Total honesty… I’m intimidated by writing this post. I’m struggling to find the words to desbribe the enormity and absolute soul shocking beauty that Yosemite displays… So first I’ll show you a few photos.

Tips for campers out there…

Our stay in Yosemite was our first time settling in one spot for 2 solid weeks,since we first set off on this adventure. We settled at Yosemite RV Pines Resort in Groveland, CA. Here’s the tip…Many campgrounds state the name of the nearby attraction in which they hope to attract tourists. If you are out there booking campgrounds for a trip to a large attraction like Yosemite, make sure you double and triple check how far you are from said attraction. For example, one would think that a campground named after Yosemite would be close to Yosemite, but that’s a ploy to get in visitors from the park. We were 30 minutes from the gate. Doable drive, right? Not exactly… once at the gate it’s about an hour drive through the mountains to most trailheads… Therefore, we were driving around 3 hours every time we went to the park in belief that we would only drive an hour round trip. Mind you, with two kids 4 and under. Keep distance as your main focus when booking campsites, especially at highly visited places like National Parks that have large areas to drive within the park. One can always call the park and verify distance to trailheads with rangers to determine driving distance before booking, as well. I highly recommend doing just that to help make the best possible use of your time when visiting this and other National Parks.

Family Friendly trails:

Yosemite Valley:

• Lower Yosemite Falls Trail: [1 mi] Paved and handicap accessible, loop trail
• Cook’s Meadow Loop:
• Mirror Lake Loop (paved road is easiest)

*Bridalveil falls was closed due to construction during our visit, but is listed as an easy trail and could be another option if open.

Glacier Point Road:

• Sentinel Dome:
  • Our FAVORITE! 360 degree views of the park.
  • Be aware this is labeled moderate, but was easily doable for a 4 year old and a child in carrier.
  • Careful with kiddos on the final ascent to the top, especially when snow is present. Adults may want to take turns going up to the top, depending on conditions*

Rangers do not recommend going onward to Taft point from Sentinel with children, due to the fissures presenting a hazard for little ones.

Mariposa Grove:

• Big Trees Loop Trail [0.3 mi]
  • We did not do this trail, but recommend as it is handicap accessible

While we did not make our way to Wawona for hikes. There are 2 hikes that are labeled EASY and should be doable for families, Wawona Meadow Loop [3.5 mi] and Swinging Bridge Loop [4.8 mi].

Vernal Falls

The Vernal Falls trail is absolutely breathtaking and I highly recommend taking this if you are an adult looking to hike without kids or if you feel comfortable hiking inclines with children in carrier. I hiked it with my 30 lb one year old on my back and it was not for the faint of heart. The entire distance to the lower falls is straight uphill, the return is downhill. The elevation change and extreme incline make this trail the most difficult we attempted. Our 4-year-old hiked it independently with several meltdowns, but he did it! Once you reach the lower falls (the bridge), you have a choice to continue to the top for a better view. I was told to avoid doing the top with children as there are many steps that are consistently sprayed from the waterfall and are slippery to all, but particularly young kids. The bottom of the fall was enough for us! You get a small view of the falls with great views of boulders and the water rushing through. One thing we greatly enjoyed about this trail was the amazing views on the way to the falls as you can see below.

Warning:

Most trails lead off from trailheads past the campgrounds. Shuttles are currently shut down for this season, due to covid (May 2021). It’s often 1-2 mile walk to get to the trailheads. Prepare ahead of time if you hope to do a long hike past the trailhead. An alternative option is renting/bringing a bike and leaving it at the trailhead as an alternative to walking the distance.

Tioga road was closed during our visit so I am unable to recommend anything off of that access point.

Lower Yosemite Falls:

Mirror Lake Loop:

Cook’s meadow and other paved paths:

Sentinel dome:

Sentinel Dome To gLACIER Point:

Other activities in the area:

wHITE wATER rAFTING

• OARS Rafting service provided the best experience going down the Tuolumne River. While this was my second experience white water rafting, this was my mom’s first and it was a great introduction into rafting without the scare effect. Highly recommend using this company!

Sonora

• Cute little boutique shops, toy store, and candy shop. Fun little getaway if you start to crave some civilization.
• El Jardin- great mexican food with adorable patio for outdoor seating.

Groveland

• Around the Horn Brewery
  • Tip Top Lollipop was my personal favorite, but so many good choices.
  • Have them package some to go and you can watch them can them for you with their own special machine!
• Iron Door Saloon
  • Great food and amazing blackberry margaritas!
  • Check out the iron door and read the history of it’s use with wildfires. It’s mindblowing how far that door had to travel, back in times when travel was not easy, to wind up as their front door.
  • Cute outdoor seating across the street.

John Muir, known for his work in founding the National Parks, brought President Theodore Roosevelt out to Yosemite in 1903. It was there at Glacier Point that Muir convinced Roosevelt to make Yosemite a National Park. John Muir is known for his powerful words in regards to the National Parks. In one of his most quoted sayings Muir said “The mountains are calling and I must go.” While walking through the wilderness of Yosemite, one feels that call deep in his/her soul.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.

-John Muir

For more information on John Muir’s influence on the creation of the National Parks see the link below.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/muir-influences.htm