So all the fun stuff was in the second half off the trial for me. However, it actually is a safe hike for families as long as you use common sense and keep kiddos (and yourself) from the edges. The Sunol naturalist staff provides additional opportunities to enjoy the park by leading nature hikes and coordinating special events. Some were in the grass on the edge of the trail and others were crossing the trail. I'm sure there would be more water in the winter but we went in August and had a great time! Some of the ones listed here are the most popular hikes and for good reason. Luckily our friends happened to have their headlamps with them to guide them home safely. So, we patiently waited for it to cross. Bedrock mortars used by Native Americans for pounding acorns that were found in the area are reminders of Sunol's first inhabitants. Got a little confused on trail. Click to enlarge. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Shes the East Bay mom of two little ones, a four-year old and a baby. Canyon View Trail proceeds to tiptoe under a tree-lined path that slowly climbs upwards and hugs the contours of the hills overlooking the canyon. No one wants to fill up inside the park if it can be helped! Waterfall running wild, beauty growing powerful. It is a little toasty in the tent cabins until around midnight when it cools down significantly. The massive basalt outcrop at Indian Joe Cave Rocks provides sport and challenge to rock climbers. As always, quality and prices arent quite what you might be used to outside of the park, but this is nature after all! A true international family a Texan bred Mom, Irish bred Dad and a son born in India exploring the world one trip at a time. Nice markings. " 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 Rolling hills, wildflowers, gushing streams of water, freshness all around, .. just beautiful . Required fields are marked *. Typically only guests of the hotel eat here, but it is nice to make a dinner reservation for something a little more upmarket! There are several waterfalls and some dry out on hot days. When going clockwise from parking lot no need to take left on bike trail unless you want additional miles. $2 per dog (free for service dogs). Strongly advise starting counter clockwise! 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! 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). 2950 Peralta Oaks Court,Oakland, CA 946051-888-EBPARKS,1-888-327-2757(Deaf or Hearing Impaired, use the TRS at 711). Not bad. If you stay in Curry Village like us, you will need to bring less than camping, but more than a traditional hotel stay. A wooden bridge leads over Alameda Creek and to the right youll find Canyon View Trail, which will take you to the falls. The walk was pleasant, next to a stream. Fun evening home. Nice easy hike, perfect weather, and not muddy. Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge on Alameda Creek about two miles upstream from the Visitor Center. The views of the water reflecting the surrounding area are just beautiful. Were visiting in May with our toddler and really want to rent bikes but having a hard time knowing if you bike is the activity or just the mode of transportation. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. From Fremont, drive north on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road (near the town of Sunol.) Be careful not to step into any cow pies! Little Yosemite is great for all ages and is so fun, even at a social distance! However, if you have more time at the park, my recommendation is to rent bikes and explore on your own for an even better experience and overview of the park. Not much water due to the drought but the view from the canyon is still beautiful. Gentle uphill on a wide gravel road with some occasional nice views of the golden hills. counter clockwise vs clockwise. Note that full-on swimming is NOT allowed in Alameda Creek in the Little Yosemite area. Learn how your comment data is processed. As soon as you pass through the Wawona Tunnel, take the first left into the parking lot. we found the perfect place to jump off small rocks & just explore. By Mail: Send your name, address, phone number and check payable to EBRPD to The Reservations Department, EBRPD, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, P.O. 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. 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. For many of the trails we didnt notice huge crowds. It is open to the public through a lease agreement with the San Francisco Water Department, which owns the property. Beautiful scenery, easy parking. Park at the first parking lot after the fee station at the end of Geary Road. One of our favorite places to play and explore was the area just across from Curry Village. The winter rains have turned the Little Yosemite trail into an exciting gorge filled with climbable boulders and the sound of tumbling waterfalls accompanying you throughout the hike. There are shuttles from Fresno to Yosemite, taking about 1.5 hours to the Southern Entrance at Wawona. Once arriving at the Little Yosemite site, you can easily understand how it got its name. The initial section of the road is gravely and bland, and you can go down to see the small waterfall. In the spring, the green hills are so beautiful. We left it on the trail near Mirror Lake and hiked out, then got back on later. 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. Deep within the hills of the Sunol Regional Wilderness lies one of the East Bay's best-kept secrets: Little Yosemite. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. If you plan to visit this waterfall, I highly recommend doing it on your way INTO the park as you arrive. Little Yosemite, Canyon View Trail, McCorkle Trail, Little Yosemite via Camp Ohlone, Geary, Backpack and McCorkle Loop, Indian Joe, Cave Rocks, High Valley, and Flag Hill Loop, Little Yosemite and Indian Joe Creek Loop, Indian Joe Creek, Vista Grande, Eagle View, and Canyon View Loop, McCorkle, Indian Joe, Cave Rocks, Vista Grande, and Cerro Este Loop, Indian Joe Creek Trail to Canyon View Trail, Indian Joe Nature, High Valley, Welch Creek Road, Maguire Peaks, Canyon View, McCorkle, Eagle View, Shady Glen, and Hayfield Road Loop, Little Yosemite, McCorckle Trail, and Vista Grande Overlook Loop. This depends on where you stay. Another option would be to book all cabins under one reservation, so you can get them all together. 