Yosemite Lodging Tight for Summer

Getting a place to stay overnight at Yosemite National Park this summer is expected to be especially tough. While heavier-than-usual precipitation continues to feed the famous falls, offering hope for an exceptionally scenic season, there are 44% fewer campsites and 15% fewer hotel rooms than there were two years ago. The reason: The park still hasn’t rebuilt lodging damaged by January 1997 floods.

Yosemite spokesman Kendell Thompson said last week that construction can’t begin until the park’s long-term development plan, which is still being revised, is approved. Best bets for now: Reserve early, go off-season or consider lodging outside the park.