Valley Visitor Center
Valley Visitor Center
4.5
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The_Travel_Family
Eindhoven, The Netherlands1,130 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
I agree with others on this. Another NP and more visitor center’s closed. I feel this approach to covid and closing these centers is just ridiculous. Elsewhere is the park they have shops, cafes open but nope the largest building in the park remains closed tut.
Additionally charging $3.50 for junior ranger books really grips me. Why do they always charge kids just to claw back money? Why not charge $0.50 for every park map they hand out instead? You are mean to be teaching the future generation. All you are teaching them is corporate greed! Also they don’t even allow you to download the booklet and print like other parks do. Very disappointed.
Additionally charging $3.50 for junior ranger books really grips me. Why do they always charge kids just to claw back money? Why not charge $0.50 for every park map they hand out instead? You are mean to be teaching the future generation. All you are teaching them is corporate greed! Also they don’t even allow you to download the booklet and print like other parks do. Very disappointed.
Written August 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Delisi Friday
San Antonio, TX419 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
We came here while in Yosemite Village area. We started at the Yosemite Valley Welcome Center, then had some volunteers give us a map and show us all the things to do in this area.
The Exploration Center & Theater is a nice area to take kids. It's indoors for the kids who just want to get out of the heat, or cold. There is a short movie that plays to talk about the history of the park.
And then you can walk to through the exploration center to learn about the animals and sites.
If you have kids, or just want to learn more about the history of the park, I recommend stopping by the Exploration Center & Theater.
The Exploration Center & Theater is a nice area to take kids. It's indoors for the kids who just want to get out of the heat, or cold. There is a short movie that plays to talk about the history of the park.
And then you can walk to through the exploration center to learn about the animals and sites.
If you have kids, or just want to learn more about the history of the park, I recommend stopping by the Exploration Center & Theater.
Written August 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J -3PO
Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan156 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Currently under construction, there is a temporary tent near the building where rangers are available. They distribute maps and other materials. Next to it is the Yosemite Museum, and at the back of the building is a replica of the dwellings of the Indians who once lived in the valley. It's a must-see. Also, a new visitor center has been built near the parking area and will open soon.
Written November 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julia Vitale
Sacramento, CA122 contributions
Jan 2022
closed due to covid or winter. the staff who were uselessly ignorant directed us there, only to find it is closed. a sign said there might be a kiosk with some info if you wanted to walk 7 minutes (and no directions given as to WHERE to walk...)
Written January 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph Robba
Charlotte, NC2,270 contributions
Sep 2020
I was incredibly disappointed with Yosemite's approach to how to handle guests at the Visitor Center during Covid. Firstly, I'll say that because of the smoky conditions due to the Creek Fire, it was not desirable to be outside much of the time, as many apps we checked regularly told us not to spend extended periods of time outside.
The visitor center itself was closed completely, no visitors allowed in at all, which I simply couldn't understand. First, the safety risk with the smoke was far greater than the Covid risk, Second, the park was so empty at the time of our visit, they very easily could have limited the number of entrants at any given time without issue, and thirdly, as dumb as this may sound, our 5 year old son was looking forward to visiting this place more than just about anywhere, after we had seen several vlogs saying the visitor's center was a great stop for children.
The thing that really bothered me about them not opening the visitor center, was that they had no issue with having the gift shop open, which was far more crowded that the visitor center area would have been, with no buses running, etc...With the mask mandate, and social distancing in place, it made no sense to me why the visitor's center was closed, especially given the hazardous smoke conditions outside.
The visitor center itself was closed completely, no visitors allowed in at all, which I simply couldn't understand. First, the safety risk with the smoke was far greater than the Covid risk, Second, the park was so empty at the time of our visit, they very easily could have limited the number of entrants at any given time without issue, and thirdly, as dumb as this may sound, our 5 year old son was looking forward to visiting this place more than just about anywhere, after we had seen several vlogs saying the visitor's center was a great stop for children.
The thing that really bothered me about them not opening the visitor center, was that they had no issue with having the gift shop open, which was far more crowded that the visitor center area would have been, with no buses running, etc...With the mask mandate, and social distancing in place, it made no sense to me why the visitor's center was closed, especially given the hazardous smoke conditions outside.
Written October 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ron B
Havelock North101 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
We were there on a very busy day but the friendly staff were able to give helpful, unhurried advice. Ask about the free valley tours and how to get to the highlights. They are also able to book various tours. For a first time visitor make this your first stop ...you will get first rate advice.
Written August 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robert c
Sunnyvale, CA3,328 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
1. 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.
2. If the visitor's parking lot is filled, one can park in the medical center parking lot behind the village center.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. The visitor's center has a topographical three dimensional hands on map of Yosemite valley, a great aid to elementary school children.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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,
13. 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.
14. Letters to home at each historic era in the 20th century.
15. 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.
2. If the visitor's parking lot is filled, one can park in the medical center parking lot behind the village center.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. The visitor's center has a topographical three dimensional hands on map of Yosemite valley, a great aid to elementary school children.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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,
13. 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.
