Kids Hiking in Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows

Wawona Area

Chilnualna Falls
Take a short (less than half a mile) picturesque hike to the lower cascade of Chinualna Falls. In summer, if the water is low, kids can stand under the waterfall. Park at the Chinualna Fall Trailhead and follow the trail to the lower falls. Bring a picnic and make a day of it. Chilnualna Falls is a series of cascades. A much longer trail, 8 miles round trip, continues up the creek to the top of Chilnualna Falls.

Mariposa Grove of Big Trees
The Mariposa Grove has the biggest bunch of giant sequoias in Yosemite. Sequoias evolved about the same time as the dinosaurs, but unlike the dinosaurs, the sequoia redwood trees continue to live. The best way to appreciate these amazing trees is to walk the trails through the grove. It's cool and shady under the immense branches of the trees high above. In the Lower Grove, don't miss the Grizzly Giant, one of the oldest and biggest trees in Yosemite, about 2,700 years old and 30ft in diameter. One of its branches is bigger than most trees! In the Upper Grove, look for unusual sequoias like the Telescope Tree (stand inside to look up to the sky), the Clothespin Tree (bottom looks like an old-fashioned wooden clothespin), or the Fallen Wawona Tunnel Tree, the tree that was cut so that cars could drive 26 ft. through the base of the sequoia (eventually the tree fell over in a heavy snow storm.)

Mariposa Grove Tram
If you have toddlers, you may want to take the open-air tram that goes through the Upper and Lower Groves (children under 5 are free). The tram ride takes 50 min. and you can hop on and off at the Grizzly Giant, the Wawona Tunnel Tree and the Mariposa Grove Museum. It's about 2 miles on the trails from the parking lot to the Grove Museum, so another option is to take the tram to the Upper Grove and walk back down to the Lower Grove on the trails.

Note: The parking lot for the Mariposa Grove can get filled up in the summer. Instead, park at Wawona, and take the free Wawona-Mariposa Grove shuttle bus (April-October). Pick up the shuttle at the Wawona Store.

Tuolumne Area

Tuolumne Grove
Take a short hike (one mile each way) through the giant sequoias to the "Tunnel Tree," a huge redwood that was tunneled out in 1878. As you walk through the carpeted forest, light gently filters down through the tree branches high above – it's magical.

Soda Springs
Park at the Soda Springs trailhead on Tioga Road and head out on the trail through the meadows. On the way you'll cross the Tuolumne River – stop off to play by the water. At the Soda Springs, you can watch the fizzy water bubbling out of the orange-colored ground (don't drink the water).

Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River
Take the trail from the Dog Lake parking lot to the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River. At the bridge, there are wonderful shallow rock pools where kids can play and the panorama of the surrounding mountains is just beautiful. The trail continues along the river – follow it as long as you like. Bring a picnic and spend the day.

Climb Pothole Dome
You can see Pothole Dome from Tioga Road, poking up at the western edge of Tuolumne Meadows. Follow the trail from the road around to the eastern side of the dome. From there, climb up the gentle rock slope to the top (200 ft.). The southeastern side is a big wide flat expanse of rock, some with glacial polish, and easy for kids to walk up. From the top, you'll have a bird's eye view all around – the meadows to the east, high mountains to the north and another rock dome, Fairview Dome, right across the way.