Project overview: Improve accessibility and infrastructure at three of the Valley’s six picnic areas to accommodate increasing visitation and address deteriorating picnic amenities, vault toilets, and accessibility features.

How your support helps: Picnic areas are woven into the Yosemite experience for nearly every visitor. Some use them as places to rest and reset before the next big hike or viewpoint. Others rely on them as an accessible way to enjoy time outside — gathering with family and friends to watch the light change over Half Dome or to see waterfowl frolic in the Merced River. And for many, picnic areas simply offer the perfect spot for a snack break, or a restroom stop surrounded by breathtaking scenery.   

The six picnic areas in Yosemite Valley — Cascades, Cathedral Beach, Church Bowl, El Capitan, Sentinel Beach, and Swinging Bridge — are long overdue for repairs and maintenance that match their popularity. These improvements include detailed strategies to redefine the space and upgrades to accessibility features and amenities. With your support, we can implement these plans quickly and efficiently to preserve the visitor experience at these sites and provide accessible picnic areas for all to enjoy. 

This year: In 2026 and 2027, park staff will begin phase 1 upgrades and maintenance at three of the Valley’s picnic areas.At each site, teams will update picnic amenities, accessibility features, and vault toilets as needed. The next project phase will tackle the park’s remaining three picnic areas. These key changes will ensure that all visitors can access welcoming, functional spaces that enrich everyday visitor experiences.

Project partner: Yosemite National Park