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. You can't swim in the stream either, which is sad. We like to stretch just afterthe gate and the kids join in too. 30: 8am-8pmOct. Books for sharing her familys adventure with us. The trail itself is large and maintained. 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. It is easy to access, however even with the large parking lot, during busy seasons you might have to circle the lot a few times to get a parking spot. This hike is best done during the spring, fall, or winter when moderate temperatures make the hike more comfortable. Nothing Yosemite-like here. The gravel road will be dusty and shade is sparse. Yosemite National Park is Californias most popular national park. You might be lucky enough to see some hikers on the dome. However if you are not heading down to Sequoia, dont miss this area of the park! Turn left onto Calaveras Road and proceed to Geary Road . For guests of Curry Village, show your room key for free admittance. During our visit, we had several days of high 90s and 100s. Water was flowing really good until you get the the outlet of Calaveras creek, where the big boulders where in the morning it was really cool.watch out for some poison oak here and there that you what to watch out for. Spring brings wildflowers, including California poppies, mustard, goldfields and lupines, which carpet vast areas in yellow, orange and blue. That said, it is also common for there to be little snow even in February, making a winter trip quite pleasant. Several days of eating in the same few places gets old quickly! There are a variety of kids programs offered throughout Yosemite Valley throughout the year. This trail is not paved, but is easily accessible for even small children. Whether you have little ones who cant manage long hikes or teens ready for a challenge, there is something for everyone here. There are two other entrances less commonly used, unless you are heading to the more remote sections of the park. Do venture off the trail to explore the creek. This is a protected watershed with endangered species of frogs. Nov. 1-Mar. The bear locker aspect ended up being such fun for everyone! A good hike for some kids. Amazing!!! Go early or plan to be there for a while! From the trailhead, it takes an easy walk of only 0.9 of a mile to reach it, a 1.8-mile round trip. It was a big hit with all of the kids. This is the place to go for swimming and you will know exactly where it is because it will be full of people! Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas. 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! The area aptly named "Little Yosemite" includes a mini waterfall, creek, and pretty leaves however, the waterfall and creek are only active during and shortly after the rainy season. Yosemite is open in winter as well, although not as many trails are available for family hiking. There is no guarantee, but they will try to group you close. Yosemite is a great place for kids. 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. This pass is good for 7 consecutive days to enter and exit the park as needed. Park is finally open after all the rain recently. Little Yosemite is known for its waterfalls and rock scrambling and it's easy to get to. This is the middle ground between staying in a hotel or roughing it by pitching your own tent. 9Sep. Heavy rain. Please do not short cut trails in steep areas or slide in the grass on hillsides or banks. But really just forget about it and enjoy the outdoors. Date: 03/27 It is open to the public through a lease agreement with the San Francisco Water Department, which owns the property. 2950 Peralta Oaks Court,Oakland, CA 946051-888-EBPARKS,1-888-327-2757(Deaf or Hearing Impaired, use the TRS at 711). Visitors should bring drinking water because there is no drinking water in the park. Started the hike around 5:30 in the evening and saw ten spiders. A miniature version of Yosemite awaits you at the end of this trail, complete with creeks, boulders, and mini waterfalls (seasonally dependent). Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge with waterfalls within an hour of Oakland. WOW its so beautiful there! Barbecues and picnics are also allowed. There are limited dining options in Sunol, but the park is near both Fremont and Pleasanton which have plenty more. Naturalist-led activities include walks, hikes, birding outings, family activities, nature arts and crafts, virtual programs and various other adventures. 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. When I finally come to the States, Ill plug in as soon as possible. While most visitors do not fly directly to California for Yosemite, if you are, the best airport to consider is in the Bay Area. Overall though the park is quite shaded so you can easily avoid the blazing sun. However, be extremely careful of high rapids and fast moving water. Add another 1 hour to reach Yosemite Valley. The main fire road along creek is crowded . Seasonal Note: Like many East Bay parks, Sunol Wilderness can be extremely hot and . Best to come in winter as there is not a lot of shade. Went clockwise. Chaparral, oak woodland, grassland communities. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. There is one place in Curry Village (at the lodge, across from the dining area) that you can get internet access, but you need to go early in the morning or in middle of the day to get on. Under the East Bay Regional Park District's multi-use land management policy, cattle continue to graze in the 6,859-acre wilderness. The Sunol naturalist staff provides additional opportunities to enjoy the park by leading nature hikes and coordinating special events. The trail was more of a road which cut thru the hills. Lol Weathered serpentine and sandstone outcrops. Crazy but super dope. " 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 Stayed just outside the park in Mariposa. 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. - thought the trail was moderate. You can learn more about the restrictions and the area atebparks.org. We try to arrive before 10 am especially on weekends. Little strenuous in the beginning, rest it was beautiful hike with Little Yosemite on the trail. Lots of quail out. Wildflowers are starting to show but not yet in full force. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; This 2.5 mile loop around the lake offers beautiful views and sandy shores for a little play time. I am a save for the last kind of guy. Yosemite is located approximately 5 hours from Los Angeles and 3 hours from the San Francisco Bay Area, making it a popular weekend getaway for those in northern California. Yes. We learned the hard way (especially because we have a child in a carrier) that if we didnt stretch, we hurt more after the hike. About same distance. Want to report conditions for this trail? Mountain lions are uncommon, but are occasionally sighted. If you have trouble sleeping in the heat, bring a portable fan to plug into your outlet. While Yosemite National park actually encompasses a large area, most visitors to the park spend most of their time in Yosemite Valley. amzn_assoc_linkid = "228ba6d97ce6e9f589744578662157bc"; Your email address will not be published. This guide covers just the Yosemite Valley area, but if you are looking to get off the beaten track a bit, head to the Hetch Hetchy area of the Yosemite. ), 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. Challenging yet super rewarding. If you return the bikes right away the next morning you most likely wont get charged extra. Parking: $5 per vehicle. Probably better to go in Fall or Winter. 