Planning for your family reunion in yosemite national park California? Here are the top places and destinations to include in your things to do in yosemite national park California
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Yosemite Valley (Yosemite National Park)
Experience the heart of Yosemite with iconic landmarks including Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls accessible via scenic drives and easy walking paths. The valley offers visitor centers, museums, and educational programs suitable for all ages and mobility levels. Perfect for multi-generational families, the valley provides shuttle services, accessible viewpoints, and facilities for group gatherings. The area includes picnic areas, restrooms, and numerous photo opportunities showcasing Yosemite's most famous geological features.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
Park entry is $35 per vehicle valid for 7 days and day-use reservations at $2 per vehicle are required from April through October during peak season. The Valley shuttle is free and ADA accessible with wheelchair ramps on all buses running every 10 to 20 minutes between 22 stops. Day-use parking lots at Yosemite Village hold 450 cars and fill by 9 AM on summer weekends so enter the park before 8 AM or use the YARTS bus from Merced for $13 each way.
Website: nps.gov/yose
Mariposa Grove (Yosemite National Park)
Walk among ancient giant sequoias including the famous Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Tree in this restored grove featuring accessible boardwalks and interpretive trails. The grove offers educational programs, guided tours, and opportunities to learn about these magnificent trees that can live over 3,000 years. Perfect for families seeking natural wonders, the grove provides peaceful walking paths, rest areas, and connections to longer hiking trails. The area includes visitor facilities and seasonal ranger programs about sequoia ecology and conservation.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
Access is included with park entry and a free shuttle runs from the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza every 10 minutes as private vehicles cannot park at the grove trailhead. The Big Trees Loop Trail is a paved 0.3-mile ADA-accessible path to the Fallen Monarch and Grizzly Giant sequoias with benches along the route. Arrive before 10 AM as the Welcome Plaza lot fills by mid-morning on summer weekends and the shuttle line can exceed 45 minutes by noon.
Website: nps.gov/yose
Glacier Point (Yosemite National Park)
Enjoy panoramic views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and the High Sierra from this spectacular overlook accessible by car during summer months. Glacier Point offers some of the most photographed vistas in the park with interpretive exhibits and educational displays about Yosemite's geology. Perfect for families wanting dramatic scenery, the viewpoint provides accessible viewing areas, restrooms, and gift shop facilities. The location offers sunset and sunrise viewing opportunities along with ranger programs about the park's natural and cultural history.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
Access is free with park entry and the parking lot at the summit holds about 300 cars but fills by 10 AM on summer weekends from June through October. The viewpoint overlook is ADA accessible via a short paved path from the parking lot with an accessible restroom and interpretive panels at wheelchair height. Glacier Point Road closes from approximately November through May due to snow and the 32-mile drive from the Valley takes about 1 hour each way on winding mountain roads.
Website: nps.gov/yose
Yosemite Museum and Indian Village (Yosemite National Park)
Learn about Yosemite's cultural history and the Ahwahneechee people through exhibits, demonstrations, and a reconstructed Native American village. The museum offers educational programs, artifact displays, and opportunities to understand the human history of Yosemite Valley. Perfect for families interested in cultural heritage, the facility provides interactive exhibits, seasonal demonstrations of traditional crafts, and ranger-led programs. The village includes authentic structures and interpretive trails explaining indigenous life in Yosemite.
SCOUT LOGISTICS
The museum and reconstructed Ahwahnee Village are free to visit and open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM with no reservation required. The museum building and village path are ADA accessible with level paved surfaces and the museum offers free guided cultural walks at 1 PM on weekdays for groups up to 25 people. Park in Yosemite Village lot and walk 3 minutes or take the free Valley shuttle to stop 5 which drops you directly at the museum entrance.
Website: nps.gov/yose
Ken O.
Founder of AmazingReunion and veteran reunion organizer who has coordinated 50+ family gatherings across the US.