Hiking in Yosemite with Kids (4 Hikes You Must Do)

If you’re going to Yosemite National Park with kids, here are four hikes that they will enjoy!  Yosemite has over 750 miles of hiking trails–enough to try a new hike (or two) every time you visit!  If this is your first visit, you’re in for a treat!  Hiking in Yosemite with kids is both doable and enjoyable!

Bridalveil Fall Trail is one of the easiest, and shortest, trails in the park.  The path hugs the river, and the mist from the fall can get you wet.  The trail was my kids’ first little hike in the park, and they loved every minute of it.

The trailhead parking lot is the first one you’ll see as you enter Yosemite Valley.  We like to make this our first stop when we arrive!

Make this adventure a little longer by walking along the trail where it runs parallel to the road after visiting the viewpoint.

Lower Yosemite Fall Trail is another favorite when you’re hiking in Yosemite with kids.  This trail is an easy loop. Start at the Lower Yosemite Fall trailhead (bus/shuttle stop #6).  You will see a building that houses restrooms at the trailhead.

TIP: I’ve learned to always have the kids stop by the restroom before starting a hike.  Even if they don’t need to. Even if they don’t want to. Yes, even if they just went 30 minutes ago. Take them. Always. 

It works well to walk this trail in a clockwise pattern.  You’ll cross the river at the base of the fall (plan to get wet if you’re here during waterfall season) then make your way back toward where you started.

Part of the trail winds over dispersed river water, and it’s best if younger kids stay close to parents during this portion of the trail.

If you’re feeling adventurous and your kids are intermediate hikers, you can take the Upper Yosemite Fall trail up 1,300 ft. to Oh My Gosh Point which overlooks Lower Yosemite Fall and Yosemite Valley.

Mirror Lake is one of the most photographed spots in the valley and a great trail to explore when hiking in Yosemite with kids.

Best Time of Day to Visit Mirror Lake

To get the full mirror effect of this lake, you’ll want to visit in the morning or evening when the lake water is in the shadows.  With kids, morning is typically best.  By late afternoon and evening, they’re usually done with hiking and prefer to run around like crazies, chase each other at the campground, roll around in the dirt, bike, or eat ice cream.

Ride Your Bikes Partway to Mirror Lake

We actually like to ride our bikes most of the way to Mirror Lake from our campground.  Bikes aren’t allowed past a certain point (there’s a sign and a bike rack), so you will have to walk the final portion of the trail.  You can make this hike longer by hiking all the way around the lake, but usually, our kids just want to go straight to the lake, then play on the boulders nearby and in the dirt.

Beginning hikers may just want to do the first leg of this hike, the Vernal Fall Footbridge Trail.  However, if your kids are a little older and stronger hikers, this hike is one of our favorites!  Our kids were comfortable hiking this loop by ages six to eight.  Every child is different though, so keep that in mind.

Leg 1: Vernal Fall Footbridge Trail

Hiking to the Vernal Fall Footbridge isn’t hard, but it isn’t easy.  It’s a paved path, but it can be fairly steep at points and a little crowded. 

Best Time of Day to Hike the Mist Trail and Vernal Fall Trail

The trail typically gets busier mid-morning, so if you go first thing in the morning, crowds are a little more sparse.  However, if you plan to hike the Mist Trail, you will likely get wet.  During waterfall season you will get SOAKING WET.  We like getting wet when we’re hot, so we aim for being at the trailhead between 9am and 10am with a packed lunch.

Trail Details

Partway up the trail, you’ll notice a natural spring under a large rock on the side of the trail.  The kids love to stop here and scoop the cold water from the spring and dump it on their heads.

Once you arrive at the footbridge, you’ll glimpse picturesque views of Vernal Fall in the distance.  Across the footbridge, you’ll see more restrooms and a water bottle refilling station.  There are no water refilling stations beyond this point, so you’ll want to top off your bottles.  There are additional restroom facilities at the end of the next leg of the journey at the top of Vernal Falls, making hiking in Yosemite with kids that much easier.

Leg 2: Mist Trail

The Mist Trail is a family favorite.  It’s a magical path with large rock formations, greenery, rainbows, and as expected, the mist from Vernal Fall.  Depending on the time of year and the amount of snowfall, the mist can be non-existent or like walking through a shower fully clothed.  Generally, you can tell just how wet it will be by looking at the people coming back down Mist Trail.  

Since waterfall season is our favorite season at Yosemite, we pack plastic ponchos to wear up the trail.  They help, but if the water is roaring, the wind from the fall will make the poncho feel like a useless piece of plastic, flapping in the breeze.

Is the Mist Trail Safe for Kids?

In my opinion, the Mist Trail is NOT suitable for young or very young children, especially if the river is roaring.  The first time my children hiked it they were 6, 8, and 10.  I felt safe about them hiking the trail at that age.

If your children are cautious rule-followers who listen to and obey adults, then they may be ready for this hike.  My kids don’t always listen well (neither do I), but when it comes to things like this, they do.  I’m also very upfront with them about WHY they need to be careful.  I don’t try to scare them, just be honest.  There are STEEP, wet, granite steps on Mist Trail with hikers going up while others are going down.  People also pass you from time to time.  

I feel better taking the kids UP this trail since we walk on the right side of the trail, which is the side furthest away from the gorge and river. On the way back, we take a different route, away from the water.  It’s a little longer but allows you to let down your guard a little, relax, and enjoy the journey.

