Campers hoping to spend a few nights in California鈥檚听Yosemite 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 possibility听of even half the hopeful applicants making the cut is听slim.听
Last month听all 12,888 openings听from 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 than听34 percent secured a spot.
With 748,436 acres home to听13 campgrounds,听800 hiking trails, and some of the best rock climbing in the world,听it鈥檚 no wonder why one of our nation鈥檚 first established parks听is听the sixth most visited.听While Yosemite Valley听also offers some campsites on a , these spots typically fill up by 12 P.M. every day. Bookings at , located听in the heart of the Valley听and considered the听the birthplace of rock climbing, are听even more competitive from late May through early September, since spaces can only be booked a day in advance through an听in-person lottery.听
To increase听your chances for a site in Yosemite Valley, book online instead of calling; create a account听and log in before the inventory is released; have alternative dates ready if your first choice gets听snapped up; and get everyone you know (and everyone they know) to hit 鈥渂ook鈥澨齩nce the clock strikes 7 A.M. PST听on February 15.听
Yosemite isn鈥檛 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鈥檚 rolling-window听reservations are available six months in advance, so if you want to secure听a 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鈥檚 parks each year, with more than 6.5 million coming to camp. But with approximately 13,000 campsites available, it鈥檚 impossible for most to get a spot. 鈥淒ue to high demand, reservations for popular locations such as coastal beaches and campgrounds or cabins in the redwoods can be booked months in advance,鈥 Sandoval said. These include the in Mount Tamalpais State Park on the Bay Area鈥檚 Marin coast, beachfront sites at 听in听Orange County鈥檚 Dana Point, and the . 鈥淲e recommend visitors to search for camping opportunities within inland park units,鈥 adds Sandoval.听
To book a reservation at one of California鈥檚 state parks, visit the California Department of Parks or . To book camping reservations in Yosemite Valley, head to .