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?

I love Visitor Centers but I think this one's focus is more on preserving you over heightening your…read moreexperience on your visit. I gave a friend a hand drawn map to a waterfall. My friend traveled 250 plus miles to see it. The staff here discouraged her from going because it's "dangerous." Next: I ask them about a waterfall near Nelder Grove. The employee tells me she's been there one hundred times. There is no waterfall! The map from the Friends of Nelder Grove website said it existed. I went out there, followed a trail that started next to a creek bed and found the Fall! Unless you want a restaurant recommendation, pass this Center by!

The folks that work here are probably the friendliest greeters I've experienced at a Visitor's…read moreCenter. Their knowledge and tips made our trip to Yosemite more enjoyable, without the hassle of getting lost or wondering what are the most significant views at Yosemite. Definitely, Mariposa Grove sounded like the best to drive, if you have a handicapped placard and other notable sites with waterfalls or majestic views. It's worth stopping into visitor centers to screen out difficult walks or those locations which may not be as worthy, such as the swinging bridge.

The Yosemite Welcome Center was a fun little spot to check out while we were in Yosemite last week…read more It is located in Yosemite Village next to the Museum and Post Office. It was a nice big open building with different counters to stop and ask about different information regarding Yosemite and the surrounding areas. They also sold t-shirts, magnets, books and even puzzles. My daughter picked up a Junior Rangers activity book for free which was really! They had all the information on different hikes, plus different programs each day like the Ranger Walk, Bear Walk and the Family Ranger Talk. We only stopped in briefly, but next time we will be staying longer to check out more of the programs. I highly suggest stopping in next time you visit Yosemite! We'll be back next time!

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.

Friendliest guides ever. There were three seniors who were very delightful and informative in…read morehelping us out when we had questions. Maps after maps and markings were given and discount coupons offered to make use of and good with conversations. I'm glad we stopped over at this visitor information to gather information on the nearby parks all over central CA

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!

The Wawona entrance to Yosemite and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias was a new to me area of…read morethe park, when I visited in Mid-June 2026. Without the reservation system this year, even a weekday brings lines at the entrance kiosk. It was about a 45 minute wait. But, once entering the park, the Mariposa Welcome Center parking area had ample parking. The grove's gateway is just a couple of minutes from the Wawona entrance where there's a gift shop, restrooms and the shuttle bus to the grove (only runs seasonally.) I found the shuttles to run efficiently, albeit crowded. However, unless you want to hike up a steep paved road and add 2 miles to your hike, they're the only way up to the grove, as private vehicles are not allowed to drive or park there (those with disabilty tags are the exception.) The lower grove was packed and features the popular and iconic trees such as the Grizzly Giant and Tunnel Tree. It was too chaotic to really enjoy fully, but I was on my way to Wawona Point and the upper grove, so didn't linger in the main area too long. Once past the Grizzly Giant loop, the crowds exponentially thinned out and the forest became peaceful. It's a beautiful area and has a decent length hike to the upper grove, where the Guardians Loop trail was the standout along with Wawona Point (featuring a scenic overlook of the Wawona area.) The upper trails reminded me of a shorter version of Sequoia National Park's "giant forest loop." The trails were well kept and featured an array of wildflowers, green meadows and of course the iconic sequoias. You can make a longer loop or out and back and see most of the area in a longer day hike. It's a quieter and beautiful area of Yosemite that gets overlooked in comparison to the touristy lower grove and the valley. It is about a 45-50 minute drive to connect back down to the valley so you can visit both in one day, but I decided to linger and take my time in the beautiful upper grove areas. Either way, Mariposa Grove is a worthwhile stop in your Yosemite itinerary

We came here during the government shutdown. Shuttle services was still operating although the…read moreVisitor Center was closed. We had stayed in Oakhurst for the night, so this was a stop before going to Yosemite Valley. We had to park at the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza where the Visitor Center was and took the free shuttle to get to the start of all the trails. We saw some deer on the way! The giant sequoia trees were a magnificent sight to see, and the trails were nice and defined.

