Yosemite for the family

Our Local Expert Says:

Simple and close to nature.

Description:

Not for everyone, yet popular with thousands of people who come back to the same spots year after year, Housekeeping Camp is an unusual summertime accommodation for those who like the outdoors.  A step above tent camping, these units are three-sided concrete structures with a tent roof.  Each has a firepit, table, food storage and cooking area.  They have a double bed and bunkbed setup for yor sleeping bags.  Simple, but adequate, and close to nature.  The crystal Merced River wraps around the Camp, with good beachfront for wading/swimming, and grand views of the cliffs above. LeConte Lodge is across the street for weekend evening programs.  There's a shuttle stop, showers, a laundromat and a small camp store here.  There's a bike trail across Southside Drive and a footbridge over the river towards the Ahwahnee and Yosemite Village. 

Our Local Expert Says:

If you want to learn more, this is the best quality outfit to go with.

Description:

Sponsored by the park's non-profit Yosemite Conservancy, this series of field courses, "Yosemite Outdoor Adventures" changes annually and includes courses in snowshoeing, winter natural history, birding, geology, botany/wildflowers, backpacking, photography, plein air painting, history, writing, Indians, and more.  Family camping programs in the high country are popular as are special naturalist hikes to lesser known destinations and off-season explorations.  The course details are on YC's website, or call or email YC for a free course catalog.  YC also provides "Custom Adventures": naturalist/guides for families or groups that want their own guide on a private tour for the day.

Our Local Expert Says:

A genuinely superb way to avoid parking hassles and to spare the air.

Description:

Yosemite's popularity means there's potential for traffic problems and the air pollution that goes with it.  The park service and concessioner have arranged an easy solution in the Valley's shuttle system.  Leave your car in the Day Use Parking at Yosemite Village or Curry Village, and take a shuttle to 90% of the places you want to go: campgrounds, stores, restaurants, shops, trailheads, lodges, etc.  The shuttles are free.  They're hybrid fueled so produce few emissions.  In summer they run every 10 minutes.  Seasonally, there are even special buses that go direct to the Visitor Center from the Yosemite Village day use lot and one that'll take you all the way down-Valley to El Capitan Meadow.  You'll find a map and schedule in the park's newspaper, the Yosemite Guide.  Great deal!

Description:

If you want to learn about the flora, fauna and geology of the Yosemite Valley, this is the place to visit. Created with both children and adults in mind, the center has both static and interactive displays on the area's natural history. Nearby you can explore four short trails, each one devoted to a different ecological niche: forest, river, talus and fen. The center also has a good bookstore, geared toward exploring the nature of the valley. Admission to the center is free.

Description:

This replica of a Native American village gives you a taste of how the Miwok and Paiute peoples lived; the places where they prepared and cooked their food, and more. The village is setup in a more or less natural setting behind the Yosemite Museum Gallery. There is no fee for this attraction. Weather permitting, the staff of the Indian Cultural Exhibit puts on demonstrations of basket weaving, beadwork and game playing. These programs usually take place between 9a and noon and again between 1:30p and 4:30p.

Our Local Expert Says:

An enthralling stroll for any ability.

Description:

The trail to Lower Yosemite Falls is one of the easiest walks in the park, with the biggest payoff: staring up at a 300' waterfall.  During the spring's snowmelt you may find yourself getting drenched as you gaze at this famous waterfall and listen to the amazing roar of the pounding water. By contrast, if you come in August there may not be a single drop of water - that's a Mediterranean climate; the falls are entirely fed by snowmelt.  Start from Shuttle Stop 6 or Yosemite Village or Yosemite Lodge. This walk is likely to be crowded in summer but if you go early or late in the day, it's just you and the water. There is wheelchair access by staying on the eastern trail, and the trail is open all year.
The trail makes a nice loop, with several bridges over Yosemite Creek.  There are numerous interpretive signs along the way that explain the history and natural history of the falls area through the seasons.  John Muir lived in two different spots along this trail.  A convenient restroom is near the trailhead.  The popular 'Yosemite Frazil Ice' video was all filmed here; look for frazil ice in April.

Description:

The park's concessioner runs a series of good quality bus tours, from the popular 2-hour Valley Floor Tram Tours, with rangers narrating, to the all-day Grand Tours.  The Valley tram is fondly known as the 'Green Dragon' for the greenish flatbed trailers which drag tourists around the loop.  You'll learn a lot and many people ride the Green Dragon year after year.  New for 2010 will be special subject (climbing, birds, geology, etc.) 3-hour Valley Trams.  Longer tours go to Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove and to Tuolumne Meadows.  Details are at the Delaware North website, or the tour desks at Curry Village, the Ahwahnee or Yosemite Lodge. 

