Yosemite Valley

We took the western route into the park from Madera, CA. Traffic estimate was 2 hours and kept fluctuating (60/45/20 minutes delays expected); it wasn’t bad and the large crowds should be expected for a holiday week. A $2 reservation was required for the time period we visited and it was easy to reserve and prepay for the vehicle entrance fee. We actually were able to use the employee line since we had the pass + lifetime national park pass. FREE Passes are available for military, seniors, fourth graders, people with disabilities, etc. so great savings to see all national parks. Since we arrived just after noon, we rode the one-way street to the welcome center - with a stop or two to take in the views on the way. Welcome area has bathrooms, a visiting center, a “grill” restaurant (serving hamburgers, hotdogs, fish sandwiches, chicken tenders, etc.) and large/shopping store, which came in handy at the end of the day snacks for the ride back. We rode the shuttle over to the Lower Falls and walked that short path over to the falls; there are people, climbing or scaling the mountain and some playing in the stream below. Much of my group traveled down through the rocks to get into the stream. It was the highlight of our time there the waterfall! It was all so beautiful. Back on the shuttle and off at El Capitan. Majestic and amazing. We got back to welcome center/Yosemite parking, and headed out towards tunnel view. Simply gorgeous. I loved it all but I won’t be returning because driving those mountain roads are so terrifying for me and personally not worth the anxiety it causes. Shout out to the shuttle drivers who were very kind. We lost two phones and they recovered them and waited at welcome center to return them.

We went there in October that’s off season so not so crowded. But you can see some fall colors on the way to valley. Waterfalls was really at low level, but I love to visit here. 1 -2 days are enough.

Yosemite National Park is absolutely beautiful being so close to a major metropolitan center like San Francisco / Silicon Valley makes this park very accessible to a very large population. While it is an incredibly beautiful park it is not the best in terms of the amount of people who come to visit. I will say this is without a doubt one of America’s most beautiful spaces it should be visited during times when there are the least amount of people. I will give a more in-depth review but encouraging people to visit this park might be environmentally concerning when it’s already so popular.

Yosemite Valley Meadow was my first stop after I entered the park from west entrance, and I stayed there for over an hour trying to find a few moments with the breathtaking and 360-degree views all by myself with no one else nearby. El Capitan was grand and majestic, and the Bridal Veil Fall was ethereal, with water and mist blown hard by the strong wind. I was completely in awe when I am the only one standing, with no one else in sight! Cheers!🙏🙏🙏

The last time I visited California (some 29 years ago) I somehow neglected to visit Yosemite; a fact that ate away at me for years. Well I finally managed to redress my error and made it to this wondrous place in September and October 2019. To be honest, having now scratched the surface of it, I’m pretty certain another visit will be planned at some point in the future. Yes, it gets incredibly busy, yes everything is designed to extract the maximum amount of money from your wallet, but yes you’ll do it anyway just to be able to experience it. The place will charm, delight and astound in equal measure, and if you ever get the opportunity to visit, don’t make the Sam mistake I made all those years ago!

It would be beautiful if it wasn't for too many rude and clueless people. Touron = tourist + moron !!

We had an amazing and safe tour with the help of our tour guide Ryan and our driver. She’s funny and lively person with good sense of humor.

Possibly one of the most amazing places in the World. Three stars as I went at the wrong time of year. It Was Packed and full by 10:30 am. New Nexus system at least has updates, but ....We traveled one mile off the Hwy and that was 5 Stars. Strongly suggest a fall visit. Water is cranking and be careful around the falls

This is a picture of the nearby Bathrooms and the large parking lot with posted maps is here too. Walk across to the Visitor Center... the driving maps/ guidance are confusing and the spring flooding caused some road closures + one ways roads ... Allow extra time to figure out where you want to go. Yosemite Village.connects to many services. Look for the Visitor Center AND Ansel Adams Gallery Yosemite Museum, and Wilderness Center ( permits, backpacking essentials).

I wanted to have my babies become a BARK RANGER at Yosemite!! This place is the place! The cashiers were super nice to instruct me on all info I needed. (Yes, you can even purchase the tag at the store) Must place to check out especially with your kids!

