If it is your first time visiting Yosemite, I definitely recommend making a stop here. There is so…read moremuch staff throughout the center to help you find what you want to do while exploring this part of the park. Plus, they are experts in what is the most popular thing to do during your visit. I highly recommend stopping at all the exhibits throughout the center, the Ansel Adams gallery, and the museums about the history of the park. Plus, there are two gift shops to buy all your souvenirs. There is a theater that will go through the history of the park, which was pretty cool and informative. Once you are done exploring the exhibits, make sure to follow the trails to the nearest trail to capture some cool photos in nature and even walk over to Yosemite Falls. All in all, definitely a must-see and can be spent in one day to hit all the landmarks in this area. You will be entertained and amazed by the beauty of Yosemite National Park. Happy trailing and sight-seeing! Embrace the nature!

The visitor center and the Ansel Adams gallery are must-visit stopping points on anyone's tour of…read morethe Valley! We were lucky to arrive at the tail end of an outdoor presentation (on 3/8), where a very nice employee let everyone pet a bear skin. It was really interesting, as the fur was a lot rougher than I imagined. He was friendly and answered a few of our questions about the Yosemite wildlife. Lovely guy. The inside was airy and had some fun things to buy. Most employees we met were nice. The one star off was for the rude man who worked at the info desk (along with the nice presenter I mentioned earlier after he was done with the presentation outside... unfortunately, he was helping someone else). I asked Rude Man a few questions about some trails, and he was just not friendly. At. All. He answered in monosyllables with a low-key mean, impatient attitude. I've no idea if it's race-related (we're Asian), or if he just didn't want to be there. Either way, it didn't belong in a welcome center and he was pretty unsuited for customer service. Why work at an info desk, in a customer-facing role, if you're going to be grumpy?

This welcome center is nice and big with plenty of information about the park. My kids ran into a…read morePark ranger at Glacier point and were asked if they wanted to become a junior ranger of course they agreed . A book for them to complete was handed to them and once done they can bring it into the welcome center. They had a mini ceremony it was such a great cute experience for the kids. You need to do this for your little ones when in yosemite. Note to self always have a map with you. They have some here.

Great Welcome Center on the South entrance of YNP. Stop by if you need maps, guidance on how to…read morenavigate the park or other information. If you're not familiar with the park- I highly suggest you stop by and grab a map so that you can coordinate your stops.

Having never tempted your family from this direction, I stopped at the visitor center in Mariposa…read more So glad I did, Jacob was full of information, knowledge, and tips for both things local and for Yosemite. Got a bunch of brochures which I always love, and save, and got to look at and purchase some cool merch. Bonus: there is an awesome looking escape room right there. Do not miss this stop!!!

READ FOR PRO TIPS!!!…read more DO THE SCAVENGER HUNT! It's super fun (did it with our 9 & 10 year olds). It is normally $15 but you get a $5 discount if you ask for one. PLUS you get a free coupon per participant for ice cream at Happy Burger Diner and the ice cream scoop is HUGE!!! And 10% off your entire meal if you get anything else :) STAFF IS FRIENDLY They will hook you up! :) Enjoy!

What a great experience at Devil's Postpile NP. Easy 1/2 mile hike with some climbing, steep…read moreportions of trail. What an incredible experience. Steep climb to top but worth it. Ample parking in dirt lots. Cool info signage about the area. Seeing this phenomenon was amazing. Two miles further to Rainbow Falls. Devil's Postpile is closed 10/6-10/11, major road work repairs.

We came here in July and really enjoyed this monument. It is so interesting with all the columnar…read morebasalt. The columns tower over 60 feet and these columns were formed approximately 100,000 years ago from a volcanic lava flow that cooled. The lava flow cracked into these multi sided columns. When you stand on a column you will see it forms a perfect octagon. WOW! Nature is so incredible. To get here, we took the shuttle from the main Mammoth Lakes Lodge. It was an easy ride down here and back. Parking is available at the lodge. The only vehicles that were allowed on the road besides the shuttles were for campers who had reservations and sites. Take your time when you are here to really study these structures. I highly recommend when visiting Mammoth Lakes.

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is absolutely stunning--a truly magical place filled with…read morebreathtaking trees. There's a large parking lot and a visitor center with very friendly, helpful staff who gave us great information before we headed out. From there, we took the shuttle up to the walking path (note: if you're handicap, you can actually drive up directly). There are restrooms both at the visitor center and up by the trees, plus a convenient water fill station with fresh snow water from the area. The walking path itself is easy to follow, and every turn offers incredible views of these majestic giants. An unforgettable experience and a must-see in Yosemite!

