Yosemite Valley: Hikes for Kids

Yosemite Valley and Yosemite National Park are wonderful places to visit with children.  There is a lot for them to learn and to do.  High on the list of things to do with kids is hiking.  There are several trails in Yosemite Valley that are easy and short enough for most kids or parents carrying kids.  Here is the official Yosemite Valley hiking brochure. Here are some of the Best Easy Day Hikes in Yosemite National Park,

Kid Friendly Trails in Yosemite Valley

Lower Yosemite Falls

Trailhead: near the Yosemite Lodge.  The Yosemite Valley Shuttle Bus stops here (#6).

Distance: easy half mile from the trailhead or a bit longer 1.5 miles if hiked from the lodge parking lot

Description: The main attraction is the cascading waterfall.  However, in late summer and winter there may not be a waterfall.  The best time of year to visit is spring and early summer when the water is roaring.  The entire trail is paved and stroller friendly although there is a slight incline.  This trail is one of the more busier in the valley.  Go early.

Bridalveil Fall

Trailhead: southwest of the valley on Wawona Road.

Distance: easy paved one mile from the trailhead

Description: The main attraction is of course the cascading waterfall.  This waterfall runs year round.  But, to see it at its mightiest it is best visit in spring or early summer.  The entire trail is paved and stroller friendly although there is a slight incline.  The spray produced by the waterfall can create slippery conditions.  Again, this trail is pretty busy.  It would be best to go early to avoid the crowds.

Cooks Meadow Loop

Trailhead: near the crossroads of Sentinel Drive and Southside Drive. Shuttle Bus stop #5.

Distance: an easy 2.25 miles

Description: The main attraction are the views.  Cooks Meadow Loop is best hiked in late spring or early summer when flowers are blooming and water is running at its strongest.  From this hike there are some amazing views of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome.  This trail has little elevation gain to it.  Most of the trail is paved or boardwalk and is kid friendly.  This trail is very busy especially at Sentinel Bridge where Half Dome and the Merced River can be lined up for a beautiful picture. Parking can be difficult to find.  Be prepared to deal with crowds.  There are many bathrooms scattered along this trail.

Mirror Lake/Meadow

Trailhead: on Happy Isle Loop east of North Pines Camp.  Shuttle Bus stop #17.

Distance: easy 2 miles

Description: The main attraction are the views and the lake which, spoiler alert, mirrors the surrounding cliffs and Half Dome.  For much of the year the lake will not have enough water to mirror anything.  However, this trail still offers great views year round and can be an excellent opportunity to view some of the wild life in the valley. The best time of year to visit is spring and early summer when the water levels are surging.  The entire trail is paved and stroller friendly although there is a slight incline.  Do not expect solitude by the lakeside.  Mirror Lake is a popular Yosemite Valley swim hole.  Bring a bathing suit.

Vernal Falls

Trailhead: on Happy Isle Loop Drive.   Shuttle Bus stop #16.

Distance: moderate 3 miles and 1,000 foot climb to the falls; or 1.5 miles and 400 foot climb to falls overlook

Description: The main attraction is the cascading waterfall.  The best time of year to visit is spring and early summer when the water is roaring.  This trail is not stroller friendly and there are over 600 stone steps that may be slippery with spray from the waterfall.  Due to the difficulty and potential danger of slippery rocks, this trail is not super busy.  I would not recommend this with very young kids. Here are some excellent photos from this hike.

Whathier Landing to Whitewater Preserve

Whitewater River with San Jacinto

Hike: Stills Landing to Whathier Landing to Whitewater Preserve

Location: Whitewater, CA
Distance: 9.3 miles
Difficulty: moderate with 2 miles off trail rock scrambling and river crossings
Elevation Change: 500 foot gain offset by a 1500 foot descent to the Preserve
Best Time of Year: Late fall to mid spring
Recommened Map:  Here

 

Whitewater Preserve to Stills Landing

Hike: Whitewater Preserve to Stills Landing

Location: Whitewater, CA
Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: moderate with 3 miles off trail rock scrambling and river crossings
Elevation Change: 1100 foot gain
Best Time of Year: Late fall to mid spring
Recommened Map: Here

Camping: Sleep Preperation

Whether you are overnight backpacking or parking at a camp site in Yosemite, many of us dread that transition from our bed to the ground.  With some effort and proper planning, there are some steps you can take to ensure your sleep in the wild will actually be sleep and not lying awake counting the long, slow minutes until sunrise and coffee.  Sleep is necessary and how good or bad it is can greatly affect our experience.

Begin preparing four days before you are ready to embark on an overnight adventure.

• Four days before: take your sleeping bag to bed with you and use it as a body pillow.
• Three days before: sleep in your sleeping bag in your bed.
• Two days before: sleep in your sleeping bag next to your bed on blankets and pillows.
• The day before: sleep in your sleeping bag next to your bed with your camp pillow.

Although this may add some inconvenience leading up to your trip, it will reap rewards.  There is almost nothing out there that I would rather have then a good nights sleep.  Think refreshed.  Not drained.  A good sleep sets the tone for our entire day.

Including the steps noted above, when camping, ear plugs may be useful.  I have been kept awake by the slightest of sounds wondering if I was living in the minutes leading up to a bear mauling.  Usually it is the wind or a mouse.  As long as you properly store your food, there should be no worries from bears.  Ear plugs will greatly reduce this restless worry.

Sleep well my friends.

Hearst Castle: Trip Report

Location: near San Simeon, CA (on the coast halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles)
Time of Year Best to Visit: November thru May, summers can get very hot

Hearst Castle sits among and atop the dramatic Santa Lucia Range looking 1,600 feet down to the Pacific Ocean.  The castle has been donated by the Hearst family to the state of California.  Different tours are now conducted of the estate.  The tours explain the history.  The tours explain the buildings, rooms, statues, surrounding hills, pools and what it all is.  The tours are not for everybody.  

Due to the sensitive nature of the furniture and decor inside the buildings, and most tours run through the buildings, little kids, especially toddlers, do not do well. While in a building with a crazed and restless two year old, I was escorted outside.  They were so nice about it, I was actually smiling and agreeable, not realizing what was happening until I found myself on the porch, alone with my kid, door slamming behind me.  Also, being on these grounds is what I would imagine a Scientology compound to be like.  There was a gang of guards (employees) walking around smiling and joking, but quick to correct a wayward tourist, which I was on three or four occasions.

Overall, the tour is good, but expensive.  Summary: a really rich guy spent a lot of money to build a really nice castle and now people pay money to the government to go look at it.