Visiting Yosemite Summer 2021

If you're basing out of Mammoth Lakes this summer, you may be considering a day trip to Yosemite. 

But like everything else, the the last year has brought significant changes to the Yosemite access and Pass system. You can blame Covid, or staffing, the economy, budgetary constraints, or whatever, but the truth is that if you've been to Yosemite in the last 20 years you know summers in the park are insane. Traffic crawls, babies get bored sitting in cars, and all that spell a bad time for everyone involved. So love them or hate them, the passes should curtail visitation and give those who do visit a more relaxed trip into the park.

Here's the quick skinny on getting into Yosemite this year:

DAY USE PASSES:

• Passes will be required May 21 - Sept 30
• Passes must be reserved in advance.
• Passes will be good for 3 days. You do not need to check in on the first day for the pass to be validated.
• All visitors, including annual and life-time passholders must have a reservation.
• Passes are required for every vehicle (or motorcycle) that enters.
• Valid photo ID must match the name on the reservation.

YOU DO NOT NEED A PASS IF:

• you have a camping or lodging reservation
• you have a wilderness or Half Dome permit
• you have a vacation rental inside the park
• you enter via the local public transit system (YARTS buses)
• you enter with an authorized tour
• you travel through and exit without stopping. 

Want more info? Click on the button to visit the Nat'l Park Service's Yosemite page.

National Park Service Yosemite Info