Yosemite Family Hiking: Trails for Toddlers, Kids, Teens

Ages 5 and Up

Mariposa Grove

A slightly longer, more vigorous hike over unpaved roadway, the two mile out-and-back trail through Mariposa Grove can be a secluded, peaceful hike (especially in early morning, before the crowds arrive) and it’s a good area to spot wildlife, especially deer and bears. This is the most accessible trail in the park through the Giant Sequoias—the largest, oldest living things on the planet. Children 5 and older should have no problem handling the slight elevation gains, and all ages will enjoy the otherworldly feel of this forest of massive trees.

Pick up the trailhead on Wawona Road, about two miles east of the South Entrance to the park. There is plenty of parking as well as restroom facilities. Follow the winding trail through the big trees, over bridges and past small creeks. In less than a mile you’ll reach the Grizzly Giant, the largest sequoia in the park and believed to be at least 3,000 years old. Walk about 60 feet beyond and you’ll come upon the California Tunnel Tree, which was carved in 1895 to allow stagecoaches to pass through it.

• Giant sequoias of the Mariposa Grove.
• JP Puerta

Ages 8 and Up

Bridalveil Fall 

Bridalveil Fall is so named because it falls in a delicate ribbon that sways back and forth with the winds. It’s a little tricky to find the trailhead, which is about a mile-and-a-half after the exit of the Wawona tunnel as you travel eastward into Yosemite Valley. (Because the road that runs through the Valley is one way, you cannot approach the trailhead when driving westward.) Look carefully to the right for signs to pull off. There is ample parking along the road, as well as a large parking lot with restroom facilities.

Walk a few feet from the trailhead, and you’ll hit a fork in the pathway. Head right and climb up toward the falls for about two-tenths of a mile. During the heaviest snow melt season (late spring), you won’t be able to reach the vista overlook without being drenched. Most times of the year you’ll find puddles in unexpected places along the trail. (It’s always a good idea to carry dry socks for the whole family.) The trail is fairly smooth, but it is scattered with boulders that can present a tripping hazard and there are steep drops along the way, so this hike is best saved for children 8 and older.

• Bridalveil Fall
• jamesdale10

Ages 10 and Up

May Lake

Just off the Tioga Road, 27 miles east of Crane Flat, you’ll find a challenging day hike through pine trees, past a buggy pond and up through craggy mountain boulders. The ultimate goal is May Lake, 1.2 miles in, which offers a beautiful spot for a picnic and good views of the mountains beyond. Swimming is prohibited, but my daughter enjoys skipping rocks and chasing dragonflies on the shore.

Look for signs to the trailhead, which is accessed via the May Lake Junction, a narrow two-mile offshoot of Tioga Road. Follow the path past Snow Flat pond, just beyond the trailhead and up through the relatively clear trail. You’ll pass two High Sierra Camps just off the pathway. This is a vigorous hike with an elevation gain of more than 500 feet. Children 10 and over who are in good physical condition should be able to make this hike without too much difficulty.