occupancy and park attendance tend to be lighter.
4. Experience the beautiful places the crowds are missing. More than half of Yosemite National Park is located in Tuolumne County – the less crowded half. Highway 120 is the route to spectacular but lesser-known parts of the park.
The printable online brochure Beyond Yosemite Valley, www.visittuolumne.com/explore-beyond-yosemite_valley_map_2025_web_version.pdf, provides locations and directions to 30 trails apart from the famous valley.
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, an expansive deep blue lake, is a water source for San Francisco. It is just as awe-inspiring as the iconic Yosemite Valley, but with less crowds. The trails along Hetch Hetchy Reservoir lead to views of the tremendous granite walls, deep river canyons, and hidden waterfalls like Wapama Falls. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is accessible by taking Evergreen Road off Highway 120 near the Big Oak Flat entrance.
Walk in the splendor of ancient giant sequoias in the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, which is located just off of Highway 120 East (also known as the Tioga Road) and accessible year-round. Comparable in beauty to its famous rival the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, visitors will find this 1.5 mile trail less crowded and just as jaw dropping with ancient giants. In the winter this trek can be experienced with snowshoes.
Tuolumne Meadows in the upper region of Yosemite National Park is a large, open subalpine meadow graced by the winding Tuolumne River and surrounded by majestic peaks and domes. This area is seasonal due to its high elevation. Trails here range in difficulty from easy to strenuous and can be enjoyed in a one day or multiday backpacking trips. The views are breathtaking with crystal clear lakes like Tioga Lake, sprawling meadows, granite domes and mountain peaks.
By visiting the less crowded areas of Yosemite National Park, visitors can also help to reduce their carbon footprint and preserve this natural gem for generations to come.
5. Park the car and take YARTS Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) offers numerous pickup spots in Tuolumne County, from Sonora and Jamestown to Groveland and into Yosemite. Inside the park, the choices of destinations include the north route to Tuolumne Meadows and beyond, or south to Yosemite Valley.
YARTS runs on the Highway 120 corridor May 23-Sept. 30, 2026.
YARTS tickets include the park entry fee. Passengers ride in modern, comfortable motorcoaches and are free to watch the scenery, not the traffic and parking. (YARTS does not go to Hetch Hetchy).
6. Let the experts be your guides Several companies offer guided tours into the park, with options for all activity and experience levels. Companies like Echo Adventures Coop and Wild Yosemite take tours into the park for activities such as hiking, fishing, and backpacking. Some hotels, like Rush Creek Lodge & Spa offer tours for their guests and other visitors.
Along the Way:
The Highway 120 corridor, the most direct highway into Yosemite from the San Francisco Bay Area, does not fall short of recreation, history and culture.
In the town of Groveland, the Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum provides a look at the vast natural and cultural history of the area. While in Groveland, wander the town to discover unique shops and stop by the Iron Door Saloon, California’s longest continuously operating saloon.
In the Stanislaus National Forest, which is adjacent to Yosemite, experience whitewater rafting with one of several renowned outfitters on the wild and scenic Tuolumne River. Horseback riding, golfing, hiking, mountain biking, exciting offroad Jeep tours, and more fill up days easily. There are several restaurants to relax in at the end of a full day and call it a night at one of the historic lodging properties such as the Groveland Hotel.
ABOUT VISIT TUOLUMNE COUNTY
Visit Tuolumne (“to-all-o-me”) County (VTC) is the official destination marketing organization for Tuolumne County in Northern California. Tuolumne County is just a 2.5 hour drive east of the San Francisco Bay Area. The destination is known for its pristine, scenic expanse reaching into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gold was discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848, setting off the major gold rush of 1849. The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from the Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from the north. The State Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the Bay Area. The Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and other surrounding areas provide natural vistas and settings for hiking, water skiing, horseback riding, rafting, camping, snowmobiling, boating, snow skiing, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Seven restored historic hotels, four golf courses, numerous and varied dining establishments, historic saloons, four wineries, a hard cider distillery, train rides, casinos, seven museums, two state historic parks, two live theaters, many bed-and-breakfast inns and a variety of Airbnb accommodations are among the many other attributes that make the county a year-round vacation destination. For more information, go to www.visittuolumne.com.
