Yosemite - good hikes for kids 7,9,12?

Hi! We%26#39;re planning a family trip from MN (flying) to Yosemite and Sequoia nat%26#39;l parks in Aug. Total of 5 full days in Yosemite (staying at Curry) and 2 days in Sequoia. Can someone recommend some great hikes? Our kids are 7,9,12 and did great on a 6 mile hike in Yellowstone 2 years ago (Mt. Washburn - listed as ';strenuous';; we needed to take a couple of breaks on the way down, but my son was 5 and beat me to the top!). I was thinking 1 longer hike and then a bunch of shorter hikes? Anyway, can anyone recommend:

1) short hikes (1-3 miles)

2) longer hike (maybe 4-6 miles) that would hold my kids%26#39; interest!

3) Anything we HAVE to do while we%26#39;re there! (Whitewater rafting? can we still do this in Aug.?)

We%26#39;re planning to rent bikes. Would you recommend a rock climbing class for my 12 year old son (with mom or dad)?

Suggested itinerary (it%26#39;s asking a lot i know!) Thx!

Yosemite - good hikes for kids 7,9,12?

www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hiking.htm

1. Short hikes: Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Each is 2 miles roundtrip, starting from the same trailhead, just before Glacier Point. Since you have 5 days, I