Yosemite National Park is one of the most scenic areas in California. Located up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it’s home to giant trees, towering rock formations, expansive meadows, and scenic valleys. Some of its main attractions include Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite Valley.
Yosemite is a wonderful place to visit. It’s a great opportunity to get out and immerse yourself in California’s natural beauty. And when you’ve got a toddler in tow, there are a few things to keep in mind to help keep your trip running a bit more smoothly. Here are some handy tips for visiting Yosemite with a toddler.
(Note that Yosemite National Park is quite large and has many different areas to explore. For the purpose of these quick tips, our examples focus primarily on the popular area of Yosemite Valley.)
- Choose the time of year that fits your family
When planning your trip to Yosemite, consider the pros and cons of each time of year.
During the winter, there are fewer people, beautiful wintry scenes, and a chance to catch the famous firefall; on the other hand, it’s cold, some areas of the park are closed, and weather conditions can be an issue. In the spring, you have lovely weather and a better chance of seeing water in the waterfalls, but the bugs and crowds could be coming out. During the summer, your family might have more time off, as the summer weather and mood are in full swing; however, it’s a crowded time of year at the park. In the fall, the crowds are starting to clear out and you could be treated to fall colors, but the weather and waterfalls will likely be dry. Also, keep in mind that late summer and fall are prime time for fires in California (they can happen any time of year, but they’re most common then).
There’s no “best” time of year to visit – each family will have different schedules and priorities. Weigh your own pros and cons and choose a time that fits your family best.
- Stay inside the park
When choosing your accommodations in Yosemite, you’ll have lots of options. If possible, when traveling with a toddler, you might want to prioritize staying inside the park to cut down on driving. When you stay outside the park, you’ll have to drive in each day – and during busy times of year, wait times just to enter the park can be hours.
Toddlers generally aren’t huge fans of waiting, so the less time you can spend sitting in a line of cars, the better. Opt to stay inside the park, where you can often walk, bike ride, or take shuttles around.
- Go for easy hikes
One of the most popular things to do when visiting Yosemite is go hiking. Whether or not you’re typically a regular hiker, you may want to stick with easier trails when traveling with a toddler. Depending on your little one, you may also want to use a child carrier (we have the Osprey Poco child carrier and love it, though it is pricey) or stroller. Being the wildly unpredictable creatures that they are, toddlers will likely do better with shorter activities.
For a manageable hike in Yosemite, try Lower Yosemite Falls. It’s a one-mile loop that leads you to the falls, which are part of North America’s tallest waterfall. It’s also paved, and strollers are permitted on the trail. Another option is Cook’s Meadow. It’s a one-mile loop that showcases views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Sentinel Rock. It’s easily accessible from the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center and is stroller-friendly.
- Take in the views
It seems like everywhere you look in Yosemite, you’re treated to amazing views. There are also designated viewpoints you can visit to really take in the sights. Hopping in the car and visiting a couple viewpoints is an easy activity to do with your toddler – just make sure to only choose a couple to minimize driving time and getting in and out of the car.
Perhaps the most famous viewpoint is Tunnel View, which offers views of Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome. Do note that this viewpoint can get particularly crowded. Another viewpoint that’s an easy place to stop in Yosemite Valley is the El Capitan viewpoint. Here you can take in massive El Capitan, and stretch your legs a bit too.
- Explore Yosemite Village and Curry Village
When in Yosemite Valley, make sure to let out some toddler roaming energy by exploring Yosemite Village and Curry Village. Both have a handful of eateries and shops, as well as attractions, like museums and a visitor center. Plus, if you have a National Parks passport, you can get it stamped at the visitor center!
- Take lots of breaks
As previously mentioned, keeping outings and activities short while traveling with a toddler will be beneficial for the sanity of your family trip. Try to avoid spending too much time in the car or taking too long a hike. Be ready to take lots of breaks for snacks, naps, diaper changes, and just plain old rest.
- Be prepared…
Yosemite is one of the most popular places to see in California, with millions of visitors each year, it is still a fairly remote mountain location with limited services. (Also note that during some busy times of year, reservations are now required to enter the park).
When planning what to bring, pretend you won’t have access to any stores or cell service (there are stores and some cell service – just for preparedness sake, pretend). Bring nonperishable food, medicine/first aid supplies, toddler entertainment, maps, and hard copies of reservation information and directions. Be ready for crowds, elevation changes, road construction, traffic, and unexpected closures of trails and facilities.
- …AND be flexible
Being prepared doesn’t mean planning every moment. You’re bound to have unexpected closures, inopportune dirty diapers, random tantrums, and so on. Do your best not to try to fit too much into one day and go with the flow. Sometimes, just relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere is plenty to do — particularly when your surroundings are as beautiful as Yosemite.
Cheers!
