DAY USE PERMITS

On Yosemite web site today..........Starting on March 1, Day Use Entry reservations will not be required to enter Yosemite Nat...
wonder how long this will last?

I've been away from Yosemite for 8 years. Would someone explain to me what day use permits are? Does that mean day hikers had to have a permit?
Jim

Due to the high rates of Covid, the park had required a day use permit to limit the amount of people in the park. If you did not have reservations in the park for camping or lodging, a wilderness permit or reservations in Foresta, Yosemite West or Wawona, or took public transportation into the park, you had to get a day use permit. People with permits were only allowed in the park from 8 am to 5 pm and the permits were good for 7 days. Even if you had a park pass, you had to have a permit.

As of March 1st, they no longer are requiring those permits. However, please be aware, if the the rates of Covid rise above a certain level, there is a possibility that they might institute the requirements for day use permits again. Hopefully with people getting vaccinated, the rate of Covid infection will continue to drop and they will not have to do this again.

Do be aware that not everything might be opened this year and to keep checking the park website.

Parklover, thank you for the clarification. I was deeply concerned about committing to the purchase of cross-country airline tickets, hotel reservations, and car rental for a week of day hiking in August, only to be turned away at the Tioga gate! In the unlikely case it happens again, at least I can cancel everything but the cheap--no refund airline tickets.
Jim