Half day at Mariposa Grove. Parked at the visitor center and took a shutter. This will be the only…read morelocation for parking and shuttle ride. 6mins and you will reach the groves. We did the grizzly giant loop trail. Very easy and we took our time and enjoyed the trees. The trail is nicely kept and very easy to walk on. The end of the loop has a slight incline and it is all down hill from there and it peas straight out to the shutter.

This park is SO underrated for its beauty, quality of life added to each visitor, and the joy it…read moresparks! It is choose your own adventure national treasure that can not be replicated. It is accessible to all fitness levels due to drivable viewpoints and challenging hikes. Please do not underestimate nature though - you could get swept over a waterfall or fall if you do. This is by far one of the most beautiful places to exist in on earth. Like mountains? Take your pick of the ones to hike to or snap a picture from a view point. Hiking 101: Always bring more water than you need. Wear hiking shoes, take your time, and lather on that sunblock. Research shows hiking hills can add years to your life. Yosemite can help you with that. A must see is Mist Trail and Nevada Falls (same hike - just further on). The steps are no joke and slippery. The views, awestruck "wow"s are worth it. With scenery famous for its complexity, it cannot be duplicated. The numerous waterfalls alone are worth the entrance fee. You leave feeling years younger than you came. We hiked the Mist and Nevada trail early morning and cooled off in the river by Cathedral during the hottest times. Highly recommended this to avoid heat sickness and the majority of the foot traffic. You will feel like you are in a Disney movie, it's so beautiful. Eating in the park can come with some lines. The workers are awesome though. They clear trails, move giant rocks, and will make you a hummus sandwich. Talk about hustle. The restaurants are clean, customer service is excellent, and the food slaps after a long hike. I'm cheap and brought in almost all of my food. Just pack out any remains or place in the designated bins. It takes ALL of us to keep our parks clean. Overall, this park is a out of 5 stars in EVERY area .

One of my most favorite places on earth. Beautiful day or…read morenight, summer or winter. The most breathtaking views, waterfalls, cliffs. Best way to see it is by bicycle ( lots of places to rent here). Be sure to utilize the free and frequent park shuttles as day trippers clog the streets and parking ( the one downside)...ok, getting camping reservations is difficult too, even when totally prepared, but it's a testament to how breathtaking Yosemite is. First timers have no idea what awaits them at Tunnel View- so make sure to pull off (and hope to find parking!!) and let your jaw drop!! Also make sure to attend at least one Park Ranger talk as well as Yosemite Conservancy lectures--very informative and interesting. Spend as much time as possible here, and educate yourself prior as to what is around the Valley to maximize your stay.

We bought the Senior Park Pass for $20 and now have free access for a year to any National Park…read more So we got into Yosemite on our second day of vacation for free! A favorite of ours is Bridle Vail Falls. It's a rest stop with plenty of bathrooms, but also there's a really nice easy walking trail and Bridle Vail Falls is up close so you don't have to hike a mile or more to see it. A great place to refresh and stretch your legs. There was some road construction so naturally with a two lane road there are delays. Not too long of a wait. The previous fire damage is obvious as is the new growth. Once inside Yosemite Village things are back to normal (thankfully) and the glory that is Yosemite reigns supreme. Expect a 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive into and out of the park. Take maps because cell service can be tricky. Go!

Reservation is required to drive into or through the park on some dates/times through Oct 27. Check…read morethe website for more information. You can enter the park without a reservation before 5 am or after 4 pm. Reservations are required at any time in between. The YNP South Side is amazing! Breath breathtaking views, beautiful waterfalls (Vernal & Nevada Falls), and much to explore. It takes about 45mins-1hr to get from the South Entrance to Yosemite Valley. We stayed about 25 minutes from the South Side Entrance and arrived at YNP around 4:30 am. We did not have to pay entrance fees and could experience the beautiful sunrise. If you can do that, please don't hesitate; it's so worth it. Plus, if you start early, you avoid the crowds and see more of YNP!

Pro tip: Take the shuttle (approximately $15 per person round-trip). You take it from the Main…read moreLodge and they run every 20-30mins from 7amish to 730pmish (as of Aug 2025). You want to get off at Red's Meadow and hike to the falls. It's easy-easy/moderate and is the shortest distance to the falls. Do not take it from Devil's Postpile because it will add 1.5 miles of open sun hike to the falls. Once there, reward yourself with glass of wine and lunch. The water is cool to cold (depending on the time of year) and refreshing. Highly recommended

There's almost a guaranteed rainbow and maybe even a double rainbow if you're lucky at Rainbow…read moreFalls! From the shuttle stop, it's a 1.6 mile exposed hike to the falls, then some stairs to the bottom. We were prepared wearing our swimsuits to take a dip in the frigid water! Totally worth it. So beautiful!