It will get easier to make a day trip to Yosemite in November

Starting on November 1, travellers will no longer need a reservation to make a day-trip to Yosemite National Park in California.

The park, located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, is a Unesco World Heritage site, and it normally welcomes over four million visitors annually. After its closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a phased reopening began in June, initially only giving access to those with existing wilderness permit reservations, and those with existing permits to climb Half Dome. A required reservation for day-use was instituted back in June of this year to cope with guest numbers as the park reopened.  

The park is open to those with existing permits to climb Half Dome © David Kiene/Getty Images

Due to the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and local and state authorities, the park is able to modify its operations and offer reservation-free visits. If you’re planning to go in October.

Around the US, the National Park Service is using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. Guests at Yosemite are still urged to follow CDC guidance by maintaining a safe distance between groups, wearing a cloth face covering when social distancing cannot be maintained, and staying home if they feel sick.