Crushing crowds turn Yosemite into 'Disneyland.' Can visitors still have fun?

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Set us as preferred When Sebastian Dollinger and his colleagues first drove into Yosemite National Park, they felt like they were entering the world at its finest — a prehistoric beauty of hulking rocks with every waterfall flowing in the valley.It reminded Dollinger, who lives in Sweden, of the Swiss Alps in summer.The moment didn’t last long.As the group, in the park in early May for a fashion shoot for California luxury brand Robert Talbott, neared Mirror Lake in Yosemite Valley, Dollinger’s party felt like it had been overtaken by a massive swarm of bees as droves of other tourists buzzed around them, he said.“I could have taken up climbing and gone up El Capitan just to escape the people,” Dollinger said, referencing Yosemite’s famous rock wall, “but I’m just a creative director.”This summer, Yosemite is seeing a significant uptick in visitation, driven by the park’s internationally known splendor, its popularity on social media and a lack of its politicized reservation system.

As droves of tourists flock to Yosemite, it raises the question: Is it still possible to have a fun time there despite the crowds? Hopefully, yes, but that answer comes with a few heavy asterisks.Park-goers and local business owners say it’s crucial for those venturing into Yosemite this summer to plan their excursions outside peak times to avoid the worst of the crowds, and even then, pack their patience.

The best-laid plans can still result in visitors facing significant lines at the park’s gate and restaurants, crowded hiking trails and a relentless search for parking.By the end of June, Yosemite had seen at least 183,000 more visitors than last year, according to preliminary park visitor data.Just over 2 million people visited the park by the end of June, a 10% increase compared with last year’s visitation data.The ...