The payoff on this short, unassuming hike was wonderful and unexpected. This hike from the Foothills Staging Area is an excellent introduction to the park: long enough to get your heart rate up, but not nearly as arduous as some hikes in the n Lake Elizabeth is located in central Fremont. Note, they are also magical without kids too! Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 49 min to complete. If you return the bikes right away the next morning you most likely wont get charged extra. This pass is good for 7 consecutive days to enter and exit the park as needed. Park at the first parking lot after the fee station at the end of Geary Road. - also saw some cows and turkeys on the trail. Everything's green. With that said, you're still getting in a great climb, and spending the day outdoors on one of the bay area's most challenging climbs. The pool at Curry Village may only be available to people staying at the cabins and tent cabins, but if you are, it is a great clean pool to let the kids splash around in and cool down. 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. Nice moderate hike. Check your Yosemite map for directions on how to reach the beach. Now is the perfect time to go since weve gotten some rain and the waterfalls are full and streaming. Good for hiking and picnicking.. here is our shots amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; The trails are nice because its not too narrow on some parts and not too cramped with mountain bikers, so you have a lot of space to share with them. There are beautiful lookouts on small detours from the trail which offer picturesque views. There were two parking areas and lots of spots ), 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. Park vehicles driving by dusted me with such gravel on 4 separate occasions. However, if you are pressed for time/money you can complete the free page in the Yosemite newsletter. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 31 min to complete. Chaparral, oak woodland, grassland communities. Note that full-on swimming is NOT allowed in Alameda Creek in the Little Yosemite area. If youstart to hear the roaring of the waterfalls its agood sign youre close or very near. There are a multitude of places to wander around near here and begin exploring Yosemite. 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. 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. This is also the closest you can get to Half Dome without actually hiking it. It's a short 2 miles upstream from the visitors center and is open 8am to dusk all year long. 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. 5: 8am-7pmApr. At the bottom of the exit turn left onto Calaveras Road and proceed as noted above.From the Walnut Creek - Danville area, drive south on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of the Sunol exit. The Mist Trail is a beautiful hike with great views throughout. However, it actually is a safe hike for families as long as you use common sense and keep kiddos (and yourself) from the edges. NOTE: If you plan to visit Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Parks to the south of Yosemite, the better value is to purchase the America the Beautiful national Park pass for $80 which is valid for 1 full year for everyone in your car. Beautiful trail with so many wildflowers! It was fabulous. $4 per trailered vehicle. Parking was super easy and no fee when we went. Go early or plan to be there for a while! Guided horse rides are also available through Western Trail Riding Services. No one wanted a night time bear visit to the tent! Hilarious, but also annoying when you are trying to meet up with your group. They're very easy to spot on the side latter half of the trail. 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. Otherwise, you can drive, however note that occasionally park rangers will stem the flow of cars up the road if traffic is congested. Alternatively, there is a shuttle bus which drops off here. Will see the other side and how far Ill go from this direction. We visited in the winter, so the area was pretty much dry. 510Families.com is the best website for parents in Alameda, Berkeley, and Oakland to find kid-friendly activities every day. Be careful not to step into any cow pies! Easy hike into Little Yosemite. It's a fun little hike where you get to climb down some rocks to the water. From the trailhead, it takes an easy walk of only 0.9 of a mile to reach it, a 1.8-mile round trip. It is open mainly for breakfast and lunch, but if you stop in before 6pm you can also grab an early dinner. 2018 Raising Kids Wild. Naturalist-led activities include walks, hikes, birding outings, family activities, nature arts and crafts, virtual programs and various other adventures. While driving through scenic Sunol, you might see deer and grazing cattle on the sprawling hills that flank the road. Fill up before you get inside the park, even if you have half a tank. Impatient visitors will quickly see how this trail earned its name as it . For general information about the Ohlone Wilderness, phone 1-888-EBPARKS option 3 x4559. not spray painting the rocks is common sense. - no parking fee for our visit. . If you are on a tighter budget, there are also plenty of campgrounds where you can pitch your own tent, as well as Housekeeping Camp where your tent is pitched, but you do everything else just as you would on a regular camping trip. Overall a nice hike, but too crowded for my liking and once the weather gets warmer, will be way too hot. - Some cow poop on the side of the trail in certain parts Spend the day exploring the terrain instead of staying in the valley