Plan a Year-End Retreat at The Epic A, Near Yosemite
The end of the year is when most groups finally have room on the calendar. Maybe it’s your team, ready to look back on the year and plan the next one. Maybe it’s the friends you keep saying you’ll get together with. Maybe it’s the whole family, all at once.
Here’s the catch near Yosemite: most options split a big group across hotel rooms or several rentals. The Epic A was built so you don’t have to.
Why The Epic A works for a year-end retreat
Everyone under one roof. The Epic A sleeps up to 24 guests with 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. Six bathrooms means mornings move a lot faster than you’d expect for a group this size.
Rooms that fit a mixed group. Four bedrooms have king beds: the Little A Master, the Loft Master and two entry-level bedrooms. Two dedicated bunk rooms hold the rest, one with five bunk beds and one with four. Give the kings to the couples, the grandparents or the people running the agenda, and let everyone else claim a bunk.
A kitchen made for big meals. The chef’s kitchen is set up for long group breakfasts before a Yosemite day and a proper sit-down dinner at night.
Built-in downtime. Movie night in the home theater, a ping pong tournament, and the fire chiminea and BBQ outside when the weather cooperates.
Room to work, if you need it. The listing’s amenity list includes Wi-Fi and a laptop-friendly workspace, so a morning planning session is easy to fit in. And after a cold day in the park, the hot tub and game room are waiting.
A lakefront setting. The Epic A is a double A-frame on the water inside the gated Pine Mountain Lake community in Groveland, near Highway 120, one of the main routes into Yosemite National Park. Its interiors are Wabi Sabi inspired, with warm natural materials and a relaxed mountain feel.
Who it’s a good fit for
- Small companies and teams. A year-end offsite where everyone stays in the same house, eats together and gets real time to talk.
- Friend groups. A year-end trip that doesn’t require five separate bookings.
- Families. Several households together for the holidays, with bunk rooms for the kids and cousins.
One honest note: the house rules don’t allow parties, and the home sleeps up to 24. Think long dinners, movie nights and planning sessions, not a big holiday bash. If you’re not sure your plans fit, call us and we’ll tell you straight.
A sample 3-day winter retreat
Day 1: Arrive and settle in
Check-in is at 4:00 PM. Sort out rooms before you arrive so nobody spends the first hour negotiating bunks. Cook a big first dinner together in the chef’s kitchen, then pick a movie for the home theater. Keep the first night easy.
Day 2: Yosemite Valley in winter
Get an early start toward Yosemite on Highway 120, which enters the park as the Big Oak Flat Road. The National Park Service says Yosemite Valley stays accessible by car all year, and winter is a quieter, snowier side of the park.
- Tunnel View and the Valley floor. Classic views, no long hike required. A walk through Cook’s Meadow is an easy group outing.
- Waterfalls. The Park Service notes some waterfalls are nearly always flowing at least a little in winter. Bridalveil Fall is a good bet.
- Ice skating at Curry Village. The outdoor rink sits below Half Dome and typically runs mid-November to mid-March, conditions permitting. The 2026 to 2027 opening date hasn’t been announced yet, so check travelyosemite.com before you go.
- Badger Pass, if there’s snow. From mid-December through early April, the Park Service plows the road to the Badger Pass Ski Area. Whether it’s open depends on snow, so treat it as a bonus, not the plan.
Head back to the lake for dinner and a quiet evening together.
Day 3: Slow morning, then Groveland
Take your time over breakfast. If your group has work to wrap up, this is the morning for a final session. Check-out is at 11:00 AM, or ask for a late check-out when you book direct, depending on availability. Stop in Groveland on your way out before heading home.
Short on time? Make it two days. Arrive on Day 1, do Yosemite on Day 2 and head home that evening.
Winter planning tips
- Carry tire chains. The Park Service says chains are often required on park roads in winter, and when they are, you must carry them and know how to use them, whatever you drive.
- Check road status the morning you go. Call 209/372-0200 (press 1, then 1) or check nps.gov/yose. Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road usually close sometime in November.
- Expect crowds at the holidays. The Park Service warns late December and early January can be very busy, with traffic and limited parking.
- Carpool. Pine Mountain Lake charges a $50 per-car entry fee, paid on arrival and not included in the rate. There’s on-site parking at the house, but no street parking inside Pine Mountain Lake.
- Add an experience. Our Experiences page lists guided Yosemite tours and options for private dining in the area.
Book direct with Epic Yosemite
When you book The Epic A directly with us instead of on Airbnb or VRBO, you save on their fees. You can also ask for early check-in or late check-out, depending on availability. That extra time can be your planning session or one more slow breakfast.
Check dates and book The Epic A, or call us at +1 (209) 266-2155 or email bookdirect@epicyosemite.com.
