First Light Resorts at Yosemite is thrilled to share three significant improvements that pave the way for travelers all over the world to visit Yosemite with greater ease and care than ever before.
#1 – Park-Wide Entry Reservations Replaced with Real-Time Traffic Management for 2026
Yosemite National Park has announced it will replace the park-wide Peak Hour Reservation system with real-time traffic management in and around Yosemite Valley, allowing visitors to experience the park and explore beyond Yosemite Valley at their leisure.
To promote park-wide exploration and enrich the visitor experience, particularly during times of transient traffic control in Yosemite Valley, a broad band of regional supporters has created an “Explore Beyond Yosemite Valley” map offering local tips on memorable side trips throughout the park.
#2 – Online Entry Ticket Purchasing to Streamline Arrival
To further improve the visitor experience, Yosemite recently introduced online ticket purchasing to help speed up the entry process. Guests can now secure weekly entry tickets and annual park passes in advance, reducing delays and eliminating the need for transactions at entrance stations, making arrivals smoother and more efficient during busy travel windows.
#3 – Expanded Connectivity with Entry Gate Wi-Fi
Yosemite now offers Wi-Fi access at the Big Oak Flat/Highway 120 West entrance, less than a mile from Rush Creek Lodge & Spa. This initiative reflects the park’s continued investment in improving visitor communication, access to real-time updates and trip planning resources, and serves as a model of public/private partnerships in support of Yosemite visitors. First Light Resorts designed the system and provides connectivity and maintenance, while Visit Tuolumne County’s knowledgeable staff provides timely updates.
For the first time ever, this new entrance gate connectivity allows guests to access reservations, stay informed about road conditions and traffic management, and explore activity options upon their arrival in Yosemite.
“These refinements, driven by the park’s new leadership in collaboration with local experts, will together allow Yosemite visitors to have a better experience than ever this year. We so appreciate the park’s renewed commitment to working closely with Yosemite gateway communities to innovate creative solutions that combine thoughtful stewardship with improved visitor experiences,” noted First Light Resorts CEO, Lee Zimmerman.