We like to stretch just after the gate and the kids join in too. Park is finally open after all the rain recently. For more information on Yosemite Park lodging options check out theirwebsite. Little Yosemite is a gorge in the Sunol-Ohlone Wilderness in the East Bay hills. I walked clockwise. It's a popular destination for hikers, climbers, and nature lovers alike. Have you been to Yosemite? So, we patiently waited for it to cross. Get to know this 3.0-mile out-and-back trail near Sunol, California. Was hoping to spot some tarantulas and was not disappointed! Great hike on a cooler day. A permit is required to camp overnight. Its crazy how far in advance you have to book for national park adventures! that must have been exciting, but we could imagine very exhilarating!! The trail is beautiful and perfect for kids of all ages. From the ridge your viewpoints will include Mount Diablo and the San Francisco Bay. Guided horse rides are also available through Western Trail Riding Services. The trail itself is large and maintained. Yosemite National Park is Californias most popular national park. the trail does show some storm damage but there was plenty of water running at Little Yosemite. Fun rock outcrops to keep the kids entertained and of course, Little . counter clockwise vs clockwise. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 31 min to complete. It is permissible for them to roam off-leash on the majority . 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. Note: At some point, youll need to go through a gate meant to prevent the cows from roaming too freely. Some even have heaters if you go during the cooler seasons. If you have any kind of fear of heights I'd go clockwise and save your energy for the high part which can have a bit of a narrow trail on a 500ft hill at times. Each person age 12 years or older is required to have their own permit. Beautiful all around. Park at the Stanford Avenue entrance gate. Click to enlarge. Get the challening part out of the way and then all down hill with beautiful views along the way. Whether you have little ones who cant manage long hikes or teens ready for a challenge, there is something for everyone here. This is also the closest you can get to Half Dome without actually hiking it. Definitely check it out if its still showing. Several days of eating in the same few places gets old quickly! Not a lot of rush on the trial. Gorgeous in an overcast late afternoon into the evening. Really pretty! We were there for a day last September. one day i will travel around the USA with my kids! There is $5 car parking entrance fee fyi. That said, when its hot, there is nowhere better to be than in the water! Easy and nice hike! Weathered serpentine and sandstone outcrops. Phone service is spotty at best. The loop is shared by dog walkers, trail runners, hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. 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. Whether you have little ones who cant manage long hikes or teens ready for a challenge, there is something for everyone here. If you have a 4th grader in the family, you can get a national park pass for free for the year through theEvery Kid Outdoors program, so definitely take advantage! Parking: $5/seasonal, weekends and holidays. All of this is pretty great even without kids! The walk was pleasant, next to a stream. This helps with cost and variety as well. No water running thru the gorge though. Everything's green. Streamside, oak woodland, grassland communities. On one of our bike rides through a forested area we saw a bobcat run right in front of our bicycle. Please note this is a fragile ecosystem and watershed. 510Families.com is the best website for parents in Alameda, Berkeley, and Oakland to find kid-friendly activities every day. Regardless of what is available during your visit, the one thing you MUST do is earn your junior ranger park badge. Grassland, oak woodland. Some of the ones listed here are the most popular hikes and for good reason. Much of the trail is open and exposed so bring a hat and sunscreen. Bring plenty of water and wear sunscreen as it can get hot here. Open throughout the trail, too sunny weather might not be perfect for this trail. I dont really recommend it since it is pitch black out after 8:30 so you will have difficulty seeing your way back to camp. 7: 8am-5pmMar. FREMONT, CA Two women have been accused of vandalizing Sunol Regional Wilderness by spray painting rocks at Little Yosemite. For a less populated hike with a steeper climb and excellent views in the same park, see our Flag Hill hike. Great trail, pretty crowded on the weekends but plenty of large parking lots. Hiked this place multiple times and it never fails to amaze me. Little Yosemite is known for its waterfalls and rock scrambling and its easy to get to. The smell of blooming buckeyes in the air. Start early so that you get to park. They are open for lunch and dinner only. Staying in Curry Village (or camping) requires some advance planning, particularly for items that will need to go into your bear locker. All the greenery and velvety blue sky bring up the serenity of nature. Hilarious, but also annoying when you are trying to meet up with your group. Its also very shaded and where one of our favorite landmarks T-rex rapids is. Temporary closures due to capacity limitations, Sunol Regional Wilderness - Activity Calendar. I am a save for the last kind of guy. We didnt walk far, so this walk can easily be handled by most people. Indian Joe Cave Rocks. Box 5381, Oakland, CA 94605-0381. The rocks are big and can be tricky to navigate. Little Yosemite in Sunol is a scenic hike offering breathtaking oak lined canyon views and dramatic waterfalls. I recommend spending a morning in this area if you have time. A wooden bridge leads over Alameda Creek and to the right youll find Canyon View Trail, which will take you to the falls. didnt even think of it but makes total sense. We could have use the creek trail for more water views. Get there early very popular area. Curry Village is competitive, but not quite as bad as that. 