Yosemite with Kids: 11 Must-Do Activities
Yosemite National Park was on my bucket list well before having children. I knew it was home to epic hikes, world-class climbing, and a ton of backcountry to explore. But before I visited Yosemite with two little ones, I thought to myself, what is there to do in Yosemite with kids? It turns out there are a ton of family-friendly activities, hikes, and adventures. Here are 11 of the best things to do in Yosemite with kids:
Become a Yosemite Junior Ranger
Becoming a Jr. Ranger at any National Park is a great way to get the kids excited about spending time outdoors and learning about the park. When visiting Yosemite, the first item on our agenda was to hit the visitor center and pick up the kid’s Jr. Ranger handbooks. The handbook is full of self-guided activities that encourage children to explore the park around them. Kids complete a certain number of activities based on their age. My four and six year olds were both able to complete activities and have fun along the way.
Yosemite Junior Ranger handbooks can be picked up at any visitor center or bookstore within the park. While handbooks at most parks are free, Yosemite Jr. Ranger handbooks cost $3.50 each. They are beautiful books that we’ve looked at and discussed well after our time at Yosemite.
On our last day in Yosemite, we swung back by the visitor center to show the ranger the kids’ booklets, talk to her about what they’d learned and liked about the park, recited the oath, and received Jr. Ranger badges! The kids felt so proud to earn their Yosemite badges! The badges have been added to their Jr. Ranger vest and are worn with pride!
Bike the Yosemite Valley
Did you know there are over 12 miles of paved trails throughout the Yosemite Valley? I had no idea biking was so popular in the valley until we arrived! I instantly noticed all the bikes whizzing by us as we walked between villages and attractions and quickly realized that’s the way to get around! Biking in Yosemite is a great way to get between places such as Yosemite Village, Curry Village, Yosemite Valley Lodge, and The Ahwahnee. Riding a bike is the perfect way to see popular attractions such as Lower Yosemite Falls and Swinging Bridge and access trailheads for Mirror Lake and Vernal Falls.
While you can obviously BYOB (bring your own bike) to Yosemite, no need to fret if you don’t have one. Even though we were camped nearby with our bikes in tow, we opted for renting bikes. There are several places in the valley that rent bikes on a first come, first served basis. Because the kids were still on training wheels and not ready to bike all day long, we rented tagalong bikes! The kids were able to have fun peddling around but left the hard work to mom and dad. Bike rental stations in Yosemite offer standard bicycles, tagalongs, trailers, tandem bikes, hand-crank bikes, and helmets. We rented two bikes for 5 hours at a rate of $30 each. The valley also offers a free bike share program. Simply download the app and find an available bike!
Watch the climbers on El Capitan
I’m not a climber. But, ever since I watched Free Solo and The Dawn Wall, I’ve been obsessed with El Capitan. El Capitan is the iconic 3,000 foot granite wall at the west end of the Yosemite Valley. Geeking out while watching climbers on El Cap was definitely on my list of must dos before even arriving in Yosemite!
A few evenings during our trip, we grabbed a pizza from Curry Village Pizza Deck and took it to El Cap Meadow for a picnic dinner. El Cap Meadow is the perfect place to watch the climbers and let kiddos run around and get any remaining energy out. While the meadow is close to the wall, climbers still look like ants to the naked eye. Our binoculars were a must have item for getting a good look at what was going on above us. It was so cool watching these incredible athletes. Going in the evening also allowed us to get a look at climbers cozying up in their portaledge for the night. Such a cool experience to witness!
Visit the Yosemite Cemetery
The Yosemite Valley has a rich history. Indigenous people lived here for generations, and the first white settlers arrived in the 1850s. Many early tourists came to this beautiful place and never left. Some children were born here and called the valley home their entire life.
The Yosemite Cemetery is full of stories, told and untold, and is the final resting place for many of Yosemite’s early residents. Some laid to rest in the Yosemite Cemetery are unknown visitors. Our whole family, adults and kids alike, enjoyed our visit to the cemetery. The stories were so interesting to hear, the headstones fascinating to read, and the backdrop complete with Yosemite Falls was breathtaking. The cemetery is located on the west end of Yosemite Village and is absolutely worth stopping by when visiting Yosemite with kids.
See Yosemite Falls
At 2,425 feet, Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America. The powerful water plummeting into the Yosemite Valley is a sight like no other. While there is a 7.2 mile trail that will take you to the top of Yosemite Falls, it isn’t exactly the most kid-friendly hike. Luckily there is a better way for the whole family to take in the waterfall!
The Lower Yosemite Fall Trail is an easy 1-mile loop and gives an up close and personal look at the final 320 foot drop at the bottom of the falls. The loop is paved and easily accessible for all. We walked from Yosemite Valley to the falls, but the path can also be reached via bike or shuttle. We visited in the springtime when the Falls was at its peak, and the kids were awestruck by the power of the water. This is an easy stop and a must do whether you're visiting Yosemite National Park for one day or one week!
Swim in the Merced River
It gets HOT in the Yosemite Valley during the summer months. When we visited in June, temperatures topped out at 95º F! After a big hike, or any time for that matter, I’d highly recommend cooling off in the Merced River.
There are many sandy spots to access the river. We packed up a picnic lunch and some towels and played in the river below Sentinel Bridge. The river access here is sandy and pretty shallow, perfect for children. Even in the middle of the summer, the water is cold. The water can peak at 60º F. Though it is cool, it is tolerable, and even refreshing against the hot, dry air. If you have a raft or kayak, bring it along! Rafting and kayaking are allowed. Most people put in at Stoneman Bridge and take out at Sentinel Beach Picnic Area.