and you will be rewarded with green panoramas of the east bay hills. Check out the calendar for details on when it will run. If you go only to the bridge, that is approximately 1 mile, which is doable even though it is a steep climb. I remember going to Yosemite when I was 12 and I had a blast! This section of the river was the fullest of any of the rivers during our visit during the height of Californias drought. After the canyon, the trail evens out and youll hear the falls from Little Yosemite. This airport is often used by backpackers arriving to Yosemite for the John Muir Trail. Saw couple of rattlesnakes close to the trail. It is an easy trail for most kids, but it is not stroller friendly as its rocky along the way. WiFi and cell service does exist, but very rarely works. Starting at the Arroyo Road Staging Area, take the East Shore Trail east, heading towards a steep ridge line. There are a few parking lots near the trailhead. Note: Tioga Pass is closed in the winter. It is absolutely beautiful and looks different all the time depending on the sky and weather. We like to take this trail because its near the streams and youll get to take in more nature. We can either hike up to the waterfalls near the stream or use the dirt trail. Parking: There is ample parking. 9Sep. A good hike for some kids. About same distance. The approximately 2.25 mile walk is good for strollers since it is paved and also has bathrooms along the way. It is open to the public through a lease agreement with the San Francisco Water Department, which owns the property. Lots of quail out. There are several waterfalls and some dry out on hot days. The paid version is a booklet filled with fun activities and exercises for your child to do before earning their badge. Barbecues and picnics are also allowed. To maximize your rental, pick up your bike right at opening and drop it off right at closing. 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. Couple downed trees and canyon trail a bit washed out in places. >Sunol Main Entrance>Sunol Visitor Center. Visitors from Southern California will enter on the south Wawona on Highway 41 via Oakhurst. Books for sharing her familys adventure with us. A lot of different trails you can choose. Little Yosemite is an area within the Sunol Regional Wilderness that has cascading water over and under larg. While Yosemite National park actually encompasses a large area, most visitors to the park spend most of their time in Yosemite Valley. Came across your post on Bombay Expats. Overcast day with good amount of wind. Some of the ones listed here are the most popular hikes and for good reason. Saw some friendly cows as well. Its not cheap, nor amazing quality food, but for the options provided, its a good place to go. There are picnic sites available on a first come, first served basis. Very few tulips or lupines, Great wildflowers, pretty crowded near parking but thins out as you get further away. " in 25 reviews Show more review highlights Location & Hours 1895 Geary Rd Sunol, CA 94586 Get directions Edit business info Amenities and More Good For Kids Private Lot Parking Dogs Allowed Gender-neutral restrooms document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Nice easy hike, perfect weather, and not muddy. It is a park for all ages. Our dog, Gus, is usually off his leash after the bridge. Easy trail. There is NOswimming allowed in Alameda Creek and trespassing is prohibited on Water Department lands that are not accessible to the public. Explore this 4.6-mile loop trail near Sunol, California. They were pretty fun. To make group picnic reservations, call 1-888-EBPARKS or1-888-327-2757, press option 2. An Ohlone Wilderness Permit is required for each person age 12 years or older. Being located outside of the Yosemite Valley means not as many visitors, but it is still worth the effort. Curry Village is competitive, but not quite as bad as that. Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge on Alameda Creek about two miles upstream from the Visitor Center. It is great for mountain biking, hiking, horseback, and even . Leads through "Valley of the Giants." The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Check here for details on how to try to nab a spot. There are limited dining options in Sunol, but the park is near both Fremont and Pleasanton which have plenty more. Snow can start as early as October or November in parts of Yosemite and remain into well into the spring. No fee today. It is wet and steep, so make sure you prepare for that. During our visit, the program started at 2 pm which was sometimes difficult to make our way back to camp in the middle of the day. Birding is superb along Alameda Creek with acorn woodpecker, black phoebe, titmouse, turkey vulture, and golden eagle commonly sighted. History: Junior Ranger history reaches back to the Yosemite Junior Nature School, organized in June 1930 and lasting until 1954. Wild flowers were blooming.Water was flowing and sun was shining. In addition to hiking, biking and playing in the river, there are also many sites that can be explored by car (or shuttle during high season). Or share this post with others by pinning on Pinterest. Was hoping to spot some tarantulas and was not disappointed! Youll come up on a little resting area with a pond of water that Gus usually loves to swim and play catch in. To go will see the other side and how far Ill go from direction... This is also the closest you can also grab an early dinner check out the calendar for on. Wildflowers, pretty crowded near parking but thins out as you get to half Dome actually! 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