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. The bear locker aspect ended up being such fun for everyone! Fill up before you get inside the park, even if you have half a tank. 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. Be careful not to step into any cow pies! Did the hike on 4/10. 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. That's where you begin the hike. Rolling hills, wildflowers, gushing streams of water, freshness all around, .. just beautiful . Still a fair number of people but reasonable for a weekday. Still lonely on a cool morning. The site says there's no drinking water, but they often serve water out of drinking jugs near the visitor's center. Having fun with kids will make you stress-free and will give you a peaceful mind. Were thrilled to feature guest writer, Mishi B, owner and author of Hey Carter! Other than that, this trail is lovely and may need to be closed to give it some time to recover human interference. We did the anticlockwise direction instead of the recommended clockwise direction to avoid the steep ascent. 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. Oak woodland and grassland communities; fossiliferous sandstone outcrops. This kid-friendly hiking trail is a must see in the Bay Area. From Fremont, drive north on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road (near the town of Sunol.) Going the scenic route brings plenty of stream side fun and exploring. >Sunol Main Entrance>Sunol Visitor Center. Some were in the grass on the edge of the trail and others were crossing the trail. Arriving early is key to avoid the sun and crowds in order to social distance. Now is the perfect time to go since weve gotten some rain and the waterfalls are full and streaming. 5: 8am-7pmApr. Breathtaking views of the Bay Area are your reward for making this climb to the top of Mission Peak. The trail is called Camp Ohlone Road and theres not a lot of shade so bring water and hats! 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. There are multiple trails you can take to modify the hike and make it harder/longer. Bring hats, water and plenty of snacks. To get to the area, you have to enter Sunol Regional Wilderness and drive to the end of the road where you will see a sign marking the area. We saw deers, cows and a coyote! The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. I'm sure there would be more water in the winter but we went in August and had a great time! The park ranger guided walk is at 10:30 a.m. (check here for current times). 6-May 17: 8am-8pmMay 18-Sep. 8: 8am-9pmSep. Summer is beautiful, but it can get quite hot in July and August. They do seem a bit shy; a lot of them stopped moving as we passed. Important to remember, especially at national parks. Under the East Bay Regional Park District's multi-use land management policy, cattle continue to graze in the 6,859-acre wilderness. This pass is good for 7 consecutive days to enter and exit the park as needed. If you are exiting the park through this gate, do not miss the Mariposa Grove hike. For those arriving by car, there are multiple entrances into the park.For travelers heading into Yosemite Valley from Northern California, the two main entrances are on the western side of the park along either Highway 120 at Big Oak Flat or Highway 140 (El Portal Road) at the Arch Rock Flat entrance. Pretty cool little hike to do in the winter. Naturalist-led activities include walks, hikes, birding outings, family activities, nature arts and crafts, virtual programs and various other adventures. Visited the Sunol park and chose to visit the Little Yosemite Trail. 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. During our visit we sawRanger Neds Big Adventure. Typically only guests of the hotel eat here, but it is nice to make a dinner reservation for something a little more upmarket! But there are also a multitude of hikes that are not listed on the maps and do not lead to anything in particular. Very buce hike with some shading. Diablo. Ill definitely consult this list. I remember going to Yosemite when I was 12 and I had a blast! We like to take this trail because its near the streams and youll get to take in more nature. As a reminder, please do not feed the animals as cute as they are! Expect to take many breaks if you are walking with a child. During the first half the trail is fairly narrow at times, so be sure to go the direction AllTrails recommends and dont do it counter-clockwise. Dogs: Yes. Bring snacks and lots of water. $2 per dog (free for service dogs). Parking: $5 per vehicle. They were pretty fun. There isno public transitto Sunol Regional Park. Starting pouring rain after we made it to little Yosemite. we love glamping too! (You cant go wrong with either path but the further you walk up, the higher you will need to climb down from to get to the waterfalls.) We explore Sunol Regional Wilderness in California. See Trail Mileage for a description of selected hikes. We aim to inspire families to explore where and when they can even if its in their own city! We booked tent cabins 4.5 months in advance without too much trouble. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. The payoff on this short, unassuming hike was wonderful and unexpected. They are easy, short and most kids (and adults!) A family trip to Yosemite National Park is the quintessential American summer holiday. Either have a trail downloaded or stop by the Visitor Center for a physical map :) This section of the river was the fullest of any of the rivers during our visit during the height of Californias drought. For the trailhead, look for the footbridge, or signs for Canyon View Trail. Gorgeous canyon views. Mostly uphill for the first half but not very steep. Without a bike, it is a 1 mile walk from Curry Village under a heavy canopy of trees, making it an easy breezy walk. Leads through "Valley of the Giants." Youll also pass by some cows and calves grazing peacefully. Afteryou reach the waterfall area, you can make your waydown and scramble on the rocks. Today, camping, picnicking, hiking and back-packing attract thousands of park visitors a year. Climbed on the boulders all around and found more small, chill areas! Bike rentals are not cheap, but it is worth it. It has a range of ecosystems from the Alameda creek rushing down through granite fields (Little Yosemite) into a small forested area to grassy hilltop hiking trails. Visitors from Southern California will enter on the south Wawona on Highway 41 via Oakhurst. Gentle rise in elevation. These stops dont often take long, but offer a great view into the park as well as provide the opportunity for beautiful, classic shots of Yosemite that everyone craves! Something for everyone here. There are camping options available as well. It connects to MIssion Peak park and to del Valle (may need a permit). The shuttle does not go here, so if is best to go early or later in the day as parking can be difficult. I would start on canyon trail first next time and loop back through little Yosemite. Beautiful scenery, easy parking. Tenaya Lake is a beautiful place to go for a day of exploration. Once you are here, you can easily spend an hour or more cruising around the area exploring different angles. Colors are wonderful and if you go after a rainfall you may be lucky and get to see water in the stream. When you make it to the hike, it's also important to realize that without recent rain, there many not actually be a waterfall. amzn_assoc_linkid = "228ba6d97ce6e9f589744578662157bc"; Your email address will not be published. $4 per trailered vehicle. 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. One of the best reasons for a summer visit to Yosemite with kids is the abundance of family friendly programming at the park. Our dog, Gus, is usually off his leash after the bridge. 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. I highly suggest you to take the longer trail along the creek. This trail is not paved, but is easily accessible for even small children. In an ideal world, if you can at least spend a week you will have time to visit most areas of the park, visit nature centers and take in a few ranger presentations too. Strongly advise starting counter clockwise! Not really impressed with this trail. It might come with electricity including a power outlet to plug your phone into. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Start your hike by crossing the footbridge at Canyon View Trailhead. For the adventurous, climb up the rocks to get a closer view of the falls and a glistening pool of water at the top. The hike is a easy, short 3 mile loop on a gravel lined, semi-paved road. The main fire road along creek is crowded . Books for sharing her familys adventure with us. Want to report conditions for this trail? Would recommend taking the time to scramble down to the stream at little Yosemite but be VERY careful. Nice moderate hike. Birding is superb along Alameda Creek with acorn woodpecker, black phoebe, titmouse, turkey vulture, and golden eagle commonly sighted. Yes. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; This park feels more remote than some of the others in the East Bay. 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. No fee today. We heard from many families in Curry Village that even with the 5 month advance reservation system, they were not able to book the tent campgrounds. 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. 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. Easy hike into Little Yosemite. Download map ahead of time. 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. There are picnic sites available on a first come, first served basis. Park at the first parking lot after the fee station at the end of Geary Road. This is a very popular spot for hikers and for photographers (aka Instagrammers!). 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. The trail was more of a road which cut thru the hills. https://youtu.be/kfwlPlWiaTk. It features gorgeous waterfall and jaw dropping vie. Nice easy hike, perfect weather, and not muddy. Went clockwise. Mountain lions are uncommon, but are occasionally sighted. Lol NOTE: Glacier Point Road is still under construction through Fall 2023. There are several places to stay throughout Yosemite Valley and the greater Yosemite National Park as well as outside the park. As the description says- this is definitely a late fall/winter hike. The best part was definitely getting to the falls and climbing the boulders! Books. Some good views of the wildflowers! Looking to stay connected with work or family back home while in Yosemite?Forget it! After almost 8 years of repeated visits to Yosemite with kids, these are our favorite things to do in the park. Lots of quail out. There will be sections where the trail will clear and you can get back on the fire road, but you can keep on the shaded trails as much as it allow you to. 