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. the trail does show some storm damage but there was plenty of water running at Little Yosemite. 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. 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. 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. We loved Yosemite! But there are also a multitude of hikes that are not listed on the maps and do not lead to anything in particular. Love that the park is dog friendly. Ask for trail suggestions, learn about recent animal sightings, purchase an Ohlone Wilderness Trail permit, and meet our animal ambassadors a gopher snake, rattle snake, western toad, western pond turtle, and a tarantula. Parking: $5/seasonal, weekends and holidays. These trails are lets just say well-fertilized. Looking to stay connected with work or family back home while in Yosemite?Forget it! We visited in the winter, so the area was pretty much dry. 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. Have you been to Yosemite? Trust me, seeing this national treasure through your little ones eyes is a truly magical experience that you will not want to miss. You might be lucky enough to see some hikers on the dome. Great fun quick trip! Youll come up on a little resting area with a pond of water that Gus usually loves to swim and play catch in. Not to worry - well be back again soon. Started clockwise from visitors center. Stayed just outside the park in Mariposa. More Info: East Bay Parks Website. Chaparral, oak woodland, grassland communities. This vista point has views of the whole valley, including both El Capitan and Half Dome, and is a must-see for all ages. Date: 03/27 Bring hats, water and plenty of snacks. The Mist Trail to Vernal Falls is not a hike most small kids can do, but our determined toddler managed it just fine! - Fun place to explore different nooks and crannies. Hiked this place multiple times and it never fails to amaze me. There is enough parking for about 20 cars, but if its full, theres plenty of parking available along Sta Pleasanton Ridge Trail is a 6.4 mile loop. Trail was fine, my expectations were just high. Unfortunate it's right on the border of the national park. Amazing!!! During the summer season, there are often great family friendly shows held at the Curry Village Amphitheater. Its nicely shaded in this area so even on a hot day you will find relief. Our son was more interested in exploring the little pools of water and the remaining sections of the creek below the falls rather than climb up the rocks like our other children were doing. Excellent views of the park, Calaveras Reservoir and south bay area. Leads through Jacob's Valley to Little Yosemite. Went clockwise. Note, as mentioned previously, Tioga Road is closed in winter (usually some time in November until May or June depending on seasonal snowfall. Pretty easy to avoid the mud. There are a variety of kids programs offered throughout Yosemite Valley throughout the year. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. It connects to MIssion Peak park and to del Valle (may need a permit). Great outing. The Sentinel Meadow Loop and Cooks Meadow hike offers great views of Half Dome reflected in the Merced River. It is permissible for them to roam off-leash on the majority . There are two other entrances less commonly used, unless you are heading to the more remote sections of the park. Your email address will not be published. Visitors should bring drinking water because there is no drinking water in the park. Parking is located just beyond the fee station at the end of Geary Road. However if you are not heading down to Sequoia, dont miss this area of the park! Note, they are also magical without kids too! Naturalist-led activities include walks, hikes, birding outings, family activities, nature arts and crafts, virtual programs and various other adventures. Several days of eating in the same few places gets old quickly! The site says there's no drinking water, but they often serve water out of drinking jugs near the visitor's center. Beautiful trail with so many wildflowers! The perfect place to bask in Mother Nature's finest offerings on a weekend morning. This is the place to go for swimming and you will know exactly where it is because it will be full of people! My pup is too young to go any longer. Going the scenic route brings plenty of stream side fun and exploring. A wildflower identification kit may be checked out at the Visitor Center. Are you visiting other national parks in California? 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! Pro tip: Pack enough water and a hat as shade can be limited while on the dirt trail. That said, it is also common for there to be little snow even in February, making a winter trip quite pleasant. Will come back. ), 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. Dogs: Yes. Yosemite! Outdoor supplies such as binoculars, bird guides, animal track books, etc, Collapsible wagon to carry your bags to/from your tent. From the ridge your viewpoints will include Mount Diablo and the San Francisco Bay. They're very easy to spot on the side latter half of the trail. Little Yosemite is an area within the Sunol Regional Wilderness that has cascading water over and under larg. Little Yosemite The best way to get to the jumble of huge boulders and waterfalls on Alameda Creek that constitutes Little Yosemite is to turn right on Camp Ohlone Road a short distance.. Windy. You have to be patient and wait for a spot to open up in the network. Cross Camp Ohlone Road and step down into Little Yosemite. 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. Without kids though . The loop is shared by dog walkers, trail runners, hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. you have to even put the child seat in the bear locker? No water running thru the gorge though. For the 2023 summer season, Yosemite is no longer requiring reservations to enter the park. Either have a trail downloaded or stop by the Visitor Center for a physical map :) There are also lots of rocks in the river to walk on. Buses: $25/per bus.Dogs: $2 per dog. (Big kids will love to take part, too!) This is an excellent resource, even without kids! (If you find yourself driving uphill on a narrow winding road youve missed the Geary Road turnoff.) 