Beginning January 18, 2022, at 7 am PST through February 6, 2022, at 8 pm PST, in conjunction with the traditional general on-sales, Yosemite National Park will pilot an Early Access Lottery for North Pines Campground reservations! The early access lottery reservations will be for arrival dates from July 21 through September 14, 2022!
If you are a successful lottery applicant, you will have an opportunity to make one reservation during an early access period for campsites in North Pines Campground for peak season reservation dates in 2022.
Why Use an Early Access Lottery?
Great question! The demand for reservations in Yosemite campgrounds through Recreation.gov far exceeds availability, especially in Yosemite Valley during the busiest times of the year. This has been the case for decades and demand has only increased over time. More than ten thousand people visit Recreation.gov during Yosemite’s on-sale dates in hopes of getting a reservation with available campsites selling out in minutes.
Hopeful campers take days off work and recruit family and friends to simultaneously try to make any possible reservation. Still, many are unsuccessful year after year, causing frustration, disappointment, and feeling the system is flawed and unfair. Yosemite National Park managers regularly receive complaints from users saying they were unsuccessful because they are not computer savvy, their computers or internet connection are not fast enough, or that some users receive preferential treatment.
Yosemite National Park, along with Recreation.gov, has listened to your concerns and the early access lottery pilot is an attempt to address them using an equitable, randomized system. The lottery system will assign a limited number of successful applicants a period before the general on-sale during which they can make a reservation. These are awarded in no particular order, and you can only apply once per person.
While the lottery does not guarantee your desired dates or campsite will be available, it limits the number of users competing simultaneously for campsites during peak-season dates. Overall, we hope this pilot will:
- Create a better experience that reduces confusion and frustration for the highly competitive reservation process.
- Offer a new method for reserving campsites at this high-demand location for a more equitable experience.
- Address visitor complaints about the perception of an unfair reservation process.
We encourage everyone to learn more about the early access lottery so you can be prepared to enter for the chance to make your reservation in North Pines Campground with Recreation.gov!
Edited by: Stephen Morton
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