Hopefully, this information can help you make an informed decision about whether or not your children are ready to hike this trail.  If they are, then go!  Have fun!  This may be one of the most memorable experiences you will having hiking in Yosemite with kids

Leg 3: Clark Point and John Muir Trail

At the top of Vernal Fall, there’s a giant slab of rock where you can dry out and eat a snack.

From Vernal Fall, you’ll head upstream a little.  On the right, up the hill, away from the river, you’ll spot some restrooms.  After taking a potty break, follow the trail signs up the hill toward Clark Point for 0.4 miles.  From there, you can connect to the John Muir Trail and head down the 1.3-mile trail back toward the Vernal Fall footbridge and Happy Isles!

The trail will take you back to the Vernal Fall Footbridge but will keep you high and dry and give you beautiful views of Vernal from above.

Hiking in Yosemite with kids can be challenging (they get hungry, tired, and fussy), but with a little preparation, and proper setting of expectations, hiking with children is so rewarding!

There are so many trail options in Yosemite National Park, making it a great place to hike with children.  Before you go hiking in Yosemite, here are a few tips that have helped us hiking with our own kids in (and out) of this beautiful valley!

Know Your Child’s Hiking Skill Level

When you think of Yosemite, what do you think?  I think of massive, powerful, roaring waterfalls.  This is because that our favorite time to visit is during waterfall season, typically late April through mid-June.

The waterfalls are both beautiful and terrifying. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t feel comfortable taking my toddlers to Yosemite.  I don’t really like just hanging out at the campsite when I’m in Yosemite.  I want to hike to the waterfalls and feel the mist and wind from the crashing water in my face.

In reality, it’s probably easier (read: safer) to take young children than to take teenagers (I remember being one of those teenagers at one time).

The best way you’ll know what hikes your family is ready to tackle at Yosemite is by knowing your children.

Beginning Hiker

Beginning hikers are typically under the age of five.  An almost unlimited supply of snacks and lots of breaks are a must for this level.  They may still need a nap and will need to be carried when they get tired.  These young hikers will likely need to hold a parent’s hand for safety at times.

Intermediate Hiker

Intermediate hikers are typically under the age of ten.  They will still need regular breaks and snacks, but they can hike fairly independently for several hours.

Advanced Hiker

Advanced hikers are basically grown-ups with the boundless energy of a child.  

My oldest child, by the time he hit 13, could out hike my husband and me.  And I would say my husband and I are both fairly athletic.  He doesn’t hike trails, he runs trails.

Knowing your child’s abilities and what they can handle makes a big difference and helps you prefer not just for WHERE you’ll hike, but HOW you’ll hike.

Start Hiking with Kids When They’re Young

We have always hiked with our kids from the day they were born.  Well, maybe a few days after they were born.  Or weeks.  I remember hiking through the caves at Pinnacles National Park with my six-week-old.  I’m not sure what I was thinking. Scrambling over rocks in the dark with a baby in a front pack isn’t very practical, but I guess I didn’t think about it.  He slept most of the time, making it fairly easy.

Our kids love to hike, so I can’t relate entirely to families that have to drag their kids out on hikes.  I’m sorry!  I’m not sure why.  Early hiking might have something to do with it, but I’m sure it’s also just a stroke of good luck.

Hiking with Kids Can Be Challenging

My youngest child, Claire, has a muscle disease (caused by a mutation of the RYR-1 gene) and a carnitine disorder (this affects her cellular energy).  For her, hiking has gotten progressively challenging.  When she was younger, we carried her when she was too tired to hike.  She loves being in nature, she just doesn’t have the strength or stamina to go long distances.

Now she’s getting older and it’s definitely getting more difficult.  We still carry her sometimes.  She’s at the age where she gets embarrassed easily, especially if people make comments in passing, not knowing the situation. Other times, we split up. Allan or I stay with Claire while everyone else hikes.

However, as much as possible, we find hikes that she can do on her own. Yosemite is a great place for kids of all skill levels to hike and enjoy nature.

Trails are my happy place.  I feel truly alive, aware, and soaking in everything around me: the smells, the sounds, the sights, and the feel of the rocks and dirt beneath me.

Rapid Changes in Elevation Can Put a Damper on Your Hiking

Something you’ll want to take into account when hiking in the mountains is the elevation change.  

If you’ve been at a lower elevation before arriving in Yosemite, it’s not uncommon to experience a little altitude sickness.  Headaches, stomach aches, tiredness, fatigue, and irritability can occur.  For this reason, we always take the first day to acclimate to the new elevation.

Once, when I was a teen, our family made the mistake of hiking the Upper Yosemite Fall Trail (switchbacks galore!) the first day we arrived.  We were puffing like road lizards and felt like crud.

LESSON LEARNED: Take it slow and use the first day for low-key exploration.

In addition to these four hikes, there are kid-friendly trails EVERYWHERE throughout Yosemite Valley.  Pick up a trail map as you enter the park to see all your options, review the Yosemite Valley trail map online, or just start walking!  Kids will love the little footbridges over ponds and streams, as well as looking for butterflies, bugs, birds, ground squirrels, and deer as they meander through the beautiful valley.

MORE THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN YOSEMITE

If you’re looking for doing more to with kids in Yosemite National Park in addition to hiking, or need aditional tips, check out our post, 21 Top Travel Tips for Visiting Yosemite National Park.