23 Things To Do In Yosemite With Kids (Summer + Winter)
No matter when you visit Yosemite it is a truly magical experience for kids. From the sheer granite walls and thundering waterfalls of Yosemite Valley, to the broad open meadows of Tuolumne Meadows, to the ancient Sequoias spread throughout the park, there is no limit to the number of amazing experiences your kids can have in Yosemite!
Most visitors will come to Yosemite from the late spring through early fall. And with good reason, temperatures will be warmer, and more of the park will be open and accessible. The higher elevation areas such as Tuolumne Meadows often don’t open until mid to late summer.
However, sections of the park remain open year-round. While some areas of the park are closed during the winter, Yosemite Valley remains open and provides an entirely different experience from visiting in the summer.
Regardless of when you visit, Yosemite is full of amazing experiences to share with your kids, below is a list of 23 of my family’s absolute favorites!
Yosemite With Kids – Summer Fun
Summer in Yosemite is nothing short of magical. There is awe-inspiring scenery, world-class hiking, and fantastic swimming holes. Kids of all ages will find countless things to keep them entertained and challenged, and their imaginations peaked.
As a parent, Yosemite is great to visit with your kids because not only do you get to watch them have fun, be challenged, and grow, you get to do it all in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Perhaps what makes Yosemite so incredible is not just how beautiful it is, but how easy it is to access such incredible beauty. Many of Yosemite’s most iconic sites can be seen by simply sticking your head out the car window. If you’re willing to take a little hike, it only gets better!
1. Hike To Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is located at the head of Yosemite Valley and earned its name because the still waters of the lake often have magnificent reflections of the surrounding Valley walls. It is a favorite spot for photographers, including the famed Ansel Adams.
Mirror Lake is a great spot to explore with kids as the trail to the lake is very easy. You can reach the lake via the Valley Loop Trail or start at the Mirror Lake Trail Head. From the Mirror Lake Trail Head it is an easy 1 mile hike to the lake.
Once at the lake, a well-marked trail leads around the lake. There is plenty of great exploring to do and rocks to climb on all around the shore of the lake.
2. Rent Bikes and Ride Around The Valley
One of the absolute best things to do with kids in Yosemite is ride bikes around the valley! You can choose to bring your own, or you can rent them. There are three locations to rent bikes throughout the valley; Curry Village, Yosemite Village, and Yosemite Valley Lodge.
In addition to a standard bike, you can also rent a tag-along bike or a bike with a trailer if you have young kids in your group that aren’t yet able to ride a bike. There are also strollers, wheelchairs, ADA bike rentals, and even electric scooters available.
The bike stands are open seasonally depending on conditions in the valley. They typically are open from late spring through fall. Reservations are recommended to guarantee availability.
➡️ You can check the status of the bike stands and make reservations here.
Yosemite Valley is a great place for riding bikes because it is relatively flat and there are well-marked bike paths in much of the valley. It is easy to access most of the top things to see throughout the valley.
3. Hike to Yosemite Falls
Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in Yosemite National Park and drops an astounding 2,425 feet! Yosemite Falls is a remarkable site to see at any age.
Yosemite Falls has a lower and upper section. Accessing the Upper Yosemite Falls requires a more challenging hike with at least 1,000 feet of elevation gain, so is better for families with older kids and experienced hikers.
However, accessing the Lower Yosemite Falls viewpoint, which is also amazing, is quite easy! It is just a 1-mile trial with only 50 feet of elevation gain so is great for kids of all ages.
4. Hike to Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls is often the first waterfall you will see when entering the valley. It is a great waterfall to visit with kids as it is just a short and easy walk to the base of the falls.
At 620 feet tall Bridal Veil Falls thunders during the spring and early summer. During these times expect to get wet from the mist created! While less spectacular later in the year Bridal Veil Falls does flow year-round.
5. Get Sworn In as a Jr Ranger
If you have kids between the ages of 4 and 12 then the Jr Ranger program is a must when you visit Yosemite. You can pick up a Jr Ranger Workbook from one of the ranger stations or download and print it out before leaving home.
The workbook is full of fun and creative activities that will keep your kids engaged as well as teach them about the park.
Once completed kids can present the workbook to a park ranger. The ranger will then have the kids perform an oath to promise to protect the park and officially swear them in as Jr Rangers.
It is an incredibly cute program that not only keeps your kids entertained but also gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment.
6. Hike To Soda Springs
The Soda Springs Hike is located in the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite. Tuolumne Meadows is a high alpine meadow surrounded by some of the park’s highest peaks.
