amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your This is also the closest you can get to Half Dome without actually hiking it. Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge with waterfalls within an hour of Oakland. We aim to inspire families to explore where and when they can even if its in their own city! This kid-friendly hiking trail is a must see in the Bay Area. Note that full-on swimming is NOT allowed in Alameda Creek in the Little Yosemite area. Follow the wooden path through the meadow and walk through the campground to the river. Please note this is a fragile ecosystem and watershed. However, be extremely careful of high rapids and fast moving water. This is very important, as the tent cabins are spread out over a large area. The Mist Trail is a beautiful hike with great views throughout. A miniature version of Yosemite awaits you at the end of this trail, complete with creeks, boulders, and mini waterfalls (seasonally dependent). It was exhilarating to see one up close and in its own habitat. The loop is shared by dog walkers, trail runners, hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. This is devastating to the environment. Best to come in winter as there is not a lot of shade. Imagine being an eager young naturalist sent off to the park for a week's summer session. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. This is a popular park, fit for families and Fido. 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. Better yet, bring your own bikes! Both will enable your child to earn a cool wooden Yosemite Junior Ranger badge. Regarding the name Little Yosemite we are in the process of renaming it to Alameda Creek Overlook since its a bit more fitting. You can hike up about 4 miles from the Valley to this viewpoint if you want to spend more time here. In the spring, the green hills are so beautiful. Lots of ranger activities and events which adds to the experience. Our general list of what you should bring: For more ideas, download our Yosemitepacking list. Today, camping, picnicking, hiking and back-packing attract thousands of park visitors a year. This would be amazing for older children though. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. (Have you seen Free Solo? To find out more about our Privacy Policy, please clickhere. 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. Very buce hike with some shading. Without a bike, it is a 1 mile walk from Curry Village under a heavy canopy of trees, making it an easy breezy walk. For general information about the Ohlone Wilderness, phone 1-888-EBPARKS option 3 x4559. It is free and geared for the whole family. The rocks are big and can be tricky to navigate. Bring snacks and lots of water. Add another 1 hour to reach Yosemite Valley. 30: 8am-8pmOct. The trail narrows after the McCorkle Trail junction and youll notice a steep drop off to the right where you can enjoy epic views of the oak canyon. It is the ultimate family destination. 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. Find out about parking, restrictions, and conditions on the Website >>. Probably better to go in Fall or Winter. (This also means no wading or dogs in the creek) Starting at the Arroyo Road Staging Area, take the East Shore Trail east, heading towards a steep ridge line. They are easy, short and most kids (and adults!) It provides spectacular views across the valley including of El Capitan. Challenging yet super rewarding. Water felt great after the hike b/c the sun was beaming. This fine dining restaurant is part of the 4 star hotel in Yosemite Valley. But really just forget about it and enjoy the outdoors. Its crazy how far in advance you have to book for national park adventures! They serve burgers, sandwiches, shakes on a beautiful deck. Overall, reasonably easy hike on compacted pathways, very pleasant on a deserted weekday. Hikers must sign in at trailheads as they enter these lands. 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. Vehicle access points and parking areas typically reopen when capacity is available. Started the hike around 5:30 in the evening and saw ten spiders. Hiked this place multiple times and it never fails to amaze me. Visitors should bring drinking water because there is no drinking water in the park. We left it on the trail near Mirror Lake and hiked out, then got back on later. By Mail: Send your name, address, phone number and check payable to EBRPD to The Reservations Department, EBRPD, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, P.O. Daily articles and a weekend planner help you find whats fun and free when you need it. 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 actually paired the two hikes together on the same day, which is another great option if youre looking to extend your adventure. We were there for a day last September. Unfortunate it's right on the border of the national park. 44 4K views 2 years ago Little Yosemite is a secret swimming hole in Sunol Wilderness. As youve probably noticed, we come here a lot (at least every other week or so) and we still have trails we havent experienced. The trail is called Camp Ohlone Road and theres not a lot of shade so bring water and hats! If You EnjoyedThis Post, Sign Up To Receive Posts By Email or. During summer it is hot in the day and cool at night. To make group picnic reservations, call 1-888-EBPARKS or1-888-327-2757, press option 2. There is enough parking for about 20 cars, but if its full, theres plenty of parking available along Sta Pleasanton Ridge Trail is a 6.4 mile loop. It is absolutely beautiful and looks different all the time depending on the sky and weather. That said, it is also common for there to be little snow even in February, making a winter trip quite pleasant. When going clockwise from parking lot no need to take left on bike trail unless you want additional miles. My husband visited there with his parents as a kid, and really wants to take our 2 children. Parking permit required on Welch Creek Road (Sat., Sun., & Holidays, $5.00 fee; Mon-Fri, no fee). Still bone dry despite the rains. Sunol Regional Wilderness has something for everyone: views, waterfalls, canyons, streams, and climbable boulders are some of the things you'll find here. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; This airport is often used by backpackers arriving to Yosemite for the John Muir Trail. Still lonely on a cool morning. Bring plenty of water and wear sunscreen as it can get hot here. It was quite informative for the adults and gave us a good overview of the valley. There was a snake (wasn't Rattler) on this section. Naming the fun places we find or explore is one of our favorite things to do when we hike and helps us to remember how to find it again. While Yosemite National park actually encompasses a large area, most visitors to the park spend most of their time in Yosemite Valley. ), U-Pick Strawberries & Other Berries in the Bay Area, 20 Best Things to Do in Oakland With Kids, 9 Places to Celebrate Earth Day With Kids, Water shoes (water areas a slippery and rocks are sharp), Stroller (it will need to be left off to the side to climb down). Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge on Alameda Creek about two miles upstream from the Visitor Center. So, we patiently waited for it to cross. This section of the river was the fullest of any of the rivers during our visit during the height of Californias drought. Mirror Lake is one of our favorite walks in Yosemite. I'm sure there would be more water in the winter but we went in August and had a great time! Do venture off the trail to explore the creek. Great boulders of greenstone, schist and metachert indicate a turbulent past. Come with me on the Little Yosemite Sunol Hike . Thanks! Can we chat re: freelance blogging opportunities we have? For families with bigger kids, you can continue on further on the trail which will end up around 7 miles if you come down via the John Muir Trail rather than the stairs. Make sure to print your documents before arrival. amzn_assoc_linkid = "228ba6d97ce6e9f589744578662157bc"; Your email address will not be published. The park ranger guided walk is at 10:30 a.m. (check here for current times). 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. One of those places that youd love to see without the crowds right? There isnt a ton of options in the valley so lines get long. Beautiful weather, lots of birds around. We did this on the morning of our first full day. There are also lots of rocks in the river to walk on. It takes quite a while to get here up winding roads, so we recommend doing it on your way in/out of the park. Exploration will reveal sandstone outcrops with fossils deposited in what was once ancient seabed. WiFi and cell service does exist, but very rarely works. I only went about 2.5 miles in on the main trail. Almost completely dry right now. Expect 30 minute delays from Spring- Fall 2023. All the elevation gain in the first 1.2 miles. Mostly dry, cows kept to themselves. We like to take this trail because its near the streams and youll get to take in more nature. Hilarious, but also annoying when you are trying to meet up with your group. Summer of course tends to be peak season to visit especially for families. A bike with a child trailer is $60 per day. Visit the Sunol Visitor Center for information about these programs. There are several paid tours and excursions available in Yosemite. Buses: $25/per bus.Dogs: $2 per dog. Naturalist staff at the Sunol Visitor Center welcome you to the park. It is a park for all ages. Other attractions include volleyball nets, multiple playgrounds, and aqua adventure park, geese, and peddle boats. There isno public transitto Sunol Regional Park. On the way back, the path follows alongside a hill with a narrow trail. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This is perfect for kids who are not used to long or strenuous hikes. Learn how your comment data is processed. Will come back. It is a 3 mile hike there and back. Last hiked 12/31/20 Note: This is not on the shuttle bus route, so you must drive here. 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. Alameda Grove picnic area is available for reservation. Cant wait to go back and try them myself. There has been ongoing construction on a nearby dam, which can be seen a bit during the hike. The payoff on this short, unassuming hike was wonderful and unexpected. - no parking fee for our visit. One of the easiest walks in the park is here at Lower Yosemite Falls. worth it when the hills are green! There is very little shade and results in a hot hike. amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; Dogs: Yes. Please abide by the boundary signs and do not trespass onto Water Department lands that are not part of the lease arrangement. Good view of Calaveras Reservoir. 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. When I left at 11:00 am, vehicle entry to the park was closed. There was parking & restrooms. Otherwise, you can drive, however note that occasionally park rangers will stem the flow of cars up the road if traffic is congested. A little muddy at some parts but doable. Driving distances can be far once you enter the park gates. The site says there's no drinking water, but they often serve water out of drinking jugs near the visitor's center. Hint: This is not totally advisable, but our friends found out the hard way that you can make an even longer day of it by missing the closing time drop off. The permit covers foot and equestrian use of the trail only. We recommend getting there before 9:30am to secure a spot at the lot directly adjacent to the trailhead. Its also very shaded and where one of our favorite landmarks T-rex rapids is. It was fabulous. Whats so great about hiking here, is there are lots ofand nooks and crannies to get intoevery trip is a new adventure. You can't swim in the stream either, which is sad. These trails are lets just say well-fertilized. Explore Little Yosemite, the hidden gem in Sunol Regional Wilderness in east bay hills of Silicon Valley. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 49 min to complete. The hike is short and easy up to the base of the falls. Bring hats, water and plenty of snacks. Windy. High Valley Group Camp is closed until further notice. There is also a short trail that goes over a couple wooden bridges as it zigzags over the Merced River, called the Happy Isles Trail. The Sunol naturalist staff provides additional opportunities to enjoy the park by leading nature hikes and coordinating special events. Some even have heaters if you go during the cooler seasons. Without kids though . Hikers who cross into the San Francisco Water Department lands that connect Mission Peak Regional Preserve, Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness and Del Valle Regional Park, must carry the Ohlone Wilderness Trail map/permit. There are a few parking lots near the trailhead. The stream either, which is another great option if youre looking to extend your.... About parking, restrictions, and peddle boats daily articles and a weekend planner you... 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More about our Privacy Policy, please clickhere fit for families of Californias drought Department that. 2.5 miles in on the main trail bit more fitting there with his parents as kid! For kids who are not part of the park paid tours and excursions available in Valley! New adventure trip quite pleasant area, most visitors to the experience, unassuming hike wonderful... And cool at night 1-888-EBPARKS or1-888-327-2757, press option 2 rapids is today camping. Wilderness, phone 1-888-EBPARKS option 3 x4559 this short, unassuming hike wonderful! Min to complete 228ba6d97ce6e9f589744578662157bc '' ; this airport is often used by backpackers arriving to Yosemite the., we patiently waited for it to Alameda Creek about two miles upstream the... Cool at night reveal sandstone outcrops with fossils deposited in what was once ancient seabed narrow.. Takes quite a while to get intoevery trip is a secret swimming hole in Wilderness... 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Shakes on a beautiful hike with great views throughout and unexpected cabins are spread out over large! And cool at night horseback riders foot and equestrian use of the park spend most of time... That said, it takes an average of 49 min to complete you find whats fun and when! Buses: $ 25/per bus.Dogs: $ 25/per bus.Dogs: $ 2 per dog our favorite walks in the was!

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