little yosemite sunol with kidslittle yosemite sunol with kids

The paved path offers a flat walk from the shuttle stop. We mostly rode bikes to areas and then would leave them to do a little hike. Perfect weather to do this fairly exposed trail. They also teach about natural and cultural history to children that meet current State Science and Social Science Curriculum Standards during the school year. The trail itself is large and maintained. This is the middle ground between staying in a hotel or roughing it by pitching your own tent. TravelerTip: Even if you go in the summer months, book a heated tent cabin. Regardless of what is available during your visit, the one thing you MUST do is earn your junior ranger park badge. Visited the Sunol park and chose to visit the Little Yosemite Trail. There are several paid tours and excursions available in Yosemite. Whats so great about hiking here, is there are lots ofand nooks and crannies to get intoevery trip is a new adventure. Busy but plenty of parking. Do not give up hope though, we have been able to secure camping reservations several times both in the spring and summer months with diligently checking for cancellations and being flexible on the dates. Strongly advise starting counter clockwise! If you want to keep valuables in your bear locker, bring a lock from home to lock it. However, if you have more time at the park, my recommendation is to rent bikes and explore on your own for an even better experience and overview of the park. If you are determined to swim, please wear reef safe Sunscreen and no other lotions or oils. Definitely bring lots of water as it's mostly uncovered. The entire trail is about two miles but the best part is that we dont have to walk far to see the beauty that is Little Yosemite. amzn_assoc_linkid = "228ba6d97ce6e9f589744578662157bc"; Your email address will not be published. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. we love glamping too! Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge on Alameda Creek about two miles upstream from the Visitor Center. That said, the young kids were hot and a bit bored. 2023 East Bay Regional Park District.All Rights Reserved. Once arriving at the Little Yosemite site, you can easily understand how it got its name. The views of the water reflecting the surrounding area are just beautiful. For those of you wanting a little more luxury during your visit, check out the only 4 star hotel in the park, The Majestic Yosemite. So all the fun stuff was in the second half off the trial for me. Expect to take many breaks if you are walking with a child. Below are our top picks for things to do in Yosemite National Park with kids as well as options on where to stay and eat. Please note this is a fragile ecosystem and watershed. Daily articles and a weekend planner help you find whats fun and free when you need it. Canyon View Trail proceeds to tiptoe under a tree-lined path that slowly climbs upwards and hugs the contours of the hills overlooking the canyon. We went clockwise so the steep part was first and would recommend that. Check out the calendar for details on when it will run. Do venture off the trail to explore the creek. Follow the wooden path through the meadow and walk through the campground to the river. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. For the trailhead, look for the footbridge, or signs for Canyon View Trail. Definitely check it out if its still showing. No water at Little Yosemite, but cant really expect that in July. A lot of different trails you can choose. When I finally come to the States, Ill plug in as soon as possible. As a reminder, please do not feed the animals as cute as they are! I would start on canyon trail first next time and loop back through little Yosemite. They are open for lunch and dinner only. Naturalist staff at the Sunol Visitor Center welcome you to the park. Erosion is ugly and expensive to control. Little Yosemite is a big draw and worth it. NOTE: Glacier Point Road is still under construction through Fall 2023. During the summer season, there are often great family friendly shows held at the Curry Village Amphitheater. Dogs: Yes. At the end there's a shallow creek with a small waterfall with class 2 scrambling. Green and diverse terrain with a little bit of something for everyone -- exposed sunny hills, bay and oak covered trails, rocks to scramble on, creeks to jump through. Trust me, seeing this national treasure through your little ones eyes is a truly magical experience that you will not want to miss. Please do not short cut trails in steep areas or slide in the grass on hillsides or banks. Exploration will reveal sandstone outcrops with fossils deposited in what was once ancient seabed. There are a couple of gas stations inside Yosemite, but it is more than $1 more per gallon than you will pay outside the park. Breathtaking views of the Bay Area are your reward for making this climb to the top of Mission Peak. Little Yosemite is pretty underwhelming, and there were hundreds of people all trying to take nature selfies. Whether you have little ones who cant manage long hikes or teens ready for a challenge, there is something for everyone here. There are a few parking lots near the trailhead. There are occasional deer sightings, many ducks, and many g Get ready for one of the toughest, lung busting hikes in the east bay with over 6-miles and 4,000ft of climbing in one direction. So, we patiently waited for it to cross. Birding is superb along Alameda Creek with acorn woodpecker, black phoebe, titmouse, turkey vulture, and golden eagle commonly sighted. The canyon view portion is less traveled. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. 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. Take I-680 south and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of the Sunol exit. The Mist Trail is a beautiful hike with great views throughout. Not to worry - well be back again soon. Typically only guests of the hotel eat here, but it is nice to make a dinner reservation for something a little more upmarket! amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Luckily our friends happened to have their headlamps with them to guide them home safely. The family photo at the top of this post is from this viewpoint. For those of you not quite into the camping or glamping experience, you do have the option to stay in a lodge at theYosemite Valley Lodge. Come with me on the Little Yosemite Sunol Hike . Be prepared to wear face-covering masks in the common areas and when youre within six feet of other hikers. There are shuttles from Fresno to Yosemite, taking about 1.5 hours to the Southern Entrance at Wawona. This park feels more remote than some of the others in the East Bay. The only negative during high season was the line for restaurants. Gentle rise in elevation. This airport is often used by backpackers arriving to Yosemite for the John Muir Trail. Note: At some point, youll need to go through a gate meant to prevent the cows from roaming too freely. For those of you scared of camping, the tent cabins at Curry are not that rustic the only problem is walking to the bathrooms in the middle of the night. The paid version is a booklet filled with fun activities and exercises for your child to do before earning their badge. The payoff on this short, unassuming hike was wonderful and unexpected. High Valley Group Camp is closed until further notice. Another option would be to book all cabins under one reservation, so you can get them all together. There is NOswimming allowed in Alameda Creek and trespassing is prohibited on Water Department lands that are not accessible to the public. Whether you have little ones who cant manage long hikes or teens ready for a challenge, there is something for everyone here. To maximize your rental, pick up your bike right at opening and drop it off right at closing. I cant remember at this point if we had locks, but I feel like we didnt and it was fine. The Village Grill Deck is located in Yosemite Valley and is open only seasonally. (Permit(s) will be mailed within 3-5 business days). We visited in the winter, so the area was pretty much dry. Lots of ranger activities and events which adds to the experience. Parking was easy and not too crowded. Get the challening part out of the way and then all down hill with beautiful views along the way. We were there in the middle of summer and to be honest it wasnt that bad. Saw some friendly cows as well. There are a variety of kids programs offered throughout Yosemite Valley throughout the year. Flowers blooming everywhere. Either have a trail downloaded or stop by the Visitor Center for a physical map :) For a less populated hike with a steeper climb and excellent views in the same park, see our Flag Hill hike. There is a shuttle service that connects the key sites in the Valley (reopened as of December 2021), as parking is quite limited at many points of interest. East Bay Regional Park District Police say they've arrested the. Good view of Calaveras Reservoir. Little Yosemite is known for its waterfalls and rock scrambling and it's easy to get to. Beautiful, green, wild flower, picturesque hike. Even though we didnt think there was enough water to swim, there were plenty of families enjoying the small pools of water. Be warned that this hike has a large elevation change despite being less than 4 miles. Speaking of which there's a quarry close enough to see and hear that's taken down a hill face. 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. Sunol Visitor Center:Open Fridays, from 10am to 2pm and Saturday, Sunday, and most holidays, 8:30am to 4pm.Closed all other days including Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Tunnel View, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Falls all offer kid-friendly panoramas from paths accessible by strollers and easy hikes in Yosemite that provide all-star views in less than a mile round trip. Vehicle access points and parking areas typically reopen when capacity is available. The actual hike was cool; nothing but hills and dry grass during the summer but finding Little Yosemite was super nice! 5: 8am-7pmApr. Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge with waterfalls within an hour of Oakland. amzn_assoc_asins = "1721221999"; Tenaya Lake is a beautiful place to go for a day of exploration. Not busy ( Thursday hike). We did the anticlockwise direction instead of the recommended clockwise direction to avoid the steep ascent. Your email address will not be published. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 49 min to complete. Note: This is not on the shuttle bus route, so you must drive here. Nice markings. - Some cow poop on the side of the trail in certain parts We explore Sunol Regional Wilderness in California. Please abide by the boundary signs and do not trespass onto Water Department lands that are not part of the lease arrangement.Notice:Swimming isNOT allowedin Alameda Creek in the Little Yosemite area. Mariposa was so beautiful as well! It is wet and steep, so make sure you prepare for that. As options within the park are limited, be aware that lunch time crowds are heavy. If you need something a bit nicer than what is available in the village, head over to one of the hotels. It's a fun little hike where you get to climb down some rocks to the water. Water trough is also cool. Boring trail and scenery. Did the hike on 4/10. One of those places that youd love to see without the crowds right? Grassland, oak woodland. Went clockwise. You can also take a peek at the Sunol Herbarium, samples of over 600 plant specimens found in the park! See Trail Mileage for a description of selected hikes. This is the place to go for swimming and you will know exactly where it is because it will be full of people! Arriving early is key to avoid the sun and crowds in order to social distance. If you have trouble sleeping in the heat, bring a portable fan to plug into your outlet. Mountain lions are uncommon, but are occasionally sighted. not spray painting the rocks is common sense. As always, quality and prices arent quite what you might be used to outside of the park, but this is nature after all! A bike rental will cost around $30 per day. This is perfect for kids who are not used to long or strenuous hikes. The walk was pleasant, next to a stream. If you are planning a visit to Californias most iconic park, we have laid out all you need to know in order to have the best trip ever in Yosemite with kids. Wear good shoes especially after heavy rains. No water running thru the gorge though. It is open mainly for breakfast and lunch, but if you stop in before 6pm you can also grab an early dinner. Through this option, your child will also receive a button (for younger kids) or a patch. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. During the height of summer in Yosemite temperatures can soar up into the 100s. Little Yosemite is located in Sunol Regional Wilderness Park in Sunol, CA Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge on Alameda Creek about two miles upstream from park There are several places to stay throughout Yosemite Valley and the greater Yosemite National Park as well as outside the park. Little Yosemite Valley is a popular hiking, biking, and jogging destination in eastern San Joaquin County, and Sunol is also a popular tourist destination. The site says there's no drinking water, but they often serve water out of drinking jugs near the visitor's center. Have you been to Yosemite? This includes sunscreen, lotion, toothpaste, shampoo, all foods, coolers, water bottles, and in some cases even your childs car seat. Challenging yet super rewarding. If you want to recapture that feeling of adventure you got from sleepaway camp and share it with the whole family, we recommend Curry Village. When the water is flowing in the spring, Little Yosemite is a site to behold! that must have been exciting, but we could imagine very exhilarating!! The hike is gorgeous with its sweeping hillside. Want to report conditions for this trail? Still lonely on a cool morning. Please explore responsibly! Littles will particularly love the poop exhibit. If you plan to visit this waterfall, I highly recommend doing it on your way INTO the park as you arrive. It was a big hit with all of the kids. No one wants to fill up inside the park if it can be helped! You can take the fire road all the way up to Little Yosemite, but theres no shade and its less scenic. There was a snake (wasn't Rattler) on this section. Layers of clothes for all weather. It was fine, and this was as close as they could get us to one another. In an ideal world, if you can at least spend a week you will have time to visit most areas of the park, visit nature centers and take in a few ranger presentations too. Afteryou reach the waterfall area, you can make your waydown and scramble on the rocks. Ask for trail suggestions, learn about recent animal sightings, purchase an Ohlone Wilderness Trail permit, and meet our animal ambassadors a gopher snake, rattle snake, western toad, western pond turtle, and a tarantula. For our son, the Junior Park Ranger Program was a super hit. Some good views of the wildflowers! This fine dining restaurant is part of the 4 star hotel in Yosemite Valley. They are getting bolder and less fearful of humans as each season passes. The hike is a easy, short 3 mile loop on a gravel lined, semi-paved road. It is a bit hot in sections, but overall this is a great child friendly hike. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; The entire trail is about two miles but the best part is that we don't have to walk far to see the beauty that is Little Yosemite. Summer of course tends to be peak season to visit especially for families. For guests of Curry Village, show your room key for free admittance.

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