The Valley visitors center is actually smaller than you'd expect, usually very busy (always busy on weekends), and stocked with fun souvenirs. Staff is incredibly patient and helpful with questions of all kinds at both desks. Last time I visited I. August 2023 the exhibit hall was closed for renovations, so I'm sure it'll be even better once completed. The bookstore has all the usual goodies like magnets, postcards, and books. The park stamp is located right in front of you on the left as you enter.

Very well organized visitor center. Good souvenirs , some snacks. We went when we were tired of visiting Yosemite and needed some break. My toddler enjoyed the collection of ice creams they had. They even sell basic groceries if anyone is interested. Overall a good store. Lots of stuff to purchase; price is little on expensive side compared to some shops outside Yosemite but it offers convenience so I guess it's worth it.

With COVID still roaming around, the visitor center is very limited with souvenirs & you are not allowed to actually go inside the facility. PARKING: there's a separate parking lot (follow the signs that say visitor center) away from the visitor center. There's plenty of spots & smack in the middle is a huge bathroom. Very clean too. From the parking lot, it's about 0.5 miles walk to the actual visitor center. You pass all the other restaurants & valley store before you reach the visitor center. Ranger Station: there are 2 stations there with plenty of maps & advice to give. A lot of bulletin boards too, with park information, hiking info, etc., The souvenirs options are so-so. Not as great as I'd like. There are signs with the items & number associated with it. You line up & when you get to the front, you let them know which item number you'd like, you pay & someone inside the store packs the items for you & you pick it up from another booth area. Overall, it's okay. That whole area is nice to walk along but in terms of souvenirs, it's so so. There are a lot more souvenirs at the Village Store (20 ft away from visitor center) but they do cost more.

They have all the stuff you want from a National Park right here in this area. It's a popular place to be and the best part is you have excellent reception with your cell phone. If you are a nerd they have the USP rubber stamp for your national park log book and a store where you can purchase merchandise. At this moment due to the ongoing C19 pandemic no one is allowed inside so you have to order through a window if you want park merchandise.

The actual center is currently closed at the time of this review (post-COVID world)! But there is still a ranger station and you can purchase the Junior Ranger book for your kids at the window. Have them complete several pages in the book and then return to the station to get sworn in and pinned!! My kids are still excited about it days later. There are also restaurants, a deli, art gallery, and the village store nearby. There's an Internet connection, which is a rarity in the area

This was my second trip to Yosemite Valley but my first to the visitor center. It's much larger and well-appointed than I thought. A large and welcoming great room with an interactive small 3-d map of the park allows for parents and children to take in the expanse of Yosemite and marvel at it's size and beauty - as well as see where and what they will be exploring during their visit. There is a gift shop to the left with tons of items in it - t-shirts, stuffed bears, keychains, wall decor, posters, cups, mugs, etc. If you go to the right of the 3-d map - you'll find the education center and you'll be able to walk through and learn about the flora and fauna of Yosemite including the formation of the granite walls of rock, animals that reside here and the ecosystem. Keep going and you'll learn about the first folks to settle and make this a tourist attraction a very long time ago and how the park has grown and evolved since those first hotels and tourist attractions popped up nearly 200 years ago.

This place is great! Although we had to walk a while to get to the visitor center, it was definitely worth the trip. The rangers were very helpful and told us about the trails. We got a map there and used that for the rest of our journey. There was also a little museum area where they told the history of Yosemite and how they are trying to preserve it. Overall, this is a great place to start your trip to Yosemite.

