Campers hoping to spend a few nights in California’sYosemite Valley this summer will have another chance to secure a campsite on February 15 when the park opens up its next cycle of reservations for June 15 to July 14. But the possibilityof even half the hopeful applicants making the cut isslim.
Last monthall 12,888 openingsfrom May 15 to June 14 sold out within a few minutes, leaving about 7,000 expectant campers in need of new summer plans. Of the nearly 11,000 applicants that requested a reservation on January 15, less than34 percent secured a spot.
With 748,436 acres home to13 campgrounds,800 hiking trails, and some of the best rock climbing in the world,it’s no wonder why one of our nation’s first established parksisthe sixth most visited.While Yosemite Valleyalso offers some campsites on a , these spots typically fill up by 12 P.M. every day. Bookings at , locatedin the heart of the Valleyand considered thethe birthplace of rock climbing, areeven more competitive from late May through early September, since spaces can only be booked a day in advance through anin-person lottery.
To increaseyour chances for a site in Yosemite Valley, book online instead of calling; create a accountand log in before the inventory is released; have alternative dates ready if your first choice getssnapped up; and get everyone you know (and everyone they know) to hit “book”once the clock strikes 7 A.M. PSTon February 15.
Yosemite isn’t the only park in California that has been impacted by an influx of visitors. The competition is similarly fierce when it comes to reserving campsites at . The California Department of Recreation’s rolling-windowreservations are available six months in advance, so if you want to securea reservation for summer, do it soon.
According to Gloria Sandoval, deputy director of the California Department of Recreation, more than 67 million people visit the state’s parks each year, with more than 6.5 million coming to camp. But with approximately 13,000 campsites available, it’s impossible for most to get a spot. “Due to high demand, reservations for popular locations such as coastal beaches and campgrounds or cabins in the redwoods can be booked months in advance,” Sandoval said. These include the in Mount Tamalpais State Park on the Bay Area’s Marin coast, beachfront sites at inOrange County’s Dana Point, and the . “We recommend visitors to search for camping opportunities within inland park units,” adds Sandoval.
To book a reservation at one of California’s state parks, visit the California Department of Parks or . To book camping reservations in Yosemite Valley, head to .