Six top tips for Yosemite family adventures

Yosemite Mariposa County is a top family-friendly destination.

Kid-friendly options in Yosemite are varied, from hiking, horseback riding or making a splash at the Splash N Dash Aqua Park.

Check out the top six family tips to enjoying Yosemite Mariposa County.

Make a splash at the Splash N Dash Aqua Park

Splash N Dash Aqua Park is opening back up on 4 June 2022 inviting visitors to cool off. With an additional 76,000 square feet of park, it is the largest inflatable water park in California. The impressive 125,000 square feet flotilla of inflatable obstacles is the perfect attraction for those seeking over-the-top adventures. The aqua park offers three different routes with four different challenge levels – from easy to challenging. In addition, the park has an upgraded Lazy Splash Area for adults, and Movies on the Beach taking place every Friday and Saturday night, beginning 10 June.

Take the reins

Enjoy a horseback riding adventure as a family with Yosemite Trails Saddle and Sleigh Company. Located in the secluded Sierra National Forest, families can sign up to one or two-hour horseback riding trails. Groups are guided by a real Yosemite Cowboy along a mountain trail, surrounded by towering pines, and alpine meadows. Get a glimpse  of Yosemite by horseback with the Big Creek trail being the perfect choice for the first time rider.

Let off steam at Yosemite Sugar Pine Railroad

The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is a throwback excursion located 10 minutes from the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park. This all-aboard attraction offers rides on two historic steam engine locomotives along the narrow gauge of the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company. The on-site museum details the local logging legacy and is open from April – October.

Visit the Giant Sequoias at Mariposa Grove

Located in the southern portion of Yosemite, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite and is home to over 500 mature giant sequoias. It is the perfect place to go for those with young children offering a number of fantastic photo opportunities. Among the most popular specimens in the grove is the Fallen Monarch which was made famous for an 1899 photograph of the US Cavalry officers. Another must-visit tree is the Bachelor and Three Graces, again a perfect place for a family photo. The most famous tree in the grove is the Grizzly Giant, one of the largest trees in the Mariposa Grove and, at an estimated age of 2,700 years.

Family-friendly hiking routes

Yosemite Mariposa hosts a number of easy hikes with some routes being paved and stroller-friendly, such as Glacier Point, Cook’s Meadow and the Valley Loop trails. Those travelling to Yosemite with teenagers or older children can try out some more challenging hikes such as the trail to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point or Vernal Falls trail. To keep kids walking choose a hike with the reward of seeing a waterfall at the end. The hike to Lower Yosemite Falls offers views of the waterfall for most of the trek making it even more appealing.

Get sworn in as a Junior Ranger

The Junior Ranger program is available for children of all ages. It is a free activity, but parents need to purchase a book to help their children complete the program for a small fee. First, children complete the book, then attend a ranger program and pick up trash. Once they have achieved all three they are given a ranger’s badge.  During summer, special junior ranger programs led by Yosemite park staff take place daily. It’s a memorable way for children to become even more inspired by nature after meeting real-life rangers during their stay in Yosemite.