Thanks for the information - very important for visitors this spring and summer to get those reservations if arriving during said hours.

So - the loophole is to arrive before 6 am. As long as there are not too many cars trying the loophole and there’s a 30 minute traffic jam and you arrive at 6:05 LOL.

One thing that seems to have changed is that reservations are needed during peak hours even if just driving through and not stopping.

Yeah that's a big one. So if people are coming from the SF Bay or Mammoth, and don't have a peak hours reservation...they'll need to hit an entrance station before 6am or after 4pm.

Do we know if I will be able to make a reservation if I do not yet know the details of the rental car I will be arriving in?

You do not need the car information to make the reservation, just the day you plan to arrive.

That's great thanks. Alarm set to book my pass!

We will see next month how difficult it is for visitors to obtain an entrance reservation date.

For those staying in hotels outside the park who cannot obtain a peak-hours reservation and who do not want to enter the park before 6am or after 4pm, there are two other options.

Purchase a ticket on Yosemite Area Rapid Transit (YARTS) bus service (advance reservations recommended)

http://yarts.com/

Or hiring an authorized Yosemite area tour company. The tour companies registered with NPS and listed on this page do not need an entrance reservation.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/authorizedguides.htm

I really dislike the idea that I either have to be lucky to get a permit a week before or I have to drive even longer on 180 or probably be stuck in a line at 4pm.... When all I want is to go through and not even get close to the valley where the traffic is.

Hope its not too bad.

I don't like the requirement of a reservation to simply cross the Sierra either. It will impact some people on both sides of the mountains for business and non-park personal travel.

My guess is there were enforcement issues last year with people telling rangers they were only crossing over Tioga Pass but instead stopped to sight-see in Yosemite Valley or elsewhere in the Park. People break rules then the rules are changed.

>>or I have to drive even longer on 180<<

I assume that is a typo and you meant Highway 108. Highway 180 does not cross the Sierra but ends in Kings Canyon NP.