Best Yosemite Hikes with Kids
Last Updated on August 26, 2024 by Polly Dimitrova
After previously visiting Yosemite National Park in fall and being completely in awe with its incredible sceneries and spectacular granite formations, we had been dreaming of visiting again. We knew our next trip will have to be in spring so we can also witness the marvelous roaring waterfalls in their full glory. Besides that, this time around we were also taking our 16-month toddler, so finding the best Yosemite hikes with kids was another aim for this trip.
Saying that I was anxiously stressing out about this trip would be an understatement. To my surprise, though, Yosemite not only welcomed us with its warm spring weather, stroller friendly trails and rushing waterfalls, but it also allowed us to reconnect back with nature, recharge our batteries and spend quality time together as a family. We truly enjoyed ourselves as we adventured through the mists of Yosemite’s waterfalls! Keep reading as I am sharing the best Yosemite Hikes with Kids and some of the top family-friendly activities to do around Yosemite National Park!
Lower Yosemite Falls
Paved and Suitable for Strollers
Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 50 feet
Widely known as North America’s highest waterfall, Yosemite Falls impresses with its gushing water falling from 2,425 ft above the ground. Conveniently located at the heart of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls is a compulsory item on anyone’s travel guide to Yosemite National Park. The easy 1-mile hike with only a 50-foot elevation gain makes it ideal for the entire family. Those of you visiting with even smaller children will be happy to know that the trail is paved, so you could also bring a stroller.
Visitors are treated to spectacular views of Yosemite Falls along the entire way so take your time. The waterfall actually consists of three cascades – Upper Yosemite Fall, middle cascade and Lower Yosemite Fall, which can all be seen only at the very beginning of the trail. Reaching the bridge at the bottom of the last cascade takes about 30 minutes. It is definitely best to visit in spring and be rewarded with the marvellous roaring of the falls. Bring a raincoat as sprinkles are scattered in the air.
Once you have taken the necessary photos and spent enough time admiring the stunning waterfalls, you can either head back the same way or continue across the bridge and follow the trail to make a full loop back to the beginning. The loop takes a bit longer, however, it is definitely worth it. We took our time and allowed our 16-month-old to run around and explore as we enjoyed the peace and quiet in the earlier hours of the morning.
Bridalvail Fall
Paved and Suitable for Strollers
Distance: 0.5 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 80 feet
As the only year-round waterfall in the park, Bridavail Fall is one of the best Yosemite hikes with kids. What is more, it is often the first sight that catches visitor’s eyes when entering the park and the valley.
A very short paved trail takes visitors to the base of the impressive Bridalvail Fall plunging from a cliff 620 feet above the ground. The elevation gain is around 80 feet, but taking a stroller is still a possibility. As the trail climbs up, visitors will find several viewpoints to stop at and take glimpses of the roaring waterfall. The closer you get, the more powerful and booming it is. In just 20 minutes, visitors will find themselves standing at the bottom of the impressive crashing cascade shooting sprays in the air.
Before we headed back, we took a little detour to the right and followed the paved Bridelvail Fall trail towards Southside Drive. The rumbling rapids and cascades of Bridelvail Creek flow under a series of picturesque stone bridges. Combined with the surrounding lush greenery and the fresh scent of the morning mist, we found ourselves in a truly scenic and quaint setting! A small viewing area right before the third bridge offers visitors another peek at the spectacular waterfall.
Vernal Fall Footbridge
Paved but not Suitable for Strollers
Distance: 1.6 mile
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 400 feet
A paved, but very steep 0.8-mile path takes the more experienced hikers to another stunning Yosemite waterfall – Vernal Fall. Due to the elevation gain of 400 feet, it is up to your discretion to decide if this is suitable for your children or not. Either way, you should be prepared for a continuous climb for close to an hour to reach the base of Vernal Fall.
While the uphill might seem daunting, the incredible scenery of the surrounding rock formations will keep you company along the entire way. The roaring Merced River beneath your feet invites you for a few “take a breather” moments to appreciate the true grandeur of Yosemite National Park and its stunning nature. Once you reach the footbridge, you will also be rewarded with incredible views of the 317-foot-tall Vernal Fall in the distance.
Unfortunately, at the bridge, the area which is already quite small gets busy with visitors, so there is not much space for kids to run around. Do not forget to use extreme caution around the railings. Spending a few minutes and soaking in the scenery surrounding you is absolutely essential before you take the descent back.
Note: We followed Mist Trail for another 0.5 miles or so to take a closer look at Vernal Fall. As you start approaching the top, you are greeted by a very steep rock staircase. Even with the presence of a rail along the path, this part of the trail is not suitable for smaller children. My husband was carrying our 16-month-old in a toddler hiking backpack and as the rocks were getting more slippery from the continuous sprinkles spraying from the waterfall, we decided to head back. Getting a bit closer to Vernall Fall and experiencing its thundering cascade as the water pounds the rocks and creates a fine mist of drizzles was a truly incredible experience!
Happy Isles
Not fully paved but Suitable for Strollers
Distance: 0.5 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: none
Only known to a few, Happy Isles is among the best Yosemite hikes with kids. The beginning of the trail is paved, but as soon as you cross the first among a few bridges it changes into a dirt path. Being completely flat with almost no elevation gain and barely any visitors, this hike is perfect for children who want to run around and explore the outdoors. For the smaller toddlers, you can either bring a stroller or carry them in a backpack or carrier.
The path follows the roaring waters of the Merced River and connects the small isles scattered along its creek. Yosemite’s impressive rock formations peek through the giant trees, creating a truly mystical atmosphere resembling a real-life fairytale.