Visitors to the village center may park in the visitor's parking lot about a 5 minute walk from the village center. This parking lot usually fills up by mid day on weekends in the summer. If the visitor's parking lot is filled, one can park in the medical center parking lot behind the village center. Finally if both the visitor's parking lot and the medical center parking lot are filled, park at Curry Village, and take the free shuttle to the village center. This is a very short ride, as there are three stops at the Curry Village both going to and from the Mist Trail shuttle stops. Bathrooms with flush toilets are available at the visitor's center. Ladies, enjoy it while you can, as all the trails have unisex pit toilets, and are not cleaned nor maintained with regularity -i.e. the area in front of the pit toilets, more often then not, are soiled with urine discharged from the opposite sex sprinkling, and wetting toilet tissues fallen off the toilet seat. At the visitor's center one may get the latest updates on the conditions of the trails. While we were in the Valley, we had no cell phone coverage, so we couldn't call the visitor center for information. We were there April 18, and learned that the Taft Point and Sentinel Dome trails were open, but covered in areas with heavy snow. You will also learn where the mosquitoes are heaviest in June. In August 2013 we found out the progress of the Rim Fire toward closing first highway 120 and then the Tioga road. The visitor's center has a topographical three dimensional hands on map of Yosemite valley, a great aid to elementary school children. The visitor's center also has a bookstore, with postcards, books on Yosemite, history books, topo maps, picture books, animal books which the kids like, and calendars. Much of the visitor's center is taken up by a historical 3 D walk in time. The theme is the changing face of Yosemite. You start out when volcanoes and molten lava pushing up masses of granite, followed by the age of dinosaurs, and the coming of the ice age. There is a nature display of the different animals inhabiting the various geographical areas, from the grasslands in the valleys to the alpine area near the peaks. This type of display appeals to elementary children in particular. There comes the age of man, with native Indians settling in the valley, followed by the gold rush of 1849, and the clashes between the Indians and the white men, including displays replicating white cowboys burning the tepees and leveling waste to Indian settlements. Coming into the 20th century, we are presented with a huge photographic display of the horse drawn carriages at Winoma, followed by model T type automobiles entering the valley. Pictures of tourists on open rail cars at the turn of the century, and then traffic jams in the 1920s, A display of changing values in the 1960s, with efforts of conservation and establishment of paved trails, to preserve the Park for generations to come. Letters to home at each historic era in the 20th century. The East-West Auditorium in the back, shows a 23 minute film salute to 150 anniversary of the Yosemite Conservancy movement. A chance to get off your feet and rest up.

Located right in the valley, the visitor's center is not really a "must see," but is a nice pit stop! It offers some souvenirs and some information on Yosemite, and is really close to the museum. Also, AC. This is a blessing. The shuttle stop drops you off right near here, too, AND it's just a ten minute walk to Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. I mean, I can't get excited about this place, but it is a good place to get information about Yosemite!

From the Valley, without taking a step you can see awesome and wonderful sites. You can see El Capitan, Half Dome, and Lower Yosemite Falls. Certainly taking a hike up the range it gets more intense and awe inspiring, but without doing the work, everything - or a lot of the sites, are within in view just by driving up into the loop. Great for those that cannot hike or do not want too. As far as the services around here - meh, I've experienced better, much better. But it's better to know that going into it - that food service etc. is on a Nat'l park level, not on a nice restaurant we're here to serve you level. It just isn't, so it's better to not go into it expecting more - expect less and you will be pleased.

If you've never been to Yosemite before, this should be one of your first stops in the Yosemite Valley. Try and find a parking spot in Village Day-Use Parking if you can. From there it's a 5 minute walk to the visitor center, or you can take the Yosemite Valley Shuttle. The Express Shuttle only runs during the summer. The gift shop is on your left as you enter the building. You will find all sorts of Yosemite-related merchandise for sale: shirts, posters, postcards, keychains, DVDs and CDs, books, ornaments, and many other items I have left out. Towards the back there are rangers who dispense advice about things to do, places to see, how to get there, and the latest on road conditions. They also have a Junior Ranger (ages 7-13) program here. A word of warning to parents: in order to earn a Junior Ranger patch, a bag of trash must be collected. Of course this is good for the environment, but I am certain not all parents are on board with their kids picking up random things on the ground. My friends learned of that requirement the hard way. They were not too happy. "Ken Burns' Yosemite - A Gathering of Spirit" plays on the hour in the theater. He directed numerous documentaries for PBS: The Civil War, Lewis & Clark, Jazz, Baseball, and most recently, the Roosevelts. Finally, restrooms are located just to the left of the visitor center.

Very crowded, but worth the trouble. The visitor center is the best place to get advice for hiking. It's also a great place to see models and photos of the valley with good geology explanations. The geologic pluton diagram is one of the best I've seen. Parking can be a bear.

Great trip, easy to navigate. Staff helpful and friendly. Controlled burns were a little annoying, made it kind of hard to hike and catch your breath.