It is possible to day trip from the Valley to Tuolumne Meadows, but it would be a lot of time in the car, roughly an hour and a half each way. So I really recommend making a visit to Tuolumne Meadows its own trip. There is plenty to keep you entertained.
The hike to Soda Springs is a great one for families with young kids because it is short at just 1 mile round and essentially flat the entire way. The trail wonders through the middle of the meadow and portions of it parallel the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River.
You can turn the hike into a 2.5 mile hike if you would like to see a bit more of the scenery.
There are numerous great spots to jump in for a swim, so be sure to bring your swimsuits on this hike.
The trail leads you to Soda Springs, a unique spring where carbonated water bubbles up out of the ground. When we were kids we used to bring packets of powdered Gatorade to mix with the naturally carbonated water to make our own sodas! Now the park recommends against drinking the water, however, so I probably wouldn’t try that unless you have a filter.
Adjacent to Soda Springs is the historic Parsons Memorial Lodge. A historic stone building, built in 1915. The lodge has an interesting past and on summer days a park ranger will be inside to answer questions and teach about the history of the lodge and the area.
7. Hike Lembert Dome
Lembert Dome is also located in Tuolumne Meadows and is sort of like the baby sibling of the much larger Half Dome. This dome-shaped granite structure stands in the middle of Tuolumne Meadows and the top of the dome is about 700 feet higher than the surrounding area.
You have a 360-degree view of the Tuolumne Meadows area and the surrounding peaks. The trail to the top of Lembert Dome is not particularly long at just 2.8 miles, but as mentioned above it does climb about 700 feet. So this trail probably isn’t ideal for very young kids.
8. Visit the Ancient Sequoias
Yosemite is home to three separate groves of ancient Sequoia trees. The Mariposa Grove is the largest and most well know of the three groves within Yosemite National Park. It is about an hour and 15-minute drive from the valley to reach Mariposa Grove.
There are 500 mature Sequoias in Mariposa Grove. The oldest is over 3,000 years old. The tallest tree comes in at 286 feet tall.
There are two additional groves of Sequoias in Yosemite, the Tuolumne, and the Merced Groves. These two slightly smaller groves are still impressive and are a little closer to the valley, approximately a 45-minute drive.
The drive to see these magnificent and ancient trees in Yosemite is well worth the visit.
If you are staying in the Valley you may want to consider making a stop at one of the groves on your way into or out of the park.
9. Have a Meal at the Awhanee
Whether you are staying there or not the historic Awhanee Lodge is a must-see if this is your first visit to Yosemite. A great way to include the Awhanee in your Yosemite experience is to have a meal in their incredible dining room.
The dining room features 30-foot tall wood beam ceilings that give you a feeling of stepping back in time as you enter.
Dinner is a bit more of a formal experience, including a dress code, but breakfast, brunch, and lunch are all casual. Having a hearty breakfast before a day of exploring the Valley is a great experience for all ages!
10. Go For A Horseback Ride
Going for a horseback ride is one of our family’s favorite ways to experience a National Park. We aren’t experienced horseback riders by any means, but this has never been a problem in our experience.
A horseback ride gives you the opportunity to experience the park from a different perspective and often covers more ground than you would be able to on foot. Not to mention there is just something nostalgic and fun about climbing up on a horse.
Horseback and/or Mule Rides are typically available from three locations. The Tuolumne Meadows Stables, Yosemite Valley Stables, and Wawona Stables. The stables typically operate during the summer, but exact dates can change depending on the weather.
11. Go For A Swim
Yosemite is full of amazing swimming holes! Whether you are staying in Yosemite Valley or up in Tuolumne Meadows there are lots of great places to go for a dip. The water can be chilly, as the rivers in Yosemite are all fed from snow melt, but the experience of cooling off at a beautiful bend in one of the rivers is well worth the brisk temps.
In Tuolumne Meadows, our favorite spot to play in the river is directly in front of the campground where the river flows over the granite in a series of cascading pools and waterfalls.
In Yosemite Valley, our favorite spot to take the kids to play is just in front of North Pines Campground. There are some great spots where the river is slow-moving enough to make it safe for all ages.
Please keep in mind that the conditions of the rivers in Yosemite can change dramatically throughout the year, so exercise caution when swimming and make sure to check the current before jumping in.
12. Join A Kids Ranger Program
Yosemite offers a variety of different ranger programs geared toward kids throughout the year. From guided hikes to campfire programs with sing-a-longs and storytelling.
