A few small things I don't give a full 5 stars which have everything to do with people and nothing to do with the place: LY is amazing but with it being small it can quickly feel crowded and I couldn't imagine what it's like on a weekend. Both will enable your child to earn a cool wooden Yosemite Junior Ranger badge. Hiked this place multiple times and it never fails to amaze me. Great loop. Date: 03/27 Under the East Bay Regional Park District's multi-use land management policy, cattle continue to graze in the 6,859-acre wilderness. While Yosemite National park actually encompasses a large area, most visitors to the park spend most of their time in Yosemite Valley. Overflow options include one lot across the street and another by the Visitor Center. This is a moderate hike that provides a nice workout so be prepared. We saw large sequoias, walked through a tree and ran around through shady groves of trees. Other than that, this trail is lovely and may need to be closed to give it some time to recover human interference. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Looking to stay connected with work or family back home while in Yosemite?Forget it! - no parking fee for our visit. Another option would be to book all cabins under one reservation, so you can get them all together. Excellent views of the park, Calaveras Reservoir and south bay area. Its nicely shaded in this area so even on a hot day you will find relief. It is located in Northern California in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Expect to take many breaks if you are walking with a child. Technically, the closest airport is in Fresno, known as the Fresno-Yosemite Airport (FAT). It is free and geared for the whole family. Outdoor supplies such as binoculars, bird guides, animal track books, etc, Collapsible wagon to carry your bags to/from your tent. 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. 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. Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge with waterfalls within an hour of Oakland. Or was the bike ride the activity for the day? can do them. As soon as you pass through the Wawona Tunnel, take the first left into the parking lot. There are two other entrances less commonly used, unless you are heading to the more remote sections of the park. Nice markings. I am definitely thinking about planning a trip now! A bike with a child trailer is $60 per day. When you get past the entrance, youll want to goall the way to the backside of the park. A family trip to Yosemite National Park is the quintessential American summer holiday. Our dog, Gus, is usually off his leash after the bridge. If you stay in Curry Village like us, you will need to bring less than camping, but more than a traditional hotel stay. Located only 35 mins away from North San Jose, Sunol is every nature lovers dream! I highly suggest you to take the longer trail along the creek. Heavy rain. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. It hugs the Alameda Creek for the duration of the hike, but won't miss views of the stunning canyon filled with blue and valley oaks. We mostly rode bikes to areas and then would leave them to do a little hike. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Note, they are also magical without kids too! If you are car camping, then you will need to bring a lot more than if you are staying in the lodge or even one of the hotels. Deep within the hills of the Sunol Regional Wilderness lies one of the East Bay's best-kept secrets: Little Yosemite. This would be amazing for older children though. Love that the park is dog friendly. Impatient visitors will quickly see how this trail earned its name as it is filled with beautiful marshes, waterfalls, and wading areas nestled between rocks. Wear good shoes especially after heavy rains. There are a few parking lots near the trailhead. Give us a call at 1-888-YOSEMITE ( 1-888-967-3648) to learn about our rentals and to make your Yosemite reservations today. Little strenuous in the beginning, rest it was beautiful hike with Little Yosemite on the trail. Youll come up on a little resting area with a pond of water that Gus usually loves to swim and play catch in. 5: 8am-7pmApr. Through this option, your child will also receive a button (for younger kids) or a patch. 44 4K views 2 years ago Little Yosemite is a secret swimming hole in Sunol Wilderness. We explore Sunol Regional Wilderness in California. 9Sep. Inquire at entry kiosk or visitor center. It takes quite a while to get here up winding roads, so we recommend doing it on your way in/out of the park. While most visitors do not fly directly to California for Yosemite, if you are, the best airport to consider is in the Bay Area. Do venture off the trail to explore the creek. However, be extremely careful of high rapids and fast moving water. Very sunny, with only the occasional shade, but the vistas are incredible. Bring plenty of water and wear sunscreen as it can get hot here. Definitely make a visit there! Exploring Yosemite with kids while camping (or glamping as it is for us! Guided horse rides are also available through Western Trail Riding Services. Leads through Jacob's Valley to Little Yosemite. Mostly uphill for the first half but not very steep. Last hiked 12/31/20 It is only partially shaded, so it can get hot in the middle of the day. First 1.5 mile was steep and narrow, last part of the hike was east and gradual. Couple of fallen trees blocking the path that needs circumventing. Thanks so much to Mishi B, author of Hey Carter! Watch out for the Canyon View trail A large portion of trail is only about 1,5-2ft wide path that runs very close to steep dropoffs. amzn_assoc_linkid = "228ba6d97ce6e9f589744578662157bc"; Your email address will not be published. There are limited dining options in Sunol, but the park is near both Fremont and Pleasanton which have plenty more. You will see people playing in the rivers all along the park. Will start counterclockwise next time. A little muddy at some parts but doable. Start early so that you get to park. Tenaya Lake is a beautiful place to go for a day of exploration. We like to stretch just afterthe gate and the kids join in too. 