Yes, if you're in the valley already, then might as well stop by here and check out the visitor center. It's a museum...full of the Yosemite National Park history. You'll learn about the Native Americans, wildlife, etc. Take a quick walk through even if you're busy. Be sure to pick up an affordable souvenir too! :)

We drove through the whole park in a day with the goal of stopping at the visitors center to get my passport book stamped. I couldn't find the dang place! Weekend of October 19th - jammed in traffic for an hour, circled the parking lot for 30 minutes before my husband had a complete meltdown, he let me out and I set out on foot, walked for 10 minutes in one direction to find an unmarked building with a fence around it, backtracked, saw a posted sign for the visitor center in the direction I had already come from, the only thing in that direction was an unfinished building also fenced. I have a feeling the center was in the opposite direction from where the sign was pointing but after walking for another 20 minutes I was beyond stressed and just gave up. What a bummer!

I love Yosemite. I've been coming here since I was a little kid. The visitor center is a great place to start if you haven't been to Yosemite before or if you just want to know more about the park. The shuttle will drop you off really close (and the shuttle is highly recommended! This place is packed in the summer). Rangers are around to help you with any questions you have or to tell you more about the park and its history. Just don't spend too much time in here, you have to see the nature for itself! (:

Good idea to start your trip here, stretch your legs a little and get information. Nice exhibits and can learn lots about the park. Friendly employees who were patient and gave us some great tips on how to spend our day.

Whoa~My check-ins are MONTHS behind! It was cold and raining here at the Park LAST YEAR! The Ranger Ricks and Rickettes are so very cool and helpful!

For such a popular park, this visitor center is in need of a makeover. There was generally a long wait to talk to a ranger, as the desk was only staffed by 2. One talked extremely slowly - partially adding to the wait time. The exhibits were ok, a bit dated. The gift shop was really lacking compared with other national parks. The restroom facilities were adequate.

These people freaked out when I said I was hunting down bears to shoot. I ment to say I was hunting down bears to shoot with my camera. I just wanted some cool pictures. Relax. This is a cool little place though. Its a stop you must make when you are in Yosemite Village. They have all kinds of cool displays. A theatre that plays an awesome little video of the history of Yosemite National Park. There is also a little gift store inside. Its lacking alot of cool stuff so I wouldnt waste too much at it. Would go to curry village shop or the Yosemite Village Gift store. The Park rangers are always here which is awesome because they are always there to answer questions be them dumb or good questions they will answer them.

Very helpful visitor center, complete with very nice, charismatic, helpful park rangers. The rangers are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. It contains a very helpful center that is extremely interesting: allows you to learn about the geological process of Yosemite Valley, the history of the local Indians, as well as lots of info on John Muir. Great book store connected to the Visitor Center. Also, you can find information on the latest weather and road conditions, as well as campsites. Whether you are a seasoned visitor, or a first-timer, this is THE go-to place before some major adventures to be had in Yosemite. 4 Star Experience (for 5-Star experience they will need to update/modernize their exhibits and facilities). But worth a visit!

A must stop to answer any question you have about Yosemite, wildlife, trails, maps, accommodations, rules and regulations. It's located close to one of the many shuttle spots around the area so very convenient if you are not in the mood to battle parking spots during peak summer season. Rangers are full of info and hot tips. There are better gift shops in the area, but at least what you spend goes back to supporting the park.

Small but sufficient visitor center with everything you need to get park information and gifts. Next to the Ansel Adams museum and shop. The park shuttle stop here regularly.

We really liked the visitor center and having a chance to walk through and learn more about the history of this National Park. I purchased a nifty little Passport to National Parks for myself and my son which we both thought were really cool. Most definitely worth a stop if it's your first time here.