Our Local Expert Says:

An American art form, with top notch practitioners.

Description:

This is a classic American tradition to which everyone should be exposed: the ranger program with a campfire.  Check listings in the current Yosemite Guide for what's going on while you're in the park.  It may be a campfire with singing, a slideshow, music, a living history portrayal, a star program, or more.  Yosemite Valley has the most programs, but rangers entertain and inform in the evening in Wawona, Tuolumne Meadows, Crane Flat, White Wolf and other places. 

Our Local Expert Says:

Simple and close to nature.

Description:

Not for everyone, yet popular with thousands of people who come back to the same spots year after year, Housekeeping Camp is an unusual summertime accommodation for those who like the outdoors.  A step above tent camping, these units are three-sided concrete structures with a tent roof.  Each has a firepit, table, food storage and cooking area.  They have a double bed and bunkbed setup for yor sleeping bags.  Simple, but adequate, and close to nature.  The crystal Merced River wraps around the Camp, with good beachfront for wading/swimming, and grand views of the cliffs above. LeConte Lodge is across the street for weekend evening programs.  There's a shuttle stop, showers, a laundromat and a small camp store here.  There's a bike trail across Southside Drive and a footbridge over the river towards the Ahwahnee and Yosemite Village. 

Our Local Expert Says:

Perhaps the best close approach to a classic Yosemite waterfall for many.

Description:

This is the first big waterfall that most Yosemite visitors see.  When John Muir first spotted it from a distance he was delighted to think it might be as much as 70 feet high.  Bridalveil is 620 feet high - even Muir's sense of scale was thrown off by this canyon.
Follow the signs to the parking area or park in the strip parking along Southside Drive, and take the short trail up to the base.  The trail is only a couple hundred yards long, but quite steep as you approach the top.  Bridalveil flows year-round, and creates a drenching experience for those who walk up here April-June.  If it's cold, ice could make this trail very dangerous.  There's a good view of the little known Ribbon Falls across the canyon from Bridalveil's viewing platform.  Lots of people scramble up the slick rocks above the viewing platform, and quite a few bruised shins, skinned knees and bumped tailbones result - be careful if you're tempted upstream.  Swiftwater and the steep gradient make this area a truly dangerous place during spring runoff.

Description:

The Four Mile Trail is a very strenuous hike with an altitude gain of 3,200 feet.  Of course you can drive to Glacier Point, but the trail is lovely, and you will feel virtuous because you spent two - five hours hiking. Take water with you and wear a hat as well as comfortable hiking shoes or boots. For your safety, it is recommended that you complete this hike before dark. The trail is closed in winter.  Many people pay (about $20) for a bus ride from Yosemite Lodge to Glacier Point and then hike back down the Four Mile to the Valley floor again.  If you park up top and hike down, be aware that there are NO afternoon buses back up. 

Description:

This trail begins from the Taft Point/Sentinel Dome Trailhead along Glacier Point Road. The trailhead is on the southern rim of the Yosemite Valley. This short hike leads to one of the most popular, and climbable, domes in the valley, and amazing views of the natural features within Yosemite Valley. The trail is well used, with its course obvious to hikers.

Our Local Expert Says:

Along with Yosemite Valley, Abraham Lincoln protected these trees in 1864; the first time in history that a national government preserved land for the citizens simply because it was beautiful.

Description:

This grove was part of the world's first 'national park,' protected by the US government 8 years before Yellowstone.  It's open all year, but you can only drive in during the summer and fall.  In winter it's a couple mile walk, ski or snowshoe along the access road -very worthwhile.  These trees are huge, up to 300' tall, and 25-30' across at the base.  The Grizzly Giant is a main attraction, a mile's walk from the parking area.  The famous Tunnel Tree fell down in 1969, but there's a second tree with a tunnel cut through it next to the Grizzly Giant. 
Walking trails lace the grove of several hundred trees, and a small museum in the upper grove makes an informative and scenic stop.  Those who don't want to hike on these slopes can take a 1.5 hour tram tour for $26, with headset narration in 6 languages.
Parking is limited so for much of the summer, plan to park at the Wawona Store and take a free shuttle every half hour.  Trailers and RV's should not go up the narrow road into the grove. 

Description:

The Pioneer Yosemite History Center lies in the Wawona area of the park, adjacent to the Wawona Store, across the Covered Bridge. It contains a grouping of historic structures built within the parks boundaries. The structures date to the mining and logging era of the region and represent vernacular architecture of the high Sierra. A 30-minute, self-guided tour through the history center provides information for visitors about the controversial history of the Yosemite region. The Center is always open and interpretive signs and brochures are located within the facility. Visitors can expect an easy walk through the center, except during extreme snow conditions.

