Picnic areas are available throughout Yosemite on a first-come, first-served basis (reservations are not available) from dawn to dusk.Unless otherwise noted, all picnic areas in Yosemite have picnic tables, vault toilets, and trash and recycling receptacles.
Grills: All picnic areas have grills except Lower Yosemite Fall, Yosemite Creek, and Lembert Dome.
Potable water: Picnic areas do not have potable water, except Lower Yosemite Fall and Church Bowl (which have both potable water and flush toilets).
Accessibility: Except when otherwise noted, picnic areas have some picnic tables with extended tops, accessible restrooms or vault toilets, and (if grills are available) accessible grills.
Wawona
- Mariposa Grove Road (limited to vehicles displaying a disability placard; not wheelchair accessible)
- Yosemite History Center (across from the Wawona Store)
- South of Wawona Campground
Yosemite Valley
- The Cascades
- Cathedral Beach (not wheelchair accessible)
- Sentinel Beach
- Swinging Bridge
- Church Bowl (potable water)
- Lower Yosemite Fall (potable water; no grills)
- El Capitan
Tioga Road and Tuolumne Meadows
- Yosemite Creek (no grills; not wheelchair accessible)
- Tenaya Lake
- Lembert Dome (no grills)
Keep Wildlife Wild
Yosemite is home to black bears, mule deer, mountain lions, and hundreds of other species. Bears are quick learners, have a powerful sense of smell, and seek out food where it can easily be found. If a bear obtains human food, it may learn to return for more.
For your safety and that of wildlife:
- Keep your distance from animals, even if they approach you.
- Never feed wild animals.
- Dispose of trash in bear-proof trash cans or dumpsters.
- While enjoying your picnic, keep your food, trash, and other scented items within arm’s reach.
- If a bear approaches, yell as loudly as possible to scare the bear away.
