Yosemite Filling Up Fast

Merced Sun Star: “Anyone going to Yosemite National Park this weekend should go early or late, or think twice about going at all.
A heavy, slow melting snow pack has drawn large crowds to Yosemite during the past couple months — as many as 17,000 per day, causing long waits at park entrances and bumper-to-bumper traffic in the valley.

That’s how it was over the Memorial Day weekend, and that’s what could happen again this weekend, said Nanci Sikes, director of the Tuolumne County Visitor’s Bureau.

‘Because it’s a three-day holiday, we’re going to be extremely busy just like we would be for Labor Day or Memorial Day weekend,’ Sikes said.

‘When people get three days off in a row, they tend to want to get away.’

Before the weekend, there were still several hotel, motel and bed and breakfast rooms available in Merced and Tuolumne counties, both gateway communities to the national park.

But all reservable Yosemite Valley campsites are taken, and lodging in towns closest to the park — such as Groveland and El Portal — were almost filled by Friday.”