On our first time visit, we spent 4 days in Yosemite Valley and were able to just about see all the major attractions, but had many more items on our to do list. A bike rental will cost around $30 per day. 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. 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. We like to stretch just after the gate and the kids join in too. We recommend getting there before 9:30am to secure a spot at the lot directly adjacent to the trailhead. 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. You might have seen photos of Taft Point in the news because this is where many visitors press their luck by getting too close to the edge. Without a bike, it is a 1 mile walk from Curry Village under a heavy canopy of trees, making it an easy breezy walk. Get to know this 3.0-mile out-and-back trail near Sunol, California. For the trailhead, look for the footbridge, or signs for Canyon View Trail. Though it looks steep here, the trail actually takes you gradually up and down a scenic hill. Pretty cool little hike to do in the winter. You have to be patient and wait for a spot to open up in the network. One of those places that youd love to see without the crowds right? Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 50 min to complete. The boulders and waterfalls are beautiful. Its also very shaded and where one of our favorite landmarks T-rex rapids is. (Have you seen Free Solo? There is so much to do in Yosemite Valley and the greater Yosemite park that to really experience it all you need more than a week. Oak woodland and grassland communities; fossiliferous sandstone outcrops. It was fabulous. adventures and follow local regulations. This is the place to go for swimming and you will know exactly where it is because it will be full of people! Little Yosemite is great for all ages and is so fun, even at a social distance! This section of the river was the fullest of any of the rivers during our visit during the height of Californias drought. Still bone dry despite the rains. 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. 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. $2 per dog (free for service dogs). 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. A miniature version of Yosemite awaits you at the end of this trail, complete with creeks, boulders, and mini waterfalls (seasonally dependent). Not that scenic, at least on this trail. TravelerTip: Even if you go in the summer months, book a heated tent cabin. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Driving distances can be far once you enter the park gates. Turn left onto Calaveras Road and proceed to Geary Road . Dogs: Yes. No fee today. The views of the water reflecting the surrounding area are just beautiful. They were pretty fun. Visit the Sunol Visitor Center for information about these programs. Couple of fallen trees blocking the path that needs circumventing. Parking permit required on Welch Creek Road (Sat., Sun., & Holidays, $5.00 fee; Mon-Fri, no fee). Narrow and exposed paths. Also cows do go into the creek and poop so giardia is a concern. 6-May 17: 8am-8pmMay 18-Sep. 8: 8am-9pmSep. My husband visited there with his parents as a kid, and really wants to take our 2 children. Can we chat re: freelance blogging opportunities we have? This fine dining restaurant is part of the 4 star hotel in Yosemite Valley. See Trail Mileage for a description of selected hikes. Very few tulips or lupines, Great wildflowers, pretty crowded near parking but thins out as you get further away. But there are also a multitude of hikes that are not listed on the maps and do not lead to anything in particular. My recommendation is to ride your bike, take the park ranger guided walk and then find a spot near the water for lunch before venturing off elsewhere. This is the middle ground between staying in a hotel or roughing it by pitching your own tent. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. There are several waterfalls and some dry out on hot days. Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge with waterfalls within an hour of Oakland. This is devastating to the environment. Shes the East Bay mom of two little ones, a four-year old and a baby. 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. 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. There are so many hikes to do in Yosemite that you will never be able to fit them all in on one trip. Beautiful all around. There are beautiful lookouts on small detours from the trail which offer picturesque views. This route got quite crowded by mid-morning. Learn how your comment data is processed. Its crazy how far in advance you have to book for national park adventures! I walked clockwise. 2018 Raising Kids Wild. All the greenery and velvety blue sky bring up the serenity of nature. 