Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley is the heart of Yosemite National Park - its most inspiring and popular attraction. The Merced River, the meadows and forests that form its bottomlands, and the spectacular cliffs and waterfalls create one of the grandest natural settings that exist anywhere in the world.

Within this setting, which is both serene and exhilarating, the experience is different for everyone. Picnicking along the Merced River or reading in a flowered meadow is relaxing and calm; a Valley scenic tour or historic walk is inspirational and educational; and a three-day climb on El Capitan is exciting and challenging.

The one thing these experiences have in common is that they make people feel a part of the place. This feeling would be enhanced by freeing people from the perceptions of commercialization and urbanization. They must be able to relax, learn, and meet nature's challenges without the distractions that destroy the spectacular and friendly nature of the area.

While the National Park Service intends to remove all automobile traffic from the Valley, the immediate plan is to greatly reduce traffic there, by restricting automobile use to established capacities and encouraging visitors to leave their automobiles at parking areas with bus service to the Valley. Visitors who drive their automobiles to overnight accommodations or day parking areas in the Valley will use the Valley shuttle buses for transportation during their stay. Those employees who must commute to work will be encouraged to use carpools or buses, rather than private automobiles.

Other proposals for the Valley are designed to reduce impacts on the most significant natural resources and to return the Valley to as near its natural condition as possible. Facilities will be removed from the floodplain, the rockfall zone, and the riverbank. More open space will be created to allow for a more resource-oriented visitor experience. Congestion and conflicts between activities will be minimized by relocating nonessential functions out of the Valley and by separating commercial and interpretive areas wherever possible.

The primary interpretive themes in the Valley will be scenery and biotic systems and geology. A secondary but important emphasis will be given to man and Yosemite, activities and wilderness/conservation.

Interpretation in the Valley will provide a general overview of the entire park as well as in-depth treatment of each theme in the natural history museum, the museum of Man in Yosemite, and the Happy Isles nature center. Historic sites and structures will be used as exhibits, adding to the variety and richness of the interpretive experience, and personal contact between interpreters and visitors will be emphasized.

Summary of Major Changes Yosemite Valley

The proposal removes:
central warehousing, heavy maintenance, major park housing, administrative facilities, school, and all other nonessential building and functions

The proposal reduces:
space assigned to employee housing, offices, banking services, campsites, accommodations, clothing sales, gift shops, parking, auto movement, gas stations and personal services.

The proposal increases:
shuttle bus routes, bicycling opportunities, natural landscape, interpretive opportunities, scenic quality, air quality, facilities for special populations, and year-round use.