On a recent trip to Tuolumne Meadows, we took our then 6-year-old daughter to a kids campfire program and she had a blast. The ranger had a guitar and played easy sing-alongs, taught the kids about the park and its wildlife, and told fun campfire stories.
Check the latest version of the Yosemite Guide or check in at a ranger station to find out what is available during your stay.
13. Go for a float down the river
During the summer, when water levels are right, you can raft or float a 3-mile section of the Merced River through Yosemite Valley. Rafts are available for rent from the Curry Village Recreation Center and can hold up to four people.
If you have your own raft or innertube you can purchase a ticket on a shuttle bus that will bring you back to Curry Village at the end of your float. You can bring your deflated raft or innertube on the shuttle so long as it will fit on your lap.
Yosemite With Kids – Winter Fun
Yosemite in the Winter offers a completely different experience. The snow-capped peaks make for dramatic scenery, and in place of the hiking and swimming that dominate summer months, winter sports such as Ice Skating, Sledding, and even skiing, and snowboarding will fill your days!
While some sections of Yosemite do remain open year-round, others close for the winter. The Tioga Pass Road and Glacier Point Road (just past Badger Pass Ski area) both close from roughly November to May depending on conditions.
Even though the area of the park that is accessible is far more limited in the winter, there is still plenty to keep you entertained!
14. Snowball Fight!
What is more fun than a good old-fashioned snowball fight? We’re from the coast, and snow isn’t a part of our daily lives, so our kids love the opportunity to just play in the snow. Yosemite isn’t typically on the top of people’s lists for winter destinations, but it has a lot of great winter fun to offer, and beautiful views all the while.
Finding a spot with some good snow to have a snow ball fight, or just play, is a great way to spend a winter afternoon in Yosemite with kids!
15. Go Ice Skating
During winter months an outdoor ice skating rink is created at Curry Village. This majestic rink has been a Yosemite tradition since the 1920s. In its current location you can enjoy views of iconic peaks such as Half Dome and Glacier Point while skating.
There is even a campfire to stay warm before and after your session!
The rink is open to all, and skates and helmets are available for rent. Advanced reservations are recommended, especially for holidays and weekends.
16. Go Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is perhaps the best way to get away from the crowds and connect with Yosemites nature in the wintertime. The beauty of snowshoeing, as compared to many other popular winter activities such as skiing or sledding, is that you are far less limited in where you can go.
Additionally, while there is a bit of a learning curve to snowshoeing, it is far more accessible than skiing or snowboarding. Just about anybody can get a feel for it and have fun on their first day.
Snowshoes are available for rent at the Badger Pass Nordic Center on a first-come first served basis. Guided snowshoe hikes are also available to book.
17. Skiing/Snowboarding At Badger Pass
Believe it or not, Yosemite is home to California’s oldest ski resort! Badger Pass ski area is the location of the first chair lift in California! While the original lift is no longer, the Badger Pass ski area is still in full swing.
Badger Pass has five chair lifts and a total of 10 runs. The majority of the runs are beginner to intermediate making this a great park for families and beginning skiers. Equipment rentals and lessons are available for those who are just looking to get started.
Shuttles run throughout the day from Yosemite Valley. Badger Pass typically stays open until mid march but exact dates depend on conditions.
18. Go Sledding At Crane Flat
Nothing says winter fun like sledding! There is a designated sledding and snow play area in Yosemite in the winter near Crane Flat. You’ll need to bring your own sleds. This is a great activity for the whole family as there are hills of varying lengths to keep everyone entertained.
19. Go Snow Tubing At Badger Pass
In addition to skiing and snowboarding Badger Pass also has a tubing hill! The tubing hill is relatively small so it is a great option for families with kids. Keep in mind that kids need to be at least 42 in tall to ride the tubes.
20. See The Firefalls At Horsetail Falls
In mid to late February when conditions are just right, the setting sun will cause Horsetail falls to glow orange as if it were on fire. The sky must be clear, and you must view the falls from just the right angle. The best viewing place is the El Capitan picnic area.
Viewing of the falls is an extremely popular event, so much so that there are special restrictions put into place during the second half of February to prevent overcrowding in the park. Reservations for entry to the park are required. For specific information check out the NPS website here.
21. Head Out for A Winter Hike
While many of the hiking trails in the higher elevation areas are covered in snow during the winter this isn’t always the case in Yosemite Valley. Depending on the conditions many of the trails on the Valley floor can be hiked during the winter months.
The Valley Loop Trail in particular is often hike-able without any special winter gear. Conditions vary from year to year so the best thing to do is check in with a ranger at one of the visitor centers or ranger stations to get current conditions and suggestions.
