During our March 2018 visit to Yosemite National Park, we stopped at the visitor center in Yosemite Valley. Unlike almost all visitor centers, parking for this one is about 1/3 mile away. This is probably due to a lack of available space near the visitor center in the heart of Yosemite Village. The large parking is not paved, but has a gravel surface. Whether this is due to a lack of funding or a temporary condition while construction takes place in the village was not conveyed to visitors. If you can't or don't want to walk that far, the free system of shuttle buses. Catch the bus at either shuttle stop 1 or stop 2 to head to the visitor center at stop 5. To return to the parking area, catch the bus at shuttle stop 9 across the road from stop 5 and disembark at stop 10 across from stop 2.
The visitor center houses the usual information desk, bookstore, exhibits, and a theater. Restrooms are located nearby. Two movies are shown in the theater with one starting every half hour.
Spirit of Yosemite is a 23 minute orientation by David Vassar filmed well over a decade ago and
Yosemite - A Gathering of Spirit is a 25 minute film by Ken Burns commemorating the 150th anniversary of the legislation signed in 1864 that preserved Yosemite Valley. Both are excellent films as is typical of park service films. The theater seats about 130 people.
Of the many quotes by John Muir sprinkled throughout the exhibits in the visitor center, my favorite is this one:
Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike.
I think that sentiment holds even more true today than in John Muir's day.
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| Half Dome (8836') from near the entrance |
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| Visitor Center entrance |
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| Information desk |
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| Yosemite Valley in relief |
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| Interconnected |
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| Hang Nest - John Muir's cabin |
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| John Muir |
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| Photography in Yosemite |
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| People in Yosemite |
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| Wildlife in Yosemite |
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| Glacial rock carving |
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| Interactive geology exhibit |
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| Bookstore overview |
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| Books |
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| More books |
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| Clothing |
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| Bookstore checkout |
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| Theater |
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| Seating for up to 160 |
Entrance to Yosemite National Park requires an entry fee of $30 per passenger vehicle for a 7-day pass. The price increases to $35 per vehicle on June 1, 2018. Any of the America the Beautiful passes may be used instead.
The park website is
https://www.nps.gov/yose.
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