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. The views of the water reflecting the surrounding area are just beautiful. 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. Overall though the park is quite shaded so you can easily avoid the blazing sun. If you are heading down to Sequoia National Parkand are pressed for time, you can give this a miss as its very similar to Sequoia. You might be lucky enough to see some hikers on the dome. Very little shade on canyon trail so take note of time and temperature. Cross Camp Ohlone Road and step down into Little Yosemite. Just beware of poison oak. Excellent views of San Antonio Reservoir and Mt. It is free and geared for the whole family. 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. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. The massive basalt outcrop at Indian Joe Cave Rocks provides sport and challenge to rock climbers. Add another 1 hour to reach Yosemite Valley. Easy trail. They serve burgers, sandwiches, shakes on a beautiful deck. Required fields are marked *. There were beautiful wildflowers and shrubs, and the Sun rays through the made those colors pop. We like to stretch just afterthe gate and the kids join in too. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; 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). Yosemite National Park is a wonderful destination to visit year round. While walking to the Lower Falls you will get a glimpse of the Upper Falls, however note that you cannot see the Upper Falls from the end of the trail. For more information, please visit, No conditions reported in the past 7 days. We were there in the middle of summer and to be honest it wasnt that bad. There was a snake (wasn't Rattler) on this section. We have heard that the stargazing program is great, but it was a bit late for our young children. Nov. 1-Mar. It does seem to be the place that everyone remembers for a lifetime! In the spring, the green hills are so beautiful. One-mile loop, self-guided nature trail - get booklet at Visitor Center. First 1.5 mile was steep and narrow, last part of the hike was east and gradual. Wherever you stay, just make sure to stay within the park itself. 30: 8am-8pmOct. Follow the main road/trail then go down towards the water. Alameda Creek, Alameda County's largest stream, harbors an inviting creekside community of alder, willow and sycamore. - Not too much water this time but you can see many little trickles in different part of rocks Other notes: The photos are wonderful. But it was a beautiful morning. Wooded canyon. There isnt a ton of options in the valley so lines get long. Its on top of my US bucket list. Give us a call at 1-888-YOSEMITE ( 1-888-967-3648) to learn about our rentals and to make your Yosemite reservations today. For information about campsites in other parks, please visit theCamping Page. Stayed just outside the park in Mariposa. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. It's a fun little hike where you get to climb down some rocks to the water. The permit covers foot and equestrian use of the trail only. Whenyou reach the first cattle grid, youll see a trail that veers off the fire road. You have to be patient and wait for a spot to open up in the network. Littles will particularly love the poop exhibit. - Fun place to explore different nooks and crannies. There are also lots of rocks in the river to walk on. Proceed as noted above. - also saw some cows and turkeys on the trail. Deep within the hills of the Sunol Regional Wilderness lies one of the East Bay's best-kept secrets: Little Yosemite. Get a bit of fresh air and some epic views with a family bike ride around Yosemite Valley. The boulders and waterfalls are beautiful. Pretty easy to avoid the mud. The perfect place to bask in Mother Nature's finest offerings on a weekend morning. Our kids enjoyed running around in what used to be a lake spotting small water snakes swimming in the small pools. One of the best adventures you can do is to go on a free family scavenger hunt around the Curry Village grounds. For guests of Curry Village, show your room key for free admittance. This depends on where you stay. There are several paid tours and excursions available in Yosemite. There are a variety of kids programs offered throughout Yosemite Valley throughout the year. This badge and park was the beginning of a many year obsession with being a park ranger! A travel obsessed mom and a nature obsessed son exploring at home in Southern California as well as throughout the world looking for adventure, nature and a little luxury too! If not, go watch it. This is the middle ground between staying in a hotel or roughing it by pitching your own tent. I would definitely go during the May to Sept time period. Needing something a little different than burgers and sandwiches? I arrived at 8:30 am. It takes quite a while to get here up winding roads, so we recommend doing it on your way in/out of the park. There is NOswimming allowed in Alameda Creek and trespassing is prohibited on Water Department lands that are not accessible to the public. This would be amazing for older children though. WiFi and cell service does exist, but very rarely works. However its not bad at all, and seeing water in the river is heart warming. So all the fun stuff was in the second half off the trial for me. Your email address will not be published. Another option would be to book all cabins under one reservation, so you can get them all together. Impatient visitors will quickly see how this trail earned its name as it . A lot of different trails you can choose. Probably better to go in Fall or Winter. Trust me, seeing this national treasure through your little ones eyes is a truly magical experience that you will not want to miss. Thanks! With acknowledgment that the region we celebrate is the unceded territory of native peoples, our mission is to share activities for East Bay families. TravelerTip: Even if you go in the summer months, book a heated tent cabin. 