5: 8am-7pmApr. They were pretty fun. We reached around 11am on a Saturday morning and there was plenty of parking space. 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. Very few people. amzn_assoc_asins = "1721221999"; Starting pouring rain after we made it to little Yosemite. Overall, if you want to do trail run/hiking, this place is pretty good. $2 per dog (free for service dogs). Hope next time we will try another way. 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. Very little shade on canyon trail so take note of time and temperature. Looking to stay connected with work or family back home while in Yosemite?Forget it! I walked clockwise. The best part was definitely getting to the falls and climbing the boulders! Add another 1 hour to reach Yosemite Valley. Other attractions include volleyball nets, multiple playgrounds, and aqua adventure park, geese, and peddle boats. This is a nice hotel with all the amenities you will need. there are do not swim signs for a reason. Sunol Adobe is one of the town's most well-known historic buildings, with the oldest house in California being a Sunol Adobe. It connects to MIssion Peak park and to del Valle (may need a permit). I arrived at 8:30 am. 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. This means that it will be back to crazy busy in the summer months. Expect 30 minute delays from Spring- Fall 2023. Visitors should bring drinking water because there is no drinking water in the park. It's like . One of the best adventures you can do is to go on a free family scavenger hunt around the Curry Village grounds. A bike with a child trailer is $60 per day. Or was the bike ride the activity for the day? But it was a beautiful morning. If yo North Rim Trail to Eagle Rock is an out-and-back trail that takes you past scenic surroundings located near San Jose, California. Saw LOTS of woodpeckers so that was fun! This is a very popular spot for hikers and for photographers (aka Instagrammers!). This is a very popular area for birding and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. About same distance. A bike rental will cost around $30 per day. Or share this post with others by pinning on Pinterest. 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. Little in common with actual Yosemite other than lack of cell coverage. The site says there's no drinking water, but they often serve water out of drinking jugs near the visitor's center. 510Families.com is the best website for parents in Alameda, Berkeley, and Oakland to find kid-friendly activities every day. worth it when the hills are green! Explore Little Yosemite, the hidden gem in Sunol Regional Wilderness in east bay hills of Silicon Valley. Technically, the closest airport is in Fresno, known as the Fresno-Yosemite Airport (FAT). Being located outside of the Yosemite Valley means not as many visitors, but it is still worth the effort. Starting at the Arroyo Road Staging Area, take the East Shore Trail east, heading towards a steep ridge line. Without kids though . As a reminder, please do not feed the animals as cute as they are! Perfect spring hike. There are a multitude of places to wander around near here and begin exploring Yosemite. That's where you begin the hike. we love glamping too! If you are exiting the park through this gate, do not miss the Mariposa Grove hike. Alameda Grove picnic area is available for reservation. Great loop. Cross Camp Ohlone Road and step down into Little Yosemite. Parking was easy and not too crowded. The only negative during high season was the line for restaurants. Visit the Sunol Visitor Center for information about these programs. During summer it is hot in the day and cool at night. Impatient visitors will quickly see how this trail earned its name as it . The payoff on this short, unassuming hike was wonderful and unexpected. One of those places that youd love to see without the crowds right? My pup is too young to go any longer. Summer of course tends to be peak season to visit especially for families. These trails are lets just say well-fertilized. Come with me on the Little Yosemite Sunol Hike . Yosemite! Even when the water level is low, its find to explore the boulders of the creek bed. Inquire at entry kiosk or visitor center. After a long bike ride and hike up to Mirror lake, we were not quite rewarded with the fantastic swimming hole we had hoped, but that is all dependent on the years rain. The hike is gorgeous with its sweeping hillside. To reach the Old Green Barn take the first left after the park entrance.From the Oakland-Berkeley area, drive east on I-580 to the junction with I-680. If you need something a bit nicer than what is available in the village, head over to one of the hotels. Continue hiking on the trail left of the streams. 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. We explore Sunol Regional Wilderness in California. 8-Apr. They serve burgers, sandwiches, shakes on a beautiful deck. $5 entrance fee. Due to increased visitation to Sunol, some vehicle access points and parking areas may close temporarily due to vehicle/parking capacity limitations. Thanks! The actual trail starts about 0.3 miles from the first entry gate. Last hiked 12/31/20 If you plan to visit with kiddos, go a little before lunch/dinner times. It might come with electricity including a power outlet to plug your phone into. Click to enlarge. Steady incline, no steep climb, wide (gravel) walkways. Tenaya Lake is a beautiful place to go for a day of exploration. Saw some friendly cows as well. I saw bats fly overhead on one of my midnight potty runs. It is permissible for them to roam off-leash on the majority . 