Visit the Happy Isles Nature Center
Want to take a break from exploring the great outdoors and have some indoor fun? A trip to the Happy Isles Nature Center is both fun and educational. Exhibits offer information on the history of Yosemite and give insight into the local wildlife. Outside the center are short trails focusing on the area's four different environments: forest, river, talus, and fen. This is a great place to get some work done in the kid’s Junior Ranger books!
Paddle Tenaya Lake
While there are many activities to do in the Yosemite Valley, other areas of the park should be explored as well. We made sure to dedicate a few hours to entire days to getting out of the valley and checking out the rest of the park. One of our days was spent driving Tioga Road to Tioga Pass, where we stopped to enjoy Tenaya Lake.
Tenaya Lake is a gorgeous alpine lake that sits at an elevation of 8,150 feet above sea level. It’s known as the “Jewel of the High Country” and is the perfect setting for swimming, kayaking, and SUPing. We enjoyed sunbathing on the rocky shoreline, taking in the surrounding views, and getting out on the water in our inflatable kayaks. The road up to the lake is only open during the summer months. We actually lucked out, and the road opened during our trip in early June. If you visit during the summer, make sure to take the kids up to Tenaya Lake for a relaxing day in the High Sierras!
Take in the views at Glacier Point
Looking for the best view in the park? Chances are it can be found high above the south wall of the valley at Glacier Point. I was hesitant to take the long drive up to the point, but man, am I glad we made the trip. Even the kids enjoyed it!
Glacier Point is a viewpoint that sits at 7,214 feet directly above Curry Village. It offers panoramic views of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, and Clouds Rest. The best part of Glacier Point is you don’t have to hike miles on end for the views. Glacier Point trail is an easy .6 mile paved trail. There is plenty of parking and potties at the trailhead. The whole family enjoyed the scenery, informative signage, and room to roam. Being on the point with the kids made me slightly nervous, but the tall stone wall put my overprotective mind at ease. Glacier Point is absolutely a must when visiting Yosemite with little adventurers!
Hike to Mirror Lake
I have saved my favorite must do activities for last. Of everything we did in Yosemite for two weeks, these hikes with my family were my absolute favorite things. Hiking with toddlers or kids of any age isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it in the end.
One of the best experiences we had in Yosemite was hiking to Mirror Lake. While there is a paved trail to the lake's edge, we chose to get off the crowded path on the way up and took the Valley Loop Trail along the west side of the lake. Valley Loop is a lovely, shaded path through the forest and boulders. A much more enjoyable experience than walking on the pavement!
Once we got to Mirror Lake, we were taken aback by the views. The upper part of the lake (which is actually just a pool on the Tenaya Creek) is much quieter than the lower pool, and the view of Half Dome towering over the valley is like no other view of this iconic masterpiece.
Once at the lake, we noticed the perfect, sandy beach for lunch. The only problem was, it was on the other side of the water! Luckily we were feeling adventurous, and the weather was warm, so we threw the kids on our shoulders and walked across. At the narrowest part between the two ponds, the lake is only a foot or two deep, so not hard to get across. After lunch, we headed to the lower, more crowded pool where Ross braved the crisp water and went for a swim. The kids splashed in the water but weren’t really into full-on swimming in the cold water.
We took the paved trail back down. All in all, our hike was about 2.5 miles. The paved trail is 2.1 miles. This hike is flat and easy, ideal for the whole family!!
Hike the Mist Trail
Definitely one of the coolest, far from the easiest experience we had as a family at Yosemite was our hike to Vernal Falls along the Mist Trail. Accessible from the Yosemite Valley, the Mist Trail is precisely what it sounds like: a trail that gets covered in mist from the waterfall it goes along!
The trail out and back to the top of Vernal Falls is 2.4 miles. The hike starts on the famed John Muir Trail that then meets with the Mist Trail. Not going to lie; going up is steep. It’s rated strenuous and has an elevation gain of 1,000 feet. The John Muir portion of the trail is well maintained and offers several places to pull over and rest.
The John Muir trail intersects with the Mist Trail at the Vernal Footbridge. The round trip distance to the Footbridge is 1.6 miles with an elevation gain of 400 feet. Here is a great place to catch a glimpse of the falls in the distance, refill water bottles at the fill station, and use the restrooms. Hiking just to the footbridge is an excellent option if the whole experience is too much for little legs.
Once at the Mist Trail, the real fun begins! The trail itself is made up of over 600 granite stairs running alongside Vernal Falls. You are so close to the falls, the granite steps, and you get soaked by the spray! That means the stairs can get slippery, but slow and steady wins the race. The kids thought the water spray was so fun; they almost forgot how steep the hike was! When we finally made it to the top of Vernal Falls, we quickly realized how worth every step was. We were able to get incredibly close to where the water plummets over the 318 foot cliff. We also found a wonderful little swimming hole safely upriver. The perfect spot for lunch and a celebratory beer!
Rather than taking the crowded, narrow, slippery steps back down the Mist Trail, we opted to continue uphill to Clark Point. Clark Point offered absolutely incredible views of the valley below and Half Dome. #worthit! From there, we then switched back and forth down the John Muir Trail. The distance was longer going down that way, but the empty switchbacks were much easier than the alternative. Even if you have to save up all your energy just for this, I highly recommend hiking the Mist Trail with kids!
We’ve visited a lot of National Parks while RVing full-time. Each park is unique and offers its own experience, but there is something extra special about Yosemite. The natural beauty is like nothing I’ve ever seen. The feeling that we need to protect the natural environment is overwhelming. The excitement to share this magical place with my kids took my breath away. Don’t be afraid to get out there and experience Yosemite with the kids. There is so much for the whole family to see and learn! Want to camp in the park? Consider a rental camper van in California and don’t forget to make your reservations well in advance!
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