Our Local Expert Says:

A social place for pie and brew with a view.

Description:

The pizza deck is a lively place in the summer, with families milling and sports fans swilling.  Big screen TV's draw lots of folks for basketball playoffs in the spring and Giants or A's games all summer.  All manner of draft and bottled beer and filling pizza is available for recovering from a day on the trail.  The view up to Glacier Point overhead is tasty, too.  The cafeteria is right next door, as is the outdoor amphitheater for evening programs in the summer.  Closed in winter.

Description:

The original visitor center for Yosemite National Park, this lodge is now an educational center. The emphasis is, of course, on the park. The children's corner has a variety of interactive, mostly environment-oriented activities, as well as a library. On many evenings, the lodge is used for club gatherings, which may be open to the public, and environmental education events, which are always open to the public. The lodge itself is a good example of Yosemite's original buildings. Admission to the lodge is free.

Our Local Expert Says:

Simple and close to nature.

Description:

Not for everyone, yet popular with thousands of people who come back to the same spots year after year, Housekeeping Camp is an unusual summertime accommodation for those who like the outdoors.  A step above tent camping, these units are three-sided concrete structures with a tent roof.  Each has a firepit, table, food storage and cooking area.  They have a double bed and bunkbed setup for yor sleeping bags.  Simple, but adequate, and close to nature.  The crystal Merced River wraps around the Camp, with good beachfront for wading/swimming, and grand views of the cliffs above. LeConte Lodge is across the street for weekend evening programs.  There's a shuttle stop, showers, a laundromat and a small camp store here.  There's a bike trail across Southside Drive and a footbridge over the river towards the Ahwahnee and Yosemite Village. 

Description:

Yosemite Valley has more than 12 miles of bicycling trails on the flat valley floor that have a variety of prepared surfaces. These trails are also suitable for strollers, bikes with trailers and even wheelchairs, and they are one of the best ways to see the sights. You can rent bikes by the hour or by the day. Rentals are available at the Yosemite Lodge and at Curry Village, but not in the winter; spring and fall rentals depend on conditions. Helmets are mandatory and are provided free.  Riding on hiking trails in the park is not permitted.

Description:

This graveyard dates back to the 1800s. Its location, just west of the Yosemite Museum Gallery, was originally far away from the normal traffic flow. Today, it is an interesting, peaceful spot. Perfect for visiting genealogists, history buffs and the simply curious, the cemetery includes graves of Native Americans buried alongside former valley residents and even a few casual visitors. Purchase the Guide to the Yosemite Cemetery at the Visitor Center.

Description:

You'll find breakfast, lunch, and dinner at this busy restaurant (serving about 2,000 meals each day), which is a vast improvement over the traditional cafeteria. It's set up with a series of food stations, where you pick up your choices before heading to the centralized cashier and then to a table either inside or at the outside seating area, which features tables with umbrellas and good views of Yosemite Falls. Food stations specialize in pasta (with a choice of sauces), pizza, deli sandwiches and salads, a grill (offering burgers, hot dogs, and hot sandwiches), meat-based and vegetarian entrees, desserts and baked goods, and beverages. There's also a hot breakfast food station offering traditional American breakfast items and coffee.

Our Local Expert Says:

Simple and close to nature.

Description:

Not for everyone, yet popular with thousands of people who come back to the same spots year after year, Housekeeping Camp is an unusual summertime accommodation for those who like the outdoors.  A step above tent camping, these units are three-sided concrete structures with a tent roof.  Each has a firepit, table, food storage and cooking area.  They have a double bed and bunkbed setup for yor sleeping bags.  Simple, but adequate, and close to nature.  The crystal Merced River wraps around the Camp, with good beachfront for wading/swimming, and grand views of the cliffs above. LeConte Lodge is across the street for weekend evening programs.  There's a shuttle stop, showers, a laundromat and a small camp store here.  There's a bike trail across Southside Drive and a footbridge over the river towards the Ahwahnee and Yosemite Village. 

Description:

In a neat demonstration of sedimentary processes, Mirror Lake has been gradually filling up with sand, so (except in the springtime) it is not as mirror-like as it once was.  Nonetheless, the lake's banks do provide a glorious view straight up Half Dome's face. Start from Shuttle Stop 17. This is considered an easy walk, with a mild uphill grade. The distance is just about a mile, and if you didn't care about fully experiencing this nice part of Tenaya Canyon you could complete the round-trip in about an hour. This area can get crowded in summer. In winter hikers must start from Shuttle Stop 19, which adds another mile to the trip. In summer months, there is access for vehicles with current disability placards.