44 4K views 2 years ago Little Yosemite is a secret swimming hole in Sunol Wilderness. Please explore responsibly! The unpaved Camp Ohlone Road is a broad trail to the area. Not bad. When the water is flowing in the spring, Little Yosemite is a site to behold! Dont be scared to get off the beaten path a bit and wonder around on smaller trails. Hours: 8AM-5PM (winter) 8AM-7PM (and later depending on month) Dogs: $2 fee. Other than that, this trail is lovely and may need to be closed to give it some time to recover human interference. Will start counterclockwise next time. There are a lot of washrooms near the car parking. Weathered serpentine and sandstone outcrops. - no parking fee for our visit. This is where you will likely see some wild animals. 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. Find out about parking, restrictions, and conditions on the Website >>. TravelerTip: Even if you go in the summer months, book a heated tent cabin. If You EnjoyedThis Post, Sign Up To Receive Posts By Email or. Read a 1937 Yosemite Nature Notes article about the historic school and a 1960 Yosemite Nature Notes article that shares the . 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. While Yosemite is most known for Half Dome and El Capitan, the park is filled with beautiful waterfalls that are worth exploring during your visit. The water is flowing generously in the river, from all the rain we've had. I cant wait to finally visit Yosemite! go counter if you want to have energy to explore LY and have amazing views for the second half go clockwise if you wanna have your energy to get to the top of the hill for the amazing views first and just going to leisurely explore LY in the second half and nice easy walk out. Definitely check it out if its still showing. Definitely bring lots of water as it's mostly uncovered. The gravel road will be dusty and shade is sparse. This depends on where you stay. 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. While it may be off the beaten path, Little Yosemite is definitely worth a . Unfortunately this wasnt offered during our stay. There are a few spots where you can climb down to play in the ice cold water. If so, check out our in-depth guides for some of the other amazing parks in the state. So all the fun stuff was in the second half off the trial for me. (This also means no wading or dogs in the creek) Good view of Calaveras Reservoir. From the trailhead, it takes an easy walk of only 0.9 of a mile to reach it, a 1.8-mile round trip. 0 47 4 minutes read. 30: 8am-8pmOct. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This fine dining restaurant is part of the 4 star hotel in Yosemite Valley. There are so many hikes to do in Yosemite that you will never be able to fit them all in on one trip. Do venture off the trail to explore the creek. - also saw some cows and turkeys on the trail. It was a big hit with all of the kids. Amazing!!! This is a moderate hike that provides a nice workout so be prepared. The hike . One of the easiest walks in the park is here at Lower Yosemite Falls. Little Yosemite is known for its waterfalls and rock scrambling and its easy to get to. When you get past the entrance, youll want to goall the way to the backside of the park. Fees are per vehicle. For a less populated hike with a steeper climb and excellent views in the same park, see our Flag Hill hike. The scenery is beautiful, especially now with all the spring green and sprinkling of wildflowers. 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 hike is about 2 miles round trip depending on how muchexploring, rock scrambling, and climbing you do. Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge with waterfalls within an hour of Oakland. General Information on Yosemite National Park, Technically, the closest airport is in Fresno, known as the Fresno-Yosemite Airport (FAT). The hike to Little Yosemite Area starts at the end of Geary Road. Its not cheap, nor amazing quality food, but for the options provided, its a good place to go. More than once we would pass people on the road holding their phones in the air yelling obscenities at AT&T! The Junior Park Ranger Program would be awesome! Youll come up on a little resting area with a pond of water that Gus usually loves to swim and play catch in. During the height of summer in Yosemite temperatures can soar up into the 100s. We aim to inspire families to explore where and when they can even if its in their own city! This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. We saw deers, cows and a coyote! Whats so great about hiking here, is there are lots ofand nooks and crannies to get intoevery trip is a new adventure. I would recommend it for kids 6 and up. But really just forget about it and enjoy the outdoors. This is not on the shuttle bus route, so you must drive your car here. Go early or plan to be there for a while! For a regional park, it has a lot going for it. Get a bit of fresh air and some epic views with a family bike ride around Yosemite Valley. Pretty cool little hike to do in the winter. Got a little confused on trail. Without a bike, it is a 1 mile walk from Curry Village under a heavy canopy of trees, making it an easy breezy walk. After almost 8 years of repeated visits to Yosemite with kids, these are our favorite things to do in the park. There was parking & restrooms. The trail is called Camp Ohlone Road and theres not a lot of shade so bring water and hats! Under the East Bay Regional Park District's multi-use land management policy, cattle continue to graze in the 6,859-acre wilderness. This is what Yosemite is all about for me seeing wildlife up close and personal. Time of start: 1130 There is also no cell service in the park! Crazy but super dope. 6 New Things To Try At The Park With Your Toddler, Asheville Hiking Guide for Families: Top Easy Trails to Explore, How to Keep your Tween or Teen Interested in the Outdoors. Sunol Visitor Center for information about these programs good view of Calaveras Reservoir drive your car here nicer. Water little yosemite sunol with kids the same park, it takes an easy walk of 0.9. Places that youd love to see without the crowds right climb down to play in the,! With all the rain we 've had, so you must drive your car here up the... 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