Being a fairly short hike, I found Happy Isles to be an extremely delightful little trail for a slow-paced afternoon. You can also check out Happy Isles Art and Nature Center – a great family-friendly stop for your Yosemite travel itinerary. We decided to extend our hike and took the trail through the woods back to Curry Village where we were staying during this trip.
Mirror Lake
Paved on the Northern Side of the River and Suitable for Strollers, do not bring a stroller if you are taking the Southern Side
Distance: 2 miles to the lake and back (4 miles for the entire loop)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation Gain: 100 feet
After visiting Mirror Lake in September and being slightly disappointed by the drought, we were very excited to see it again in the midst of spring. Unfortunately, we made a key mistake driven by our adventure spirits. As soon as we got off the shuttle at stop #17, we were given two choices for paths to follow. The Northern Side of Tanya Creek is a completely paved trail suitable for strollers and very young children taking you straight to Mirror Lake. Since we had our 16-month-old in a hiking backpack, we were more intrigued by the dirt path on the Southern Side of the Creek. While we definitely enjoyed the path and its steeper sections and the slightly more hiking experience it provided us with, it took us to the “wrong” side of Mirror Lake. What I mean by “wrong” is we were at the base of Half Dome facing North, so we could not see its reflection in the waters.
If you have the time, taking the entire loop is probably the best option as it would allow you to fully experience Mirror Lake and Tanya Creek. Similar to many other visitors, though, we explored and tried finding a little crossing which connects the two banks – unfortunately without any success. The river flow was not at its peak allowing us to walk around portions of the riverbed and getting a better perspective of Half Dome.
While I definitely enjoyed Mirror Lake as a hike (especially on that Southern Side of Tanya Creek) with its steeper portions, I was not impressed by Mirror Lake as a highlight. If you looking for family-friendly hikes in Yosemite National Park, though, it is probably best to take the paved Northern path – it will probably provide you with a better viewpoint as well!
Sentinel Meadows and Cook’s Meadows
Partially Paved and Suitable for Strollers
Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: none
Being completely flat, Sentinel and Cook’s Meadows are some of the best Yosemite hikes for kids. The trail consists of paved areas and boardwalks, which means you can even bring a stroller. It was one of the spots where we fully let our 16-month-old run around and he had an absolute blast.
The meadows are suitable for a visit year-round, however, nothing can beat the incredible scenery during the spring months. Besides the lush greenery surrounding you, visitors are rewarded with the incredible vista of the roaring Yosemite Falls in the distance. Half Dome, Glacier Point and Sentinel Rock are some other highlights that deserve admiring as you stroll around. We followed the trail all the way to Sentinel Bridge and caught a glimpse of Yosemite Chapel in the distance.
Going for a walk around the meadows is definitely one of the most family-friendly activities in Yosemite. No special gear or preparation is needed – just stroll around and admire the absolutely incredible scenery surrounding you! As an extremely easy and simple hike, Sentinel and Cook’s Meadows will definitely leave you in awe of the nature at Yosemite National Park!
Other Things to Do with Kids in Yosemite National Park
Sometimes hiking can be a challenge when travelling with toddlers. Luckily though, there are a number of other things to do with kids in Yosemite National Park! Keep reading for more family-friendly activities and sights around the park.
Tunnel View
If you only have a limited amount of time and you want to see as much as possible in one go, you should definitely consider stopping by some of Yosemite’s viewpoints. While, there are quite a few to choose from – our favourite and probably the most popular one is Tunnel View! It is also the best first stop if you have taken the Southern Entrance to Yosemite National Park, as it serves as an incredible introduction to what you are about to experience.
With El Capitan on the left, Bridelvail Fall on the right and Half Dome in the back, this might be one of the best sceneries in the entire park. Keep in mind it gets very busy and the parking area is relatively small. Our toddler enjoyed being out of the car at first, but due to the lack of space to run around, he quickly got bored. Older children would probably appreciate this spot a bit more. We still spent a few minutes just soaking in the spectacular vistas before proceeding further into Yosemite Valley.
Walk around Yosemite Valley
Despite only covering 3,800 acres of the total 759,620 acres of Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley with its world-famous attractions is the heart of the park! Impressive rock formations, green meadows and incredible waterfalls are steps away from each other. And they are all easily accessible through the paved 11.5-mile Yosemite Valley Loop. There are numerous shuttle stops and parking areas with direct access to the trail, making it the perfect option to hop around and explore at your own pace. Being fairly flat makes it also ideal for biking or taking a stroller for the smaller children. Regardless of which way you choose to go, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalsvail Fall, etc.
Visit Yosemite Village
On one of the days we opted for a slow-paced, relaxing family morning and headed down to Yosemite Village. Besides stopping by the Visitor Center and grabbing some souvenirs from the Village Shop, Yosemite Valley is home to a few additional places of interest. The Ansel Adams Gallery is a perfect spot for art enthusiasts, whereas the Yosemite Wilderness Center and Museum are ideal for history buffs. The Indian Village of Ahwahnee also seems quite interesting and an option for a family-friendly activity.
With a vast pedestrian zone and numerous benches, we truly enjoyed slowing down and spending time at Yosemite Village relaxing and admiring the scenery. Our toddler also loved running around and exploring. Yosemite also has its own Post Office and we always send postcards to our family when visiting Yosemite National Park – a fun little activity, which might be worth sharing with your children!
What We Missed Out on
Unfortunately, as we visited in the middle of April, some of the roads were still closed due to the weather conditions. Some of the places we wished we were able to visit were Mariposa Grove, Taft Point and Glacier Point – all of which should be fairly kid-friendly. We have previously been to Yosemite National Park during the fall season – click here to read more.
Have you been to Yosemite National Park with children? What were your favourite Yosemite hikes with kids? What other family-friendly activities did you enjoy while visiting? Let us know in the comment section below.
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