The Valley Visitor Center is the biggest visitor center in Yosemite National Park and is found in the main village area. It's definitely worth a visit and is a great source for information about Yosemite. In the main building, there is a big information board with information covering all aspects of the park trails, roads and campsites and even information about roads a little further away such as the 108 and 88 highways further north. The staff on duty are also a goldmine of information and very willing to answer questions and give advice. There's a great relief map of the whole valley and really helps you to orientate yourself and to seek new areas to explore. There are the usual maps, books and postcards for sale. In an adjacent building out of the back, a free film 'The Spirit of Yosemite' is a welcome chance for a sit down but the film is also fantastic at demonstrating the true beauty of this amazing place and to fill in some of the history behind how Yosemite became a national park. It runs on a half hourly loop. There's a also an Ahwahnee Indian village where you can find out how the Ahwahneechee lived in Yosemite. In fact, some of the buildings are still used for ceremonies today. This is definitely worth a visit

The Yosemite Valley Visitor Center is full of interesting information presented in different ways. They have a miniature model (a great relief map) of the valley with various features marked (like Cloud's Rest, Half Dome, El Capitan, Badger Pass, the various campgrounds and roads in the Valley). They also have a small area with the geographical and environmental history of Yosemite as well as information on the important people involved in Yosemite Valley. There's also a small Ahwahnee Village and a small pamphlet about the them and their way of life. You could wander around and be inside some of the buildings except for a few which are still in use for ceremonies. There's a small gift shop with some great books about Yosemite. I picked up a hiking book dedicated to Yosemite and convinced the BF to get National Parks book so we can get it stamped and further our exploration of other national parks. It's a really cool area to wander around and gain some information. The staff are very informative and super friendly. Totally recommend coming here if you've never been to Yosemite at all!

It's been a few months since I was here. You can blame my forgetful nature, and the fact that I saw a lot during my 2-3 day trip at Yellowstone. I hiked around for the majority of the day, but stopped by here after seeing it randomly near a shuttle bus stop. It's pretty much what you'd expect. There's a place to purchase books and T-shirts (I believe), but also the free exhibit to wander around for a few moments to escape the cold (like I did). I wasn't mistreated like other people wrote about, and, quite frankly, I was completely ignored. I didn't mind, that, though. If this is the exhibit I'm thinking about, there were also a few things set up outside. Teepees and huts, made from the wood of the forest, some hundreds of years ago. Replicas, maybe? I really can't remember, since it's been close to 3 months. There were a few interactive points of interest outside, like clicking on a button which would light up the display that was set behind glass, and giving a brief introduction to what it was. I thought it was pretty interesting. The entire exhibit went through the history of Yosemite. So the Native Americans there, the first settlers, the history of it throughout the ages. I wouldn't suggest taking a bored teenager here, as this isn't everyone's cup of tea. But it's certainly informative, and I guess worth a visit if you're at all interested in the history or origins of the park. I don't think I'd ever go more than once, since it's a pretty unchanging place.

I LOVE this place! The rangers here are so knowledgeable and friendly. There is a top-notch interpretive center that is extremely interesting: learn about the geological process of Yosemite Valley, learn about the history of the local American Indians, learn about the life zones, learn about my hero, naturalist, John Muir, as well as the different stages of Yosemite's existence as a park. Heck, you might learn a thing or two! Of course being a teacher, I am slightly biased. There is also an amazing book store that benefits the Yosemite Conservancy, which works at making Yosemite a beautiful place for future generations to enjoy. You will be sure to find QUALITY items in this place. Also, you can find information on the latest weather and road conditions, as well as campsites. Whether you are a seasoned visitor, or a first-timer, this is THE go-to place before some major adventures to be had in Yosemite. And please remember, DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE! Happy Trails!

This is a pretty standard National Park visitor's center located in what is probably the most trafficked national park in the US. It is located centrally in Yosemite valley near the main hotels, Yosemite Falls and the primary business area and transportation hub/parking area. One of the most important things about this area for me turned out to be that this was one of the few places that my cell phone worked (CDMA - Verizon or Sprint (roaming)) reliably. The visitors center has friendly rangers to answer your questions, a small bookstore with a focus on Yosemite and exhibits that describe the geology (glacial origin) of Yosemite Valley and its granite features as well as historical exhibits describing its more recent human history. I would recommend a visit but estimate that 15 to 30 minutes is the maximum that most people would want to spend here.

Always start your trip here whether you're actually seeking information about Yosemite or just need an easily-memorable starting point for your hikes and adventures! The employees/docents here are really nice and informative. If you have any questions about Yosemite, they'll either know it off the top of the their head, or will help you look it up in the matter of seconds.