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. Thanks! Other notes: View of the park, Alameda Creek watershed and Calaveras Reservoir. one day i will travel around the USA with my kids! It takes way too long to get in/out of the park each day which is a hassle, not to mention how you could be using that time better by exploring the nooks and crannies of the park. The canyon view portion is less traveled. Be careful not to step into any cow pies! Fill up before you get inside the park, even if you have half a tank. Gorgeous canyon views. The National Park website for Yosemite has up to date calendar information for all interpretive programs available each year. Be prepared to wear face-covering masks in the common areas and when youre within six feet of other hikers. Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve charges a fee to enter seasonally and on weekends and holidays. 3-Day Yosemite Camping Adventure from San Francisco 65 Adventure Tours from $629.00 per adult San Francisco Bay Air Tour 16 Recommended Adventure Tours from $195.00 per adult The area Full view Best nearby Attractions 15 within 6 miles Mission Peak Regional Preserve 212 Nature & Wildlife Areas Old Mission San Jose 93 Missions Ed Levin County Park Saw some friendly cows as well. 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. We loved Yosemite! Still bone dry despite the rains. Want to report conditions for this trail? Clear skies. Yosemite is open in winter as well, although not as many trails are available for family hiking. But you won't need them for the second half/return part. Park map downloaded from East Bay Regional Park District. We recommend visiting in the shoulder seasons if possible as the weather is moderate and crowds are less. This is one of the most beautiful regions of the park, with some amazing panoramic views best experienced under soft morning light when crowds are few. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. ), 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. Just beware of poison oak. Even within Curry Village there are several options. Seasonal Note: Like many East Bay parks, Sunol Wilderness can be extremely hot and . Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge with waterfalls within an hour of Oakland. The hike is gorgeous with its sweeping hillside. We didnt make it to Tioga Pass area so thats our next adventure there! 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. 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. Note, as mentioned previously, Tioga Road is closed in winter (usually some time in November until May or June depending on seasonal snowfall. In the spring, the green hills are so beautiful. View allnaturalist-led programs. Great point about booking early! Get the challening part out of the way and then all down hill with beautiful views along the way. Find out about parking, restrictions, and conditions on the Website >>. General Information on Yosemite National Park, Technically, the closest airport is in Fresno, known as the Fresno-Yosemite Airport (FAT). - also saw some cows and turkeys on the trail. Depending on how much you have already done or are planning for the day, you can continue hiking to the top of Lower Falls which is 2 miles in/out. Camping at designated campsites along the Ohlone Wilderness Trail is allowed by advance reservation only (5 business days), and separate arrangements should be made by phoning 1-888-EBPARKS or1-888-327-2757, press option 2. Little Yosemite as a name for this trail sets the wrong expectations IMHO. Today, camping, picnicking, hiking and back-packing attract thousands of park visitors a year. - Not too much water this time but you can see many little trickles in different part of rocks It is an easy trail for most kids, but it is not stroller friendly as its rocky along the way. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 31 min to complete. you have to even put the child seat in the bear locker? SFBAC LITTLE YOSEMITE TRAIL TREKKERS Hike Statistics Starting point: Visitor center/Parking lot Distance: 4.5 Time: Allow about 3 hours Grade: Easy to Moderate Suggested age: Tigers through Webelos Suggested Season: Fall, spring, summer. Little Yosemite Valley is a popular hiking, biking, and jogging destination in eastern San Joaquin County, and Sunol is also a popular tourist destination. Nov. 1-Mar. But really just forget about it and enjoy the outdoors. Mariposa was so beautiful as well! With one of our cozy cabins, condominiums, or homes, your Yosemite accommodations will be just minutes from the all the fun-filled things to do in Yosemite with kids, as well as hikes and other activities. Oak woodland and grassland communities; fossiliferous sandstone outcrops. It's a short 2 miles upstream from the visitors center and is open 8am to dusk all year long. The hike . Definitely bring lots of water as it's mostly uncovered. Our general list of what you should bring: For more ideas, download our Yosemitepacking list. 2950 Peralta Oaks Court,Oakland, CA 946051-888-EBPARKS,1-888-327-2757(Deaf or Hearing Impaired, use the TRS at 711). We found that poles helped, especially in the area where the 2 trails meet to form a loop. Wild flowers were blooming.Water was flowing and sun was shining. Proceed as noted above. Those tent cabins look AWESOME!! Nonetheless, we promise that these gifts left behind by our cow friends wont interfere with your overall enjoyment of the park. This small deli in Yosemite Valley offers sandwiches, salads and pizzas for eating here or take-away. It offers a nice break from the city streets and can be enjoyed by walkers, joggers, and bikers alike. You'll see a long brown bridge. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. To maximize your rental, pick up your bike right at opening and drop it off right at closing. It is a bit hot in sections, but overall this is a great child friendly hike. The rocks are big and can be tricky to navigate. Dogs: Yes. Click to enlarge. Everything's green. This vista point has views of the whole valley, including both El Capitan and Half Dome, and is a must-see for all ages. If youstart to hear the roaring of the waterfalls its agood sign youre close or very near. Waterfall running wild, beauty growing powerful. worth it when the hills are green! there are do not swim signs for a reason. There are a multitude of places to wander around near here and begin exploring Yosemite. Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge on Alameda Creek about two miles upstream from the Visitor Center. The next stage continues uphill, culminating in stairs (that get very wet and slippery the higher you go) cut into the path. Camp Reusable: Smelly Proof Storage Bags Review, Veyo Kids Noggins Sun Hat & Sun Hoodie Review, Lakeside Camping at Devils Fork State Park. Summer is beautiful, but it can get quite hot in July and August. This is a protected watershed with endangered species of frogs. 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. The creek/falls itself are accessible by car and that means visitors that aren't accustomed to leave-no-trace ethics. Good parking and its moderate. Please keep the park beautiful by cleaning up after your dog! Even with little walking, we learned quite a bit we chewed on a pine leaf that tastes like lemon, we learned how to call a bird, found raspberry and gooseberries along the paths and saw bear scratchings on trees. One of the easiest walks in the park is here at Lower Yosemite Falls. Started the hike around 5:30 in the evening and saw ten spiders. The actual trail starts about 0.3 miles from the first entry gate. The initial section of the road is gravely and bland, and you can go down to see the small waterfall. Will see the other side and how far Ill go from this direction. Thanks! Park is finally open after all the rain recently. Youll also pass by some cows and calves grazing peacefully. From the trailhead, it takes an easy walk of only 0.9 of a mile to reach it, a 1.8-mile round trip. Such a beautiful hike! It is a park for all ages. Still lonely on a cool morning. This is a kid and dog friendly hike and we did see a lot of families here. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 50 min to complete. To find out more about our Privacy Policy, please clickhere. As many as 20 to 40 bird species are often seen in a single morning. There has been ongoing construction on a nearby dam, which can be seen a bit during the hike. If you plan to visit this waterfall, I highly recommend doing it on your way INTO the park as you arrive. The trail is beautiful and perfect for kids of all ages. Box 5381, Oakland, CA 94605-0381. 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. Books. 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. 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. We can either hike up to the waterfalls near the stream or use the dirt trail. Keep this in mind while packing and separate all of these things into their own bag for ease of packing up the bear locker every day. Being located outside of the Yosemite Valley means not as many visitors, but it is still worth the effort. This is a nice hotel with all the amenities you will need. It's a short 2 miles upstream from the visitors center and is open 8am to dusk all year long. (Have you seen Free Solo? 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Give it some time to recover human interference to make your Yosemite today! Places to wander around near here and begin exploring Yosemite high rapids and fast water! Beautiful place to go for a reason general information on Yosemite National park website for has... Maps for offline use only 35 mins away from North San Jose, Sunol Wilderness be! Camping on the website > > vistas are incredible with a child trailer is $ 60 day! A button ( for younger kids ) or a patch option would be to book all cabins one! Sunny, with only the occasional shade, but it is still worth the effort ) to learn little yosemite sunol with kids. The Visitor Center a button ( for younger kids ) or a.... Back home while in Yosemite Valley offers sandwiches, salads and pizzas for eating here or take-away, your to. Offers sandwiches, salads and pizzas for eating here or take-away through Western trail Riding.! A kid and dog friendly hike and we did see a long brown bridge you plan to visit this,. ) to learn about our rentals and to make your Yosemite reservations today general on! Signs for a reason 1.5 mile was steep and narrow, last part of the park is near both and., technically, the green hills are so beautiful with waterfalls within an hour of Oakland these left! Have to even put the child seat in the beginning, rest was... To wander around near here and begin exploring Yosemite with kids while camping ( or glamping as is!
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