Mount Hoffmann, Yosemite: 2026 Aug 13…read more From Yosemite Valley, take highway 120 to the Crane Flat turnoff onto Tioga Road. Continue driving until you get to the May Lake trailhead. You can park and use the toilet before you start your hike. Heavy-duty, wildlife-resistant containers are available to store your food in. Elevation at the trailhead is 8,710 feet. Mt. Hoffmann elevation gain is 10,845 feet. It is a 10,850-foot peak near the geographic center of Yosemite National Park. Mount Hoffmann is named after Charles F. Hoffmann, cartographer. Charles F. Hoffmann named lake number 5 May Lake. May Lake nestles below Mt. Hoffmann. The hiking distance is only 5.6 to 6 miles round trip but this is a difficult and strenuous hike. The unmaintained boulders with loose rocks make this short hike challenging. The elevation and thin mountain air makes it hard to breathe and may cause your heart to beat faster. You may tire easily. This can also lead to altitude sickness if you do not rest and adjust. Make sure you hydrate constantly. Our pace was slow as we scramble up this 10,850-foot peak. Mt. Hoffmann's unmaintained steep and rocky granite boulders with loose rocks was extremely challenging for me. We didn't get to the very top. I heard thunder and felt droplets of rain, and decided to climb back down to avoid slipping on the rocks. The final push of about 200-feet involves climbing on loose gravel and granite rock that are covered with decomposed granite, one of the most insidiously slippery substances. These are some of the steepest and most treacherous climb, but if you make it to the top, you will be rewarded with a panoramic 360-degree views of Yosemite, including distant views of Half Dome and Tenaya Lake. The Mt. Hoffmann trail also includes some bonus views of May Lake. On the climb up, we saw a Marmot hanging out on a rock. He was a large, stout guy -- looking more like a house-cat than a squirrel. This guy probably weighs around 11 pounds. He was tame and quiet -- just holding on to the rock and allowed us to take pictures of him and even video-tape him. He must be used to humans scrambling up and down 'his' rock every day. On the way down, we moved to the side for horses to trot up the mountain. The poor horses were weighted down by heavy-looking camping gears. I hope they're well cared for and appreciated by humans who use their services. Along the way, stop and admire views of Clouds Rest and Half Dome. From afar, the distant mountains look majestic with a soft blue hue against the sky. We may attempt this hike again but I'll need to be better prepared for it. Source above: Wikipedia, Google

Yosemite Valley Tour (Tram) OUTSTANDING tour of Yosemite…read moreValley. Starts at Yosemite Lodge, tickets required but worth every penny. You ride in an open air trailer with audio description by a US Park Service Ranger. It was HOT and ice cold towels provided along with ice cold water made it a bit more bearable. Anthony was our driver and is THE MOST PROFESSIONAL DRIVER I have ever encountered in all my travels. Gentle starts and stops, constantly in motion at both our stops giving out water and extending and retracting the trailer's step for our use. Providing the audio portion of the tour was Ranger Emile. She's a real GEM! Her depth of information, humor and wit made the tour and grand event. She loves Yosemite and it shows! Equally as hard working at our two stops to make sure everyone stayed hydrated because of the excessive heat. [Note to her Mom, you did great raising her! Make sure she sees this review!] If you go to Yosemite, make time to go on this tour. You get more and better pictures than from your car and learn the history of the Park. One last thing, drive to Glacier Point. The view is awesome and worth the drive.

The staff member working this past weekend was knowledgeable about the area, fun to talk to, and…read morevery helpful with suggestions for places to go for whatever you wanted to see during your visit to the area. He had lots of interesting anecdotes and was, overall, very pleasant to converse with.

9/29/2022 Stopped to…read moretake a bathroom break... Always clean and friendly staff! I love all the cool merchandise... Today's purchases: Baseball hat, and shea butter for cuticles. Sales clerk was friendly and asked if we wanted to become members of the Mono Lake ? If you purchase $25 worth , $25 would go towards the Mono lake protection... Why not... of course! Now, this will be another must stop to support Mono lake! Also got a free dvd about Mono Lake...

Rainbow Falls is a must do if you're in the area! We also stopped at Devils Postpile, and it was…read moredefinitely worth seeing while you're there :) Make sure to bring plenty of water, wear comfortable shoes, and be ready for the hike down to the actual waterfall once you get to the top, you'll go down to the actual water. The hike back up is a bit of a workout, but it's 100% worth it. The views are beautiful! The water is chilly, but we got getting in. Such a fun experience, and one of our favorite stops on the trip!

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

Love this place!!! They have books, gifts, tshirts, and tons of cool stuff you never knew you…read morewanted. They have a ton of free info about Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierra. The people who work here are awesome as well!

Very pleasant stop at this wonderful bookstore and information center. The sales associate was very…read morefriendly and helpful. The book section offers many area authors, nonfiction books and a small selection of fiction and children's books. There is a beautiful assortment of jewelry, candles, souvenirs, and such. The information area has maps and local lake facts and details. There is curbside parking in front and a few local eateries nearby.