Yosemite Valley
Giant waterfalls, meadows and granite walls, with easy flat walks little legs can manage.
4 hrs drive · 2–3 days · Best for little kids to teens · Apr–Oct
Day 1: Arrive & valley floor
- 1:00 Arrive and stop at Tunnel View
- 2:30 Lower Yosemite Fall loop, paved and flat
- 5:00 Dinner and early night
Day 2: Meadows & river
- 9:00 Cook's Meadow boardwalk
- 11:00 Junior Ranger booklet at the Valley Visitor Center
- 2:00 Mirror Lake walk or play by the Merced River in summer
Day 3: Giant sequoias
- 9:30 Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias on the way out
- 12:30 Lunch in Oakhurst, then home
From parents who have been
- On the Mirror Lake walk, one parent took a wrong turn onto a harder trail and had to backtrack. Follow the signs for the out-and-back route. The last stretch climbs, so save snacks for it. Monterey Bay Parent
- Rent a bike trailer at Yosemite Valley Lodge. One parent fit both kids in one trailer and said it beat carrying tired kids. The flat Cook's Meadow loop works well with a trailer. Monterey Bay Parent
- A hiking carrier often beats a stroller. Paths labeled stroller-friendly can be bumpy with pine needles, crowds or ice, and shaded morning trails can be icy in cold months. At Bridalveil, which is wet and chilly, picnic back at the car. Hike With Ryan
- Break up the drive at the Merced Fruit Barn, about halfway. It has food, clean bathrooms, animals and a play area. Monterey Bay Parent
- If the Valley is booked, check again about a month before your trip. Free cancellation ends 7 days out, and rooms sometimes open up. Monterey Bay Parent
- Cell service is mostly gone in the Valley. Download maps and the Junior Ranger plan before you go. Families said kids enjoyed riding the Valley shuttle. Armed Services YMCA family trip
Good to know
- Check if the park needs an entry reservation for your dates
- Lodging inside the park books up months ahead
- Rivers are cold and fast in spring, so keep kids back from the edge
- Mirror Lake is full only in spring and early summer; by fall it's mostly meadow
- Cars can't drive into Mariposa Grove: take the shuttle from the Welcome Plaza or walk about 2 miles each way