There are several paid tours and excursions available in Yosemite. Today, camping, picnicking, hiking and back-packing attract thousands of park visitors a year. Packed with drop-in classes, free storytimes, and seasonal festivals, our events calendar will help you plan your weekend and your summer vacation. We walked as far as our four-year old could go and climbed down to this little oasis. Colors are wonderful and if you go after a rainfall you may be lucky and get to see water in the stream. To find out more about our Privacy Policy, please clickhere. Continue hiking on the trail left of the streams. Other than that, this trail is lovely and may need to be closed to give it some time to recover human interference. Can we chat re: freelance blogging opportunities we have? Little Yosemite holds a lot of promise in its name, and its certainly one of the main attractions of the park, but its best viewed in the spring or early summer if you want to see some running water. 2023 East Bay Regional Park District.All Rights Reserved. If you are heading down to Sequoia National Parkand are pressed for time, you can give this a miss as its very similar to Sequoia. Reservations are not required if you have a campground or hotel reservation or backpacking permit. No water at Little Yosemite, but cant really expect that in July. Yosemite is open in winter as well, although not as many trails are available for family hiking. There are camping options available as well. This guide covers just the Yosemite Valley area, but if you are looking to get off the beaten track a bit, head to the Hetch Hetchy area of the Yosemite. I think it's a better option because the start of the hike is on gravely road and in the return section of the loop, there are beautiful views of green fields and lush mountains. This park feels more remote than some of the others in the East Bay. Gorgeous in an overcast late afternoon into the evening. Fees: $5 per car + $2 per dog (free for service dogs), Trailhead: Across the footbridge at Canyon View Trailhead. The Happy Isles Nature Center is a great place to visit in Yosemite for people with younger kids. View allnaturalist-led programs. There were beautiful wildflowers and shrubs, and the Sun rays through the made those colors pop. Erosion is ugly and expensive to control. Good for hiking and picnicking.. here is our shots Follow Mishi B. on instagram as @MelaninMommy. The only issue encountered is on the way back, we couldn't find the last leg back to the starting pt (near the 2nd last waypt "beautiful trees etc" and took a left wide downhill path which turned out to be the connector to the other leg of the loop. More Info: East Bay Parks Website. Beautiful weather, lots of birds around. It connects to MIssion Peak park and to del Valle (may need a permit). Lol There isno public transitto Sunol Regional Park. It is permissible for them to roam off-leash on the majority . This vista point has views of the whole valley, including both El Capitan and Half Dome, and is a must-see for all ages. They are getting bolder and less fearful of humans as each season passes. Heavy rain. Wherever you stay, just make sure to stay within the park itself. Follow the wooden path through the meadow and walk through the campground to the river. Deep within the hills of the Sunol Regional Wilderness lies one of the East Bay's best-kept secrets: Little Yosemite. Note, they are also magical without kids too! One of our favorite places to play and explore was the area just across from Curry Village. Easy and nice hike! It is $35 to enter Yosemite by vehicle. Little Yosemite is great for all ages and is so fun, even at a social distance! There are a lot of washrooms near the car parking. When I finally come to the States, Ill plug in as soon as possible. The payoff on this short, unassuming hike was wonderful and unexpected. It might come with electricity including a power outlet to plug your phone into. Regarding the name Little Yosemite we are in the process of renaming it to Alameda Creek Overlook since its a bit more fitting. If you need something a bit nicer than what is available in the village, head over to one of the hotels. I brought a garbage bag and carried out about 15 water bottles, trash, 6 pieces of clothing, a baby towel and a soccer ball out of the creek only within a hundred foot span. No one wants to fill up inside the park if it can be helped! Little Yosemite is a big draw and worth it. We have heard that the stargazing program is great, but it was a bit late for our young children. If you go with a group, make sure to let the reservations desk know when you book your cabins that you are traveling together and would like tent cabins near to one another. Add another 1 hour to reach Yosemite Valley. Ground squirrels, yellow-billed magpies and red-tailed hawks share this wilderness with raccoons, skunks and black-tailed deer. It was quite informative for the adults and gave us a good overview of the valley. Cant wait to go back and try them myself. Learn how your comment data is processed. Wild flowers were blooming.Water was flowing and sun was shining. For the past century, however, the land known today as Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve was used almost exclusively as ranch land. Not really impressed with this trail. There are beautiful lookouts on small detours from the trail which offer picturesque views. Other attractions include volleyball nets, multiple playgrounds, and aqua adventure park, geese, and peddle boats. Get a bit of fresh air and some epic views with a family bike ride around Yosemite Valley. A wooden bridge leads over Alameda Creek and to the right youll find Canyon View Trail, which will take you to the falls. For our son, the Junior Park Ranger Program was a super hit. Yosemite! It is a 3 mile hike there and back. It is located in Northern California in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. However, there are a decent number of less crowded trails in the area with some decent elevation gain. However.. If you plan to visit this waterfall, I highly recommend doing it on your way INTO the park as you arrive. Expect to take many breaks if you are walking with a child. A family trip to Yosemite National Park is the quintessential American summer holiday. It's like . The perfect place to bask in Mother Nature's finest offerings on a weekend morning. Little Yosemite is a gorge in the Sunol-Ohlone Wilderness in the East Bay hills. A good hike for some kids. Mountain lions are uncommon, but are occasionally sighted. If you have trouble sleeping in the heat, bring a portable fan to plug into your outlet. - Fun place to explore different nooks and crannies. Parking is located just beyond the fee station at the end of Geary Road. Definitely a chill spot. Little Yosemite is a hidden gem located in the Sierra National Forest. One of the first hikes I went on. Note: Tioga Pass is closed in the winter. Parking: $5/seasonal, weekends and holidays. Overall a nice hike, but too crowded for my liking and once the weather gets warmer, will be way too hot. Beautiful, green, wild flower, picturesque hike. There is one place in Curry Village (at the lodge, across from the dining area) that you can get internet access, but you need to go early in the morning or in middle of the day to get on. Download map ahead of time. If not, go watch it. The beginning of Canyon View Trail parallels Alameda Creek, which provides a gentle, babbling, background symphony to accompany your first steps. This is a popular park, fit for families and Fido. Your trip sounded great. For guests of Curry Village, show your room key for free admittance. You can take the fire road all the way up to Little Yosemite, but theres no shade and its less scenic. In the shoulder season there is a night prowl walk that sounds so amazing for kids to explore the animals who come out after dark. