Re: Yosemite entrance quota

currently, roads open, facilities closed, don't get out of your car. does anyone know if you still need reservation to go through entrance? I guess typing a query seems simpler than making a call and being put on hold for ???

From the website (as of 9/21, in case someone later stumbles on this thread...):

Current conditions:
"Yosemite is closed to all visitors due to significant smoke impacts and hazardous air quality throughout the park. Through traffic is allowed; visitors must remain with their vehicle. The park is closed to recreation."

Various roads:
"Open to through traffic only. When park is open, reservation required to drive into the park."

My read is that the park is currently considered to be closed, so no reservation needed, but you can't get out of your car or otherwise do anything "recreational." Which, given the smoke, I would strongly discourage anyway. Hiking with an N95 mask is not fun :-(

I would add that they would probably look skeptically at travel into Yosemite Valley past the El Cap crossover unless you are a local or employee, since that would not be on any "pass-through" route.

thanks. update--my 9/22 entry reservation was just cancelled. meaning, I can go through, but not park (as I would have been able, with an entry reservation). with time on my hands, I wonder how they've been treating "through traffic" when park was open. since seemingly impossible too enforce, I'd guess even commercial traffic on its way to the east side, or in the other direction, needed reservations. if so, there may be a boom in through traffic as long as this status holds.

Commercial traffic through Yosemite has always been prohibited. AFAIK there is no special treatment for through traffic (except for locals) when the park is open--you need a reservation to enter at any of the gates, which they check against a list of names and your ID. Having done this several times, they were enforcing the reservations at the various entrances, and I saw quite a few vehicles turned away.

glad to have your knowledgable self moderating here.