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. (Permit(s) will be mailed within 3-5 business days). From Fremont, drive north on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road (near the town of Sunol.) They're very easy to spot on the side latter half of the trail. Turn right at the exit onto Calaveras Road and proceed about four miles to a left turn onto Geary Road, which leads directly into the park. No water at Little Yosemite, but cant really expect that in July. The park ranger guided walk is at 10:30 a.m. (check here for current times). Visited the Sunol park and chose to visit the Little Yosemite Trail. Check out the calendar for details on when it will run. Naturalist-led activities include walks, hikes, birding outings, family activities, nature arts and crafts, virtual programs and various other adventures. However, it actually is a safe hike for families as long as you use common sense and keep kiddos (and yourself) from the edges. - thought the trail was moderate. Go early or plan to be there for a while! One of the best reasons for a summer visit to Yosemite with kids is the abundance of family friendly programming at the park. They do seem a bit shy; a lot of them stopped moving as we passed. That said, please admire the cows from a distance for your safety. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Both will enable your child to earn a cool wooden Yosemite Junior Ranger badge. It's a short 2 miles upstream from the visitors center and is open 8am to dusk all year long. There are several places to stay throughout Yosemite Valley and the greater Yosemite National Park as well as outside the park. The only program we paid for was the Yosemite Valley Floor Tour. There is no guarantee, but they will try to group you close. When the water is flowing in the spring, Little Yosemite is a site to behold! 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. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "510famz-20"; If you are staying in Curry Village, bring a cooler packed with goodies for breakfast and lunches so that your only meal out is dinner. No one wants to fill up inside the park if it can be helped! Follow the wooden path through the meadow and walk through the campground to the river. Was hoping to spot some tarantulas and was not disappointed! The photos are wonderful. Not to worry - well be back again soon. When you make it to the hike, it's also important to realize that without recent rain, there many not actually be a waterfall. Explore Little Yosemite, the hidden gem in Sunol Regional Wilderness in east bay hills of Silicon Valley. Saw some friendly cows as well. didnt even think of it but makes total sense. Getting to Little Yosemite from Danville/Walnut Creek: Go south on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of Pleasanton. Mariposa was so beautiful as well! Explore the most popular trails in my list little Yosemite (sunol) with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Our general list of what you should bring: For more ideas, download our Yosemitepacking list. Patches of wildflowers (not too much now) but water is flowing strong and furious. About same distance. Nice markings. Either have a trail downloaded or stop by the Visitor Center for a physical map :) It is $35 to enter Yosemite by vehicle. This 2.5 mile loop around the lake offers beautiful views and sandy shores for a little play time. The bear locker aspect ended up being such fun for everyone! can do them. The hike to Little Yosemite Area starts at the end of Geary Road. Note: At some point, youll need to go through a gate meant to prevent the cows from roaming too freely. Note that full-on swimming is NOT allowed in Alameda Creek in the Little Yosemite area. Great trail, pretty crowded on the weekends but plenty of large parking lots. The Junior Park Ranger Program would be awesome! Steady incline, no steep climb, wide (gravel) walkways. Having fun with kids will make you stress-free and will give you a peaceful mind. This is also the closest you can get to Half Dome without actually hiking it. Our kids enjoyed running around in what used to be a lake spotting small water snakes swimming in the small pools. Fill up before you get inside the park, even if you have half a tank. Note, as mentioned previously, Tioga Road is closed in winter (usually some time in November until May or June depending on seasonal snowfall. Little Yosemite is a gorge in the Sunol-Ohlone Wilderness in the East Bay hills. You can hike up about 4 miles from the Valley to this viewpoint if you want to spend more time here. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Awesome trail, with a little water area in the rocks at the end! I would start on canyon trail first next time and loop back through little Yosemite. Thanks! Second half was a nice, easy downhill and wide, almost paved path. I would definitely go during the May to Sept time period. After the canyon, the trail evens out and youll hear the falls from Little Yosemite. However if you are not heading down to Sequoia, dont miss this area of the park! Crazy but super dope. Wooded canyon. Little Yosemite is a hidden gem located in the Sierra National Forest. 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