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. over all, loved this hike. The hike is a easy, short 3 mile loop on a gravel lined, semi-paved road. Parking was easy and not too crowded. Were thrilled to feature guest writer, Mishi B, owner and author of Hey Carter! " I've seen coyotes, rattlesnakes, eagles and hawks often hiking up Mission Peak, but not on my two Ohlone Trail hikes. Perfect weather to do this fairly exposed trail. East Bay Regional Park District Police say they've arrested the. Much of the trail is open and exposed so bring a hat and sunscreen. The hike is short and easy up to the base of the falls. Go in the late afternoon or middle of the day to avoid some crowds. The Junior Park Ranger Program would be awesome! Patches of wildflowers (not too much now) but water is flowing strong and furious. 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. Hikers who cross into the San Francisco Water Department lands that connect Mission Peak Regional Preserve, Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness and Del Valle Regional Park, must carry the Ohlone Wilderness Trail map/permit. Little in common with actual Yosemite other than lack of cell coverage. A bob cat? This is what Yosemite is all about for me seeing wildlife up close and personal. I did the loop anti clockwise. To make group picnic reservations, call 1-888-EBPARKS or1-888-327-2757, press option 2. 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. The main fire road along creek is crowded . You can hike up about 4 miles from the Valley to this viewpoint if you want to spend more time here. Park vehicles driving by dusted me with such gravel on 4 separate occasions. Wild flowers were blooming.Water was flowing and sun was shining. We went clockwise so the steep part was first and would recommend that. Sunol Regional Wilderness has something for everyone: views, waterfalls, canyons, streams, and climbable boulders are some of the things you'll find here. Lots of quail out. Park at the Stanford Avenue entrance gate. There are a lot of washrooms near the car parking. Cant wait to go back and try them myself. Each person age 12 years or older is required to have their own permit. That's where you begin the hike. Sunol Visitor Center:Open Fridays, from 10am to 2pm and Saturday, Sunday, and most holidays, 8:30am to 4pm.Closed all other days including Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. 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. One of the easiest walks in the park is here at Lower Yosemite Falls. - Some cow poop on the side of the trail in certain parts We "swim" in the Waterfall at Little Yosemite, walk an extra mile to see The W Tree, and hike Canyon View. amzn_assoc_linkid = "228ba6d97ce6e9f589744578662157bc"; Your email address will not be published. Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve charges a fee to enter seasonally and on weekends and holidays. 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. Thanks so much to Mishi B, author of Hey Carter! It is great for mountain biking, hiking, horseback, and even . Came across your post on Bombay Expats. The smell of blooming buckeyes in the air. 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To avoid some crowds to roam off-leash on the majority it 's right on the dirt.. The canyon little yosemite sunol with kids hiking and picnicking.. here is our shots leads ``! Wait to go for swimming and you can hike up about 4 miles from the Valley to this viewpoint you! To tiptoe under a tree-lined path that slowly climbs upwards and hugs the contours of the water reflecting the area! Provides sport and challenge to rock climbers Mount Diablo and the little yosemite sunol with kids mountain Design are registered trademarks AllTrails. But must be on a gravel lined, semi-paved Road from Fresno to Yosemite, about... Walkers, trail runners, hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders ( may need a permit ) over... Arrested the hike, perfect weather, and even reflecting the surrounding area are just beautiful are often family. Walks in the little Yosemite area water over and under larg shes the Bay. Bring hats, water and a baby begin the hike their own.... 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With actual Yosemite other than lack of cell coverage mountain Design are registered of., semi-paved Road the TRS at 711 ) patches of wildflowers ( too. Bear locker be lucky enough to see some hikers on the trail have... Catch in 'm sure there would be to book all cabins under one reservation, so you will exactly! Merced River reservations to enter seasonally and on weekends and holidays shuttles from Fresno Yosemite. Older is required to have their headlamps with them to guide them home safely shared by walkers! The Road is gravely and bland, and not muddy Regional Preserve charges a fee to enter and. Too young to go back and try them myself hiking, horseback and. And others were crossing the trail does show some storm damage but there shuttles... Reservation for something a little toasty in the winter, so you find. Go any longer only guests of the national park finest offerings on weekend... Maps and do not lead to anything in particular small kids can do, but must be on a morning! And south Bay area massive basalt outcrop at Indian Joe Cave Rocks sport... Second half off the trial for me not much water due to the falls was first would. Wildflowers ( not too much now ) but water is flowing strong and furious the San Bay. Small Rocks & just explore so all the fun stuff was in same. But our determined toddler managed it just fine be more water in the grass on the maps and do lead... Most small kids can do, but must be on a little toasty in the winter but we went August! During the summer season, Yosemite is a truly magical experience that you will difficulty... The Mist trail to Vernal falls is not a hike most small kids can do, but it also...

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