Winter hiking, albeit a bit chilly, is a great way to see some of Yosmeite’s key attractions in a completely new light.
22. Watch The Award Winning ‘Spirit Of Yosemite’
As much fun as Yosemite can be in the winter, sometimes you just need to get out of the cold! A great way to do so, and still have a unique Yosemite experience is to pop into the Yosemite Theater to watch the award-winning film “Spirit Of Yosemite”.
This short film gives an excellent overview of the park and will likely give you some inspiration for things to do. The film plays throughout the day and starts every 30min. The theater is located just behind the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center.
23. Warm Up By The Fire In The Awhanee Great Lounge
The Awahnee Great Lounge is home to some of the largest, and most magnificent stone fireplaces you will ever see. In winter months the hotel staff keeps a fire lit, and you can come to relax and warm up by the fire in this grand room.
On Thursday nights from October through February, the park puts on a fireside storytelling program. All ages are welcome to gather by the fire in the Great Lounge and listen to rangers tell stories about the park and its history.
Where To Stay In Yosemite With Children
There are a variety of places to stay spread throughout Yosemite and in the area surrounding Yosemite. Exactly where you stay will depend somewhat on where you are coming from, but more so on what you want to see.
While there are many great accommodations just outside the park I strongly recommend staying inside the park if you are traveling with kids. Yosemite is an extremely popular destination, but given the limited roads and parking within the park, traffic can become a major issue. You will save a significant amount of time in the car if you stay in the park rather than driving in and out each night.
The best places to stay will be found either in Yosemite Valley or Tuolumne Meadows. These are the areas that have the most fun things to do with kids. Tuolumne Meadows is only open during the summer.
Hotels and Lodging
📍Best Budget Spot: If you are looking for budget accommodation but aren’t a camper, Curry Village is a great option. Located in the heart of Yosemite Valley, Curry Village offers rustic tent cabins. There is limited electricity and heat is available in some cabins. There are no private bathrooms, but the shared bathrooms are clean and offer running water.
Additional Budget Options: Housekeeping Camp is also located centrally in Yosemite Valley and offers a camping feel to your trip without having to bring all your own equipment. The ‘rooms’ at Housekeeping Camp have walls on three sides with a canvas roof and a cloth privacy screen on the front door. Each room comes with an outdoor picnic table and campfire ring.
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge: Tuolumne Meadows Lodge offers tent cabins in the incredibly beautiful high alpine setting of Tuolumne Meadows. These rustic tent cabins have the option of four single beds, or a double and two singles. There is no electricity, however, cabins do come equipped with a wood-burning stove for heat. Bathrooms are shared and do have hot showers.
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge is only open during the summer months.
📍Best Mid-Range Spot: The Yosemite Valley Lodge is a great spot for families as they offer two types of rooms that include bunkbeds. The smaller ‘Bunk Rooms’ offer a queen bed as well as a bunk bed. The larger ‘Family King Rooms’ offer a king-size bed with a bunk bed that is a double on the bottom and a single on top.
Additional Mid-Range Option: The Wawona Hotel is a historic Victorian Era Hotel located about 27 miles south of Yosemite Valley. Originally established in 1856 the Wawona gives a feeling of stepping back in time with its victorian architecture and furnishings.
Each room is unique and furnished with Victorian-style furniture. There are options for rooms with private bathrooms or shared bathrooms. The Wawona has a pool and a 9-hole golf course!
📍Best Luxury Spot: If you are looking for luxury The Ahwahnee is the place to be. The Ahwhanee is without a doubt Yosemite’s most luxurious accommodation. In addition to well-appointed hotel rooms, and suites, the Ahwhanee also offers guest cottages for those looking for a little more space and privacy. One of the benefits of staying at the Ahwahnee is access to the hotel’s year-round heated pool!
Camping
If you ask me there is no better way to experience Yosemite than camping! There are a variety of campgrounds spread throughout Yosemite offering you the opportunity to truly experience the natural environment.
If haven’t tried camping before check out our article “What Is The Appeal Of Camping? It Might Surprise You…”
There are a total of 13 established campgrounds throughout Yosemite. Some are open year-round and others only for the summer. You can find the full list as well as current open and closing dates for each campground here.
While any campground in Yosemite will provide a great experience our two favorites are North Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows Campground in Tuolumne Meadows.
Camping in Yosemite is extremely popular. While some campgrounds continue to operate on a first come first served basis the majority of Yosemite’s campgrounds must be reserved in advance. Due to the popularity of camping reservations can be difficult to obtain.