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 50 min to complete. Strongly advise starting counter clockwise! The Mist Trail to Vernal Falls is not a hike most small kids can do, but our determined toddler managed it just fine! This fine dining restaurant is part of the 4 star hotel in Yosemite Valley. That said, it is also common for there to be little snow even in February, making a winter trip quite pleasant. Youre entire post sounds like exactly how my family would love to explore Yosemite. After the canyon, the trail evens out and youll hear the falls from Little Yosemite. Naturalist staff at the Sunol Visitor Center welcome you to the park. They are open for lunch and dinner only. Even within Curry Village there are several options. From this hike, you will get greatviews of Half Dome reflected in the Merced River. From the trailhead, it takes an easy walk of only 0.9 of a mile to reach it, a 1.8-mile round trip. Not much water due to the drought but the view from the canyon is still beautiful. All of this is pretty great even without kids! Lots of quail out. Thanks so much to Mishi B, author of Hey Carter! one day i will travel around the USA with my kids! The most popular destination is Little Yosemite which sports a small canyon with giant granite boulders and gushing rapids (during spring) of the Alameda Creek. There is no guarantee, but they will try to group you close. They also teach about natural and cultural history to children that meet current State Science and Social Science Curriculum Standards during the school year. Will come back. Note: This is not on the shuttle bus route, so you must drive here. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. ), splashing through rivers, and spying out some of the best natural scenes in the US is one of the best trips you can do with your family. The walk was pleasant, next to a stream. Great boulders of greenstone, schist and metachert indicate a turbulent past. Perfect spring hike. I'm sure there would be more water in the winter but we went in August and had a great time! The water was nice and cold to our hot and tired feet. We went clockwise so the steep part was first and would recommend that. Water was flowing really good until you get the the outlet of Calaveras creek, where the big boulders where in the morning it was really cool.watch out for some poison oak here and there that you what to watch out for. Started clockwise from visitors center. Hours: 8AM-5PM (winter) 8AM-7PM (and later depending on month) Dogs: $2 fee. Still lonely on a cool morning. Go early or plan to be there for a while! Grassland, oak woodland. It was fabulous. If you return the bikes right away the next morning you most likely wont get charged extra. However, it actually is a safe hike for families as long as you use common sense and keep kiddos (and yourself) from the edges. It features gorgeous waterfall and jaw dropping vie. Camping is by advance reservation only (5 business days); phone 1-888-EBPARKS or1-888-327-2757press option 2, orvisit the Camping pagefor details. (Big kids will love to take part, too!) Those include an entrance into the Hetch Hetchy Valley on the northwest end of the park as well as the eastern entrance off Highway 395 near Lee Vining at Tioga Pass. Guided horse rides are also available through Western Trail Riding Services. It's a short 2 miles upstream from the visitors center and is open 8am to dusk all year long. Again, wait times can be long during high season and meal times. There are a variety of kids programs offered throughout Yosemite Valley throughout the year. Great point about booking early! This is a great post! It is only partially shaded, so it can get hot in the middle of the day. There are picnic sites available on a first come, first served basis. There was a snake (wasn't Rattler) on this section. Luckily Yosemite has various spots to enjoy cooling down. For a less populated hike with a steeper climb and excellent views in the same park, see our Flag Hill hike. Another option would be to book all cabins under one reservation, so you can get them all together. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. There are camping options available as well. Little Yosemite The best way to get to the jumble of huge boulders and waterfalls on Alameda Creek that constitutes Little Yosemite is to turn right on Camp Ohlone Road a short distance.. For general information about the Ohlone Wilderness, phone 1-888-EBPARKS option 3 x4559. Other notes: Gates are locked at night so campers must arrive before dusk. Follow the main road/trail then go down towards the water. This is a nice hotel with all the amenities you will need. Make pre-arranged plans with one another rather than relying on phones. Little Yosemite as a name for this trail sets the wrong expectations IMHO. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Your email address will not be published. Coast live oaks abound along with valley and blue oak, elderberry, madrone and gray pine. Important to remember, especially at national parks. Snow can start as early as October or November in parts of Yosemite and remain into well into the spring. I've done this hike 4 times already :). I recommend spending a morning in this area if you have time. Pulling a kid (or two) behind you in a trailer makes the ride a little more difficult, but does not take away the fun and freedom you have of exploring off the roads and away from the crowdsa bit more. 30: 8am-8pmOct. The trail is called Camp Ohlone Road and theres not a lot of shade so bring water and hats! Narrow and exposed paths. Oak woodland and grassland communities; fossiliferous sandstone outcrops. This is devastating to the environment. Steady incline, no steep climb, wide (gravel) walkways. For many of the trails we didnt notice huge crowds. Yes. If so, check out our in-depth guides for some of the other amazing parks in the state.