The Yosemite Visitor Center is done very well and should be included on anyone's itenerary to Yosemite. It is chock full of info on the geological aspects of Yosemite. Has a model of the park showing the granite peaks and valleys below. Very interesting. Has an exhibit on the first inhabitants, the Ahwahneeche. In the back is a film on Yosemite which should be a must see. Starts every hour and on the half hour. Superb filming and photography of not only the valley floor, but the back country which most tourists never get to see. Great book store with great maps, books, and souvenirs. The Yosemite Visitor Center is well worth a visit. Plan on spending 45-60 minutes there is you see the film.

We had a great visit at Yosemihte National Park VC . We were really delighted to meet Park Ranger Mr.Shelton Johnson as we had enjoyed the documentary on his book Gloryland on PBS about a month prior to our visit . He was so nice to our family as he took his time to answer our questions and share historical details about the park and contributions . I would highly recommend visiting the VC and looking for Park Ranger Shelton Johnson . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelton_Johnson

This is the most wonderful place I've ever stayed in truly historical and beautiful we stayed in a room with a balcony with a view of half dome spectacular view we made reservations a year in advance it was well worth it the staff was the best! I would do it again in a minute!

It's a must for Yosemite first timers to go here in order to learn more about the park and everything that it has to offer, as well as some good safety tips. The rangers are very helpful and knowledgeable.

Big shout out to Park Ranger Karen Powers, our family had only a few hours to visit Yosemite this time and the main purpose was for my 3 kiddos to get their Jr Ranger badges on this 100 year anniversary year. Because of all the traffic in the park, we arrive at the Visitor Center at 5:33pm and the center was closing! The kids were so sad but we walked in and Ranger Powers, came right over and made us feel important and said no problem and helped them complete their booklet and swore them all in as Jr Rangers! A big highlight for us! thanks so much, we love this park!

Good, but Rangers behind desk could smile more. Nice bookstore and decent small museum of how the valley was created. The newspaper could be a lot clearer regarding the various programs offered.

It's an interesting visitor center. Lots of information and located in a prime area of the park. They have some nice 3D representations of the Yosemite Park.

Very helpful staff here who can help plan your Yosemite trip. There is a lot of information about the history and geology of the area as well. Definitely worth a visit if you are curious!

The rangers here are polarized in that on one end are the knowledgeable, friendly, helpful variety, and on the other are the rude, vituperative, incompetent type. When I arrived on Friday afternoon, it was snowy and rainy in the valley. I asked a ranger at the Wawona station what the weather would be like the following day. He said, "I don't know, and I'm not going to know until tomorrow." Ah, what exactly *does* your ranger job entail if not to give information to park visitors? The following day, I land at the Yosemite Lodge where I am met with extreme incompetence. After signing up for the Yosemite Valley Floor tour, I then asked about the horseback riding tours the following day. "There's only one on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.," the ranger (short man with a brown mustache and beard) quipped. The next day, I found myself at the Lodge again, and overhead the same ranger telling another guest, "We have them at 8:30, 10:30, 12, 2 and 3 every day." When I approached the desk, I asked about the discrepancy. "Well, I don't know why told you that, but that is incorrect," he retorted. I wanted to reply, "You, in all your glorious incompetence," but I restrained myself. The icing on the cake was when I finished my 3-day park visit at the Visitor's Center at Yosemite Village today, and was set to buy stamps. "How many can you spare?" I asked the young, blond, female ranger at the cashier desk. "As many as you need," she replied. "Then I'll take 20," I said. As she prepares the stamps, an older, blond ranger, well past her prime, and apparently quite bitter in her older state, said, "That's too many. It's limited to 10." "But she [indicating the younger ranger] just told me that I could have as many as I wanted," I said. "It's limited to 10," she said louder, and more forcefully, like I was deaf. "Then I'll take 10," I said, and handed over my credit card. "Cash only," the older ranger said. "Why?" I asked. "Cash only," she said again, practically yelling this time. Incredulous at being spoken to in such a churlish manner, I backed away from the cashier stand and left. Wow. Is all I can say. Perhaps there should be some "courtesy" training for the newly-minted rangers in this park. At least then, they could perhaps avoid becoming the difficult curmudgeon I encountered during my last day, and last visit, to this park.