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How to Avoid Crowds in California National Parks
Beat the crowds in Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree and Death Valley with smart timing, quieter trails and entrances, and underrated parks.
By Alex Khachigian · Updated September 2026 · 3 min read
Crowds in California’s national parks concentrate at a few spots at predictable times.
This guide covers timing, park-by-park tactics for Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree and Death Valley, and four less visited parks.
In This Guide
Timing: The Easiest Way to Avoid Crowds
Weekdays beat weekends; holiday weekends are the busiest. Shoulder seasons are quieter: May and late September to October in the Sierra, late fall and early spring in the deserts.
Arrive by sunrise for easy parking, take a midday break and go back out late afternoon.
How to Avoid Crowds in Yosemite
Most visitors are on the Valley floor from about 10 am to 4 pm. Start the Mist Trail at dawn to have Vernal Fall mostly to yourself.
Check NPS.gov for peak-season entry reservation rules. My best Yosemite day hikes guide lists more trails.
Quieter Corners of Yosemite
Hetch Hetchy, in the northwest corner, gets a fraction of the Valley’s visitors. The Mariposa Grove quiets beyond the first loop.
When Tioga Road is open, Tuolumne Meadows has Lembert Dome, Dog Lake and Elizabeth Lake, all less crowded than the Valley.
Use the Free Shuttle
Park once and ride the free Valleywide Shuttle, which has run every 12 to 22 minutes from about 7 am to 10 pm. Confirm the schedule on NPS.gov.
How to Avoid Crowds in Sequoia and Kings Canyon
The General Sherman Tree is Sequoia’s bottleneck. Go early, walk the Congress Trail loop and use the seasonal shuttle.
Climb Moro Rock at sunset for views of the Great Western Divide. My giant sequoias guide covers the groves.
Kings Canyon and Cedar Grove
Kings Canyon gets far fewer visitors than Sequoia. Highway 180 leads to Cedar Grove, Zumwalt Meadow and Roaring River Falls, all easy walks.
Mineral King
Mineral King is a subalpine valley at the end of a long, narrow road. In early summer, marmots chew car hoses, so many visitors tarp their cars.
How to Avoid Crowds in Joshua Tree
The West Entrance has the longest lines. Use the North Entrance in Twentynine Palms or the Cottonwood Entrance in the south.
Skull Rock and Hidden Valley fill by midmorning. Try Lost Palms Oasis, Fortynine Palms Oasis or Black Rock Canyon instead; see my 2 days in Joshua Tree itinerary.
How to Avoid Crowds in Death Valley
Crowds gather at Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point and Mesquite Flat Dunes at sunrise and sunset. Dante’s View, above 5,000 feet, is a quieter sunrise spot.
Stovepipe Wells and Panamint Springs are away from Furnace Creek. See the Death Valley winter itinerary.
Underrated California National Parks
These four parks get a fraction of Yosemite’s visitors.
- Lassen Volcanic: mud pots, Bumpass Hell and Lassen Peak
- Pinnacles: rock spires, talus caves and condors; best in spring
- Channel Islands: sea caves and island foxes; boat or plane only
- Redwood National and State Parks: old-growth groves, quiet on weekdays
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the least crowded time to visit Yosemite?
Weekdays in May and late September to October. Winter is quietest, but Tioga Road and most of Glacier Point Road are closed.
Do I need a reservation to enter Yosemite?
Peak-season entry reservations have been required in recent years. Check NPS.gov for the current rules.
Which Joshua Tree entrance is least crowded?
The North Entrance in Twentynine Palms and the Cottonwood Entrance in the south.
What is the least visited national park in California?
Lassen Volcanic, Pinnacles and Channel Islands see far fewer visitors than Yosemite or Joshua Tree.
When is Cedar Grove open in Kings Canyon?
Highway 180 to Cedar Grove usually opens in spring and closes around November. Road line: (559) 565-3341.
