This itinerary takes into consideration that several kids on this trip had an ADHD diagnosis.
We had kids ages five, seven, nine, twelve, and fifteen on these walks (or easy hikes).
- Find a parking spot in Yosemite Village in Yosemite Valley (It’s not too far from the Lower Yosemite Falls.) Get there before 9:00 am. Plan to leave your car there all day.
- Use the communal bathrooms close to the main parking area, and fill water bottles if you emptied them on the drive.
- Walk to Lower Yosemite Falls. It takes about 20 min to get there, and it’s paved all the way to the bridge (stroller friendly). At the bridge, you’re met with a stunning view of the falls.
- Take older kids bouldering to the base of the falls. My seven-year-old had a blast bouldering with my husband, as did my twelve-year-old and my fifteen-year-old. I was also bouldering but slowly because my shoes were slippery. Wear shoes with good soles that grip rocks like trail running shoes. Many rocks and boulders are wet.
- Enjoy the Falls up close.
- Boulder back to the bridge. (Take a different route back. It makes the experience more fun.)
- Eat a snack and gaze at the waterfall
- Walk towards Sentinal Bridge and cross the bridge. (A 12-minute walk to Sentinal bridge for adults.) This walk is stroller friendly, but you need to lift the stroller on and off the bridge.
- Eat lunch on the sandy banks of the Merced river.
- Let your kids play in the water, skip rocks, or even swim while you enjoy the views.
- Walk to the Yosemite Valley Chapel. The chapel is the only building left of an old town. Read the placks and signs to understand the history. (From Sentinal Bridge to The chapel takes about 5 minutes for adults.) This walk is stroller friendly.
- See the Chapel.
- Walk part of the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail to Cooks Meadow. This walk will probably work for most strollers meant to be used in the great outdoors, but not with small travel strollers that have small wheels.
- Enjoy the Meadow. (From The Yosemite Valley Chapel to Yosemite Village is about a 13-minute walk for adults. Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the meadow.)
- Use the same bathrooms where you started the day in Yosemite Village.
- We returned to the car. At this point, it was between 2:00 and 3:00 pm. We had a long drive back to Fresno (the roads are not friendly after dark). The kids ate a snack in the car, and we ate a late dinner when we returned to the rental house.
- I suggest going to see the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village. I wanted to see this, but our youngest kids were worn out. Parents can take turns feeding kids a snack picnic outside and looking at the old photos.
- You may continue to walk along the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail if you aren’t ready to return to your car. You can go back to the car whenever you like but plan on leaving when you have daylight left for the entire drive out of the park.
This Itinerary is made with a Stress-free day in mind. You do not need to rush. Enjoy each part of the park and spend time swimming, eating, and enjoying the views from your picnic blanket!
Check out some new Posts by TheADHDMinimalist.com
Copyright Annie Eklöv