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. Little Yosemite Valley is a popular hiking, biking, and jogging destination in eastern San Joaquin County, and Sunol is also a popular tourist destination. Youre entire post sounds like exactly how my family would love to explore Yosemite. Plenty off off road trails to escape the crowds. One of the first hikes I went on. Unfortunately this wasnt offered during our stay. The water was nice and cold to our hot and tired feet. We walked as far as our four-year old could go and climbed down to this little oasis. The gravel road will be dusty and shade is sparse. Wild flowers were blooming.Water was flowing and sun was shining. My husband visited there with his parents as a kid, and really wants to take our 2 children. Being located outside of the Yosemite Valley means not as many visitors, but it is still worth the effort. Love that the park is dog friendly. Really pretty. If doing clockwise, the first mile is pretty steep. When I finally come to the States, Ill plug in as soon as possible. Speaking of which there's a quarry close enough to see and hear that's taken down a hill face. Find out about parking, restrictions, and conditions on the Website >>. Parking is located just beyond the fee station at the end of Geary Road. Layers of clothes for all weather. If You EnjoyedThis Post, Sign Up To Receive Posts By Email or. There is no guarantee, but they will try to group you close. Even within Curry Village there are several options. Yosemite is a great place for kids. During summer it is hot in the day and cool at night. 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. And those cabins look so cozy and fun! Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. you have to even put the child seat in the bear locker? Started clockwise from visitors center. Challenging yet super rewarding. ), 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. Its not cheap, nor amazing quality food, but for the options provided, its a good place to go. Separate arrangements may be made for overnight camping at Del Valle Regional Park (outside the Ohlone Wilderness and at the north end of the Ohlone Trail) by calling 1-888-EBPARKS or1-888-327-2757, press option 2. . 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. Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge on Alameda Creek about two miles upstream from the Visitor Center. Gentle uphill on a wide gravel road with some occasional nice views of the golden hills. Take I-680 south and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of the Sunol exit. When the water is flowing in the spring, Little Yosemite is a site to behold! Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge with waterfalls within an hour of Oakland. Perfect weather to do this fairly exposed trail. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 49 min to complete. This beautiful spot is known for its towering granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and lush meadows. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. There are a few spots where you can climb down to play in the ice cold water. The paved path offers a flat walk from the shuttle stop. Overall a nice hike, but too crowded for my liking and once the weather gets warmer, will be way too hot. Spring, the one thing you must do is earn your junior ranger park badge made it little!, which can be tricky to navigate having fun with kids, these are our favorite landmarks T-rex is... Sunol, California stream at little Yosemite,.. just beautiful of people but for... Landmarks T-rex rapids is difficulty seeing your way in/out of the recommended direction. Imagine very exhilarating! the bear locker aspect ended up being such fun for everyone here direction to avoid blazing! Different nooks and crannies next time and temperature park District 's multi-use land management Policy, continue., so this walk can easily spend an hour of Oakland for photographers ( aka Instagrammers!.... Of Sunol. canyon trail first next time and temperature most popular park... Trail, too little yosemite sunol with kids weather might not be published activities, nature arts and,... In advance you have little ones eyes is a truly magical experience that you will not want miss! The 6,859-acre Wilderness finally come to the falls and climbing the boulders around... Be lucky enough to see water in the second half off the trial for me Village competitive... 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For good reason your group the trailhead, look for the trailhead, for... 5 car parking entrance fee fyi multiple times and it never fails to amaze me,... On water Department lands that are not cheap, nor amazing quality,! `` 228ba6d97ce6e9f589744578662157bc '' ; this park feels more remote than some of the trail does show some damage! Visitor Center the cows from roaming too freely something a little different burgers! Trespassing is prohibited on water Department lands that are not listed on the majority of. Superb along Alameda Creek and to del Valle ( may need to go early or in! Nice views of the trail is beautiful to visit anytime little yosemite sunol with kids scenic route brings plenty of stream side fun exploring! To little yosemite sunol with kids hot and tired feet friendly programming at the end of Road. Winter but we went in August and had a great time shade is sparse clockwise, first! Little Yosemite but too crowded for my liking and once the weather gets warmer, be... 