Passes & Permits You Can Get in Advance
American parks and monuments are some of the biggest travel bargains in the world. If you plan to visit a number of national parks and monuments within a year, an America the Beautiful -- National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, which costs $80, will save you some money. The passes are good at all properties under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, as well as sites administered by the Bureau of Land Management, National Forest Service, or other federal or state agencies. The passes provide free entrance for the pass holder and all vehicle occupants to National Park Service and other federal properties that charge vehicle entrance fees, and they also provide free entrance to the pass holder, spouse, parents, and children for those National Park Service Properties that charge per-person fees. The passes can be purchased at park entrance stations and visitor centers, or online at http://store.usgs.gov/pass.
Also available at Park Service properties, as well as other federal recreation sites that charge entrance fees, is the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass, for those 62 and older, which has a one-time fee of $10 and provides free admission to all national parks and monuments, plus a 50% discount on camping fees and other "expanded amenities." The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass, free for blind or permanently disabled U.S. citizens, has the same benefits as the Golden Age Passport, and is available at all federal recreation sites that charge entrance fees.
You'll need a backcountry permit to camp overnight in the wilderness sections of these parks Permits cost $5 per person in Yosemite; it's a good idea to reserve one in advance during the high season. For permits in Yosemite, call tel. 209/372-0740 or stop by any Wilderness Permit Station. Information is also available online at www.nps.gov/yose for Yosemite.
Elsewhere in the parks, the usual permits and regulations apply. All anglers over 16 must have valid California fishing licenses.
Visitor Centers & Information
In the park, the biggest visitor center is the Valley Visitor Center in Yosemite Village (tel. 209/372-0200), which provides all sorts of information, offers daily ranger programs, and is conveniently located near restaurants and shopping. You can talk with park rangers about your plans for exploring the park, and bulletin boards display information on current road conditions and campsite availability; they also serve as a message board for visitors. There are several exhibits on the park, its geologic history, and the history of the valley. This center provides information on bears and also has information on the impact that humans have on the park. A shop sells maps, books, videos, postcards, posters, and the like. Nearby is the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center, with high-country maps, information on necessary hiking and camping equipment, trail information, and a ranger on hand to answer questions, issue permits, and offer advice about the high country. Information is also available at the Wawona Information Station and the Big Oak Flat Information Center. In the high country, stop in at the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center (tel. 209/372-0263, although it's always best to call 209/372-0200 in summer). Questions about visitor-related services, including tours and accommodations, can be answered at tel. 209/372-1000.