14. Letters to home at each historic era in the 20th century.
15. 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.
Written May 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China180,060 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
The Yosemite Valley Visitor Centre is in the middle of the village in the Yosemite Valley. It is nestled between the Ansel Adam Gallery and Yosemite Museum and is open from 9-5pm daily.
This is the main resource in the Valley for information related to trail, campground area and road conditions to other areas of the Yosemite National Park. There are rangers on hand for you to ask questions you might have. You can also pick up maps and park news leaflet here at the visitor centre.
At the centre there are water refill facets, bathrooms, a book and gift shop as well an exhibit hall dedicated to education. Here you find exhibitions relating to natural history, flora & fauna, geographical formations of the valley, sequoias in the Mariposa area, Native American settlement in the Valley, pioneer arrivals into valley as well as the establishment of Yosemite as one of the first national parks in the United States.
Just outside the back of the Visitor Centre is an auditorium where short 20+ minute films are shown providing a background and visual representation of Yosemite National Park.
Note that there is no parking in the immediate area of the Visitor Centre. Best to park n the large lot off of Northside Drive and walk to the visitor centre probably 400 metres away.
This is the main resource in the Valley for information related to trail, campground area and road conditions to other areas of the Yosemite National Park. There are rangers on hand for you to ask questions you might have. You can also pick up maps and park news leaflet here at the visitor centre.
At the centre there are water refill facets, bathrooms, a book and gift shop as well an exhibit hall dedicated to education. Here you find exhibitions relating to natural history, flora & fauna, geographical formations of the valley, sequoias in the Mariposa area, Native American settlement in the Valley, pioneer arrivals into valley as well as the establishment of Yosemite as one of the first national parks in the United States.
Just outside the back of the Visitor Centre is an auditorium where short 20+ minute films are shown providing a background and visual representation of Yosemite National Park.
Note that there is no parking in the immediate area of the Visitor Centre. Best to park n the large lot off of Northside Drive and walk to the visitor centre probably 400 metres away.
Written May 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnLinder
Santa Maria, CA93 contributions
Oct 2011 • Couples
We found Yosemite in full color this past weekend. At the south end of Yosemite National Park, the Aspen were all gold and starting to fall from trees as though they were listening to the weathermen all around the United States. Down in the lower valley, Maple, Oak and Dogwood were beautiful and abundant. It even felt like fall as it was in the 70 degree daytime, 35 in the evening. The Yosemite Falls has plenty of water falling as did Bridalveil Falls. No bears around as I guess they had all burrowed in for the coming winter months, but squirrels were in abundant supply as they were gathering seeds & nuts to sustain the little guys ‘til spring.
Written October 27, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
UlrE2015
Vaxjo, Sweden131 contributions
Nov 2019 • Friends
Before entering the shuttle bus this is a stop to recommend. Easy to park your car in the area and walk here before starting the yosemite Valley adventure.
Friendly staff. A lot of souvenirs for those who are interested. I had to by a sticker with the sign "speeding kills bears" since my heart was melting everytime we saw this on the road on our way to the valley. Best part for me was the explanations on how the mountains change their form even today and why rocks are falling etc. Definitely a place to bring your kids or go yourself for some educational moments. Also have toilets.. Friendly staff. I lost my phone and they made sure I got it back from another customer... (oops!)
Friendly staff. A lot of souvenirs for those who are interested. I had to by a sticker with the sign "speeding kills bears" since my heart was melting everytime we saw this on the road on our way to the valley. Best part for me was the explanations on how the mountains change their form even today and why rocks are falling etc. Definitely a place to bring your kids or go yourself for some educational moments. Also have toilets.. Friendly staff. I lost my phone and they made sure I got it back from another customer... (oops!)
Written November 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there,
We are wanting to visit Yosemite early May 2017, however we cannot find information on how to get from Yosemite to Fresno Airport on May 5 as Yarts do not operate this route until May 15.
Does anyone know any other way?
Thank you
Written December 26, 2016
I'm trying to find housing and we want to be on the side of Yosemite valley. I can't figure out if the valley is on the north,south,east or west side. I was wondering if you can tell.me
Written July 16, 2016
We stayed in El Portal on rt 140. Perfect location. Rented the only house in ElPortal right on the river. It was excellent.
Written July 16, 2016
Olá, alguém sabe me informar se há onde guardar uma mochila durante o dia?
Hello, does anyone know if there are lockers available?
Written June 30, 2016
Maybe the ranger on the Yosemite Facebook page knows.
Note that questions posted on the TripAdvisor Yosemite forum will be answered the same day that they are asked. This Q&A feature is seldom viewed by anyone.
Written February 6, 2016
Hi, we are travelling from San Francisco or Sacramento in Dec 2015. We would love to visit Yosemite National Park but are not comfortable driving on the roads.
Could you tell us what are some options available at this time of the year?
Regards,
Robyn Grigson
Australia
Written December 21, 2014
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