However, we wrote a whole article on everything you need to know about how to guarantee a camping reservation. Check it out here; Yosemite Camping Reservation Tips
Best Time To Go To Yosemite For Families
Yosemite National Park is open year-round and truthfully, every time of year has something unique and wonderful to offer. However, if you are visiting Yosemite for the first time with your family then late spring to early fall is the time to go.
Water levels in the park will be higher in the spring and early summer, making all the waterfalls more dramatic and the lakes and rivers full. Temperatures are moderate through the spring and summer but nicest in the late spring and early summer.
If you are interested in visiting Tuolumne Meadows, the peak season is a little later in the year. Tuolumne Meadows is at much higher elevations than Yosemite Valley so the snowpack sticks around for longer and the temperatures stay cool later into the year.
The best time to visit Tuolumne Meadows is from mid-July through mid-September.
Alternatively, if you are looking for a winter experience, the time to visit is December through February. This is when you will be most likely to have good snow, and when all the park’s winter attractions will be in full operation.
FAQs
Where is Yosemite?
Yosemite National Park is located in the central Sierra Nevada Mountain range on the Eastern edge of California. The closest airport is the Fresno Yosemite International Airport in the city of Fresno. It is approximately 100 miles and a two and half hour’s drive to Yosemite Valley.
The closest major city is San Francisco, which is a little less than 200 miles to the West and about a 4-hour drive.
What are the entrance costs?
The fee to enter Yosemite is $35 per vehicle which is good for 7 days. Alternatively, you can purchase a Yosemite season pass for $70 or an America The Beautiful Pass, good for all National Parks, for $80.
How many days do you need in Yosemite with kids?
How many days you spend in Yosemite entirely depends on how much you want to see. You could spend a lifetime exploring Yosemite and still not run out of new things to see and new adventures to have.
You could easily spend a week or more in Yosemite and have plenty to keep you occupied.
As a bare minimum, I would recommend 3 nights to get a good feel for the park. If you would like to experience both Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley, I would either split them into two separate trips or split a week-long trip into three nights in each location.
If you are traveling without kids and don’t mind long stints in the car you could cram more of the park into a shorter trip. But if you want to enjoy yourself and avoid spending half your time driving from place to place in the park then take your time and really get to know this amazing park.
For a winter trip, less of the park is open, so you could probably shorten your trip to just two nights, giving you one full day to explore and play in the snow!
What should I pack for Yosemite when I’m traveling with kids?
The key to packing for Yosemite, especially with kids, is layers! Even during the peak of summer, Yosemite gets chilly at night and in the mornings, especially in higher elevations.
Additionally, you will want to be prepared for rain at pretty much any time of year. Though most precipitation comes in the winter months, Yosemite is known for sudden thundershowers throughout the summer. These thundershowers usually aren’t long in duration but can have heavy rainfall while they last.
Here is our recommended packing list:
Gear
✅ Backpack
✅ Sunscreen
✅ Water bottle
✅ Water filter
✅ Camera
✅ Flashlight/Headlamp
✅ Hiking Poles
Clothes
✅ Hiking boots
✅ Long underwear or leggings
✅ Warm Pants
✅ Shorts or lightweight pants for hiking
✅ Light weight T-Shirt
✅ Long sleeve shirt
✅ Lightweight jacket or sweatshirt
✅ Down or highly insulated jacket
✅ Beanie for mornings and nights
✅ Gloves for morning and evening
✅ Hat with brim for daytime
✅ Sunglasses
Snow Gear
✅ Snow Boots
✅ Gloves or Mittens
✅ Snow Jacket
✅ Snow Pants
✅ Hand Warmers
✅ Goggles
✅ Warm Socks
Fun For Kids
✅ A single stuffed animal or toy
✅ Colored pencils or crayons
✅ Coloring Book
✅ Poloroid Camera and Film
✅ Magnifing Glass
✅ Binoculars
Final Thoughts: Yosemite With Kids
Yosemite is a magical destination to explore with kids. The memories they will form literally last a lifetime. On a trip a few summers back my nearly 70 year Dad and I sat watching my kids play in the river, he commented that he remembered being a kid and playing in that very same swimming hole.
The beauty of Yosemite is that no matter what age your kids are, there are activities that will keep them entertained. Whether it is easy hikes and swimming for young ones, or more challenging hikes to some of Yosmite’s famous summits as your kid’s age.
No matter their age, and no matter the time of year, Yosemite is a fantastic destination for your kids!