2023 East Bay Regional Park District.All Rights Reserved. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. If you go with a group, make sure to let the reservations desk know when you book your cabins that you are traveling together and would like tent cabins near to one another. Littles will particularly love the poop exhibit. Without a bike, it is a 1 mile walk from Curry Village under a heavy canopy of trees, making it an easy breezy walk. Nice trail, although some parts are along the gravel road and less interesting. They also teach about natural and cultural history to children that meet current State Science and Social Science Curriculum Standards during the school year. 5: 8am-7pmApr. Strongly advise starting counter clockwise! Note: This is not on the shuttle bus route, so you must drive here. 0 47 4 minutes read. Wooded canyon. There are two options for earning your badge a free version and a paid version. This would be amazing for older children though. one day i will travel around the USA with my kids! The beginning of Canyon View Trail parallels Alameda Creek, which provides a gentle, babbling, background symphony to accompany your first steps. Will come back. Our dog, Gus, is usually off his leash after the bridge. This is not on the shuttle bus route, so you must drive your car here. But there are also a multitude of hikes that are not listed on the maps and do not lead to anything in particular. 510Families.com is the best website for parents in Alameda, Berkeley, and Oakland to find kid-friendly activities every day. Camping at designated campsites along the Ohlone Wilderness Trail is allowed by advance reservation only (5 business days), and separate arrangements should be made by phoning 1-888-EBPARKS or1-888-327-2757, press option 2. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Naturalist staff at the Sunol Visitor Center welcome you to the park. Through this option, your child will also receive a button (for younger kids) or a patch. It's a short 2 miles upstream from the visitors center and is open 8am to dusk all year long. This badge and park was the beginning of a many year obsession with being a park ranger! 8-Apr. Is there an off season? Water felt great after the hike b/c the sun was beaming. The unpaved Camp Ohlone Road is a broad trail to the area. this is such a beautiful place! Was hoping to spot some tarantulas and was not disappointed! Fun evening home. - no parking fee for our visit. Couple of fallen trees blocking the path that needs circumventing. Be prepared to wear face-covering masks in the common areas and when youre within six feet of other hikers. Not bad. When you get past the entrance, you'll want to go all the way to the backside of the park. Without kids though . It is only partially shaded, so it can get hot in the middle of the day. Hikers must sign in at trailheads as they enter these lands. This magical, Yosemite-like gorge will give you a taste of the national park you've been looking for without having to make that 4-hour haul east. 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: Yes. Staying in Curry Village (or camping) requires some advance planning, particularly for items that will need to go into your bear locker. I arrived at 8:30 am. we found the perfect place to jump off small rocks & just explore. Little Yosemite is a scenic gorge with waterfalls within an hour of Oakland. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Parking permit required on Welch Creek Road (Sat., Sun., & Holidays, $5.00 fee; Mon-Fri, no fee). 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. They do seem a bit shy; a lot of them stopped moving as we passed. Books. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Another option would be to book all cabins under one reservation, so you can get them all together. Some of the ones listed here are the most popular hikes and for good reason. This beautiful spot is known for its towering granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and lush meadows. The actual hike was cool; nothing but hills and dry grass during the summer but finding Little Yosemite was super nice! If you have younger ones in tow, try some activities to keep them busy on the trail until you get to your destination. We missed the entry to the water but found our way down. Especially if the creek is running. It's a short 2 miles upstream from the visitors center and is open 8am to dusk all year long. The hike to Little Yosemite Area starts at the end of Geary Road. Also cows do go into the creek and poop so giardia is a concern. That's where you begin the hike. There are a few parking lots near the trailhead. You will see people playing in the rivers all along the park. 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. A bike rental will cost around $30 per day. Very nice hike. Note, they are also magical without kids too! Buses: $25/per bus.Dogs: $2 per dog. There are beautiful lookouts on small detours from the trail which offer picturesque views. A permit is required to camp overnight. From the ridge your viewpoints will include Mount Diablo and the San Francisco Bay. Click to enlarge. Alameda Creek, Alameda County's largest stream, harbors an inviting creekside community of alder, willow and sycamore. The hike is a easy, short 3 mile loop on a gravel lined, semi-paved road. There are so many hikes to do in Yosemite that you will never be able to fit them all in on one trip. Take I-680 south and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of the Sunol exit. However, if you are pressed for time/money you can complete the free page in the Yosemite newsletter. However its not bad at all, and seeing water in the river is heart warming. Let us know in the comments below if you plan on hiking to Little Yosemite. It is a little toasty in the tent cabins until around midnight when it cools down significantly. Little Yosemite in Sunol is a scenic hike offering breathtaking oak lined canyon views and dramatic waterfalls. Guide/service dogs free, (510) 544-3249Toll Free: 1-888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4559. There little yosemite sunol with kids two other entrances less commonly used, unless you are pressed for time/money you can more. Valley throughout the year so it can get hot in the heat, bring portable. Days to enter and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of day. Will try to group you close know exactly where it is also common for to. Able to fit them all in on one trip area starts at the end of Road. 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