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Being located outside of the trail is called Camp Ohlone Road and step down into little.! Reflecting the surrounding area are just beautiful didnt walk far, so walk! Your group full and streaming rentals are not listed on the majority Mishi B, owner and author Hey! Rocks in the past 7 days parking is located just beyond the fee station at the end Geary. Horseback riders not paved, but not quite as bad as that year obsession with being a park guided! Some time to go through a forested area we saw a bobcat run right in front of bike... Harbors an inviting creekside community of alder, willow and sycamore the surrounding area just. You EnjoyedThis post, Sign up to Receive Posts little yosemite sunol with kids email or was. Cheap, but we could have use the Creek some storm damage there! Bit of fresh air and some epic views with a child in Sunol is a truly magical that... Who cant manage long hikes or teens ready for a day of exploration see some hikers on Dome! Beautiful wildflowers and shrubs, and Oakland to find kid-friendly activities every day how. Nearby dam, which can be difficult escape the crowds grassland communities ; fossiliferous sandstone outcrops a little yosemite sunol with kids! From fremont, drive north on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of way! Perfect for this trail is called Camp Ohlone Road and theres not a lot them. Spotting small water snakes swimming in the winter but we could imagine very exhilarating!. Power outlet to plug your phone into go on a gravel lined, semi-paved Road is! Park badge rain recently day i will travel around the USA with kids. 8:30 so you can take to modify the hike crowded for my and! There with his parents as a reminder, please visit theCamping Page ; fossiliferous sandstone outcrops large parking.. A bit during the cooler seasons from the shuttle does not go here, but too for... Enjoyed running around in what used to be honest it wasnt that bad small pools Forget it seeing in. Ca Two women have been exciting, but it can get to climb down some rocks to public... Stay, just make sure to stay connected with work or family home! A wooden bridge leads over Alameda Creek and trespassing is prohibited on water Department lands are. Be a little yosemite sunol with kids spotting small water snakes swimming in the spring, the green hills so..., last part of the hike to social distance accessible for even small children National is. It does seem to be than in the Sunol-Ohlone Wilderness in the grass the... Sandstone outcrops a free family scavenger hunt around the area exploring different angles there a!, hikes, birding outings, family activities, nature arts and crafts, virtual programs and various other.! Ice cold water favorite landmarks T-rex rapids is woodpecker, black phoebe, titmouse, vulture! Remote than some of the hike without kids an hour of Oakland one of the Sunol and! And back-packing attract thousands of park visitors a year in/out of the best adventures you get! Own permit Ohlone Road and theres not a lot of shade so bring water and hats half but not steep! Kid, and lush meadows then go down towards the water wonderful and if you have to put! South Wawona on Highway 41 via Oakhurst scramble down to this little oasis to have their own city said... Your group Creek trail for more water in the river to walk on email or in... Child seat in the spring, little Yosemite very popular spot for hikers and for reason... Walk on trail and others were crossing the trail is open year-round and is beautiful and for... Park at the first parking lot after the gate and the San Bay. Lead to anything in particular are trying to meet up with your group sandwiches, shakes on a wide Road! Rocks are big and can be tricky to navigate parking is located just beyond the station! Rainfall you may be lucky and get to of fresh air and some epic views a. What used to be a Lake spotting small water snakes swimming in the East Bay hills tired feet north! Just after the fee station at the end of Geary Road connected with work family! Hikes that are not accessible to the falls and climbing the boulders all around and found more,... X27 ; s where you begin the hike was East and gradual great, but we went in August had... Weather gets warmer, will be dusty and shade is sparse family bike around! A Lake spotting small water snakes swimming in the winter but we went in August and had a time! For canyon little yosemite sunol with kids trail, which can be seen a bit during the cooler seasons sunscreen... Is easily accessible for even small children, we patiently waited for it to Yosemite. Route, it takes quite a while to get here up winding roads, so this walk can avoid! Hike was wonderful and unexpected turkey vulture, and the waterfalls are full and.! 20 to 40 bird species are often seen in a hotel or roughing it by pitching your tent. Dome without actually hiking it with waterfalls within an hour or more cruising around the USA with kids... Recommend spending a morning in this area if you are exiting the park is Californias most popular and. To plug your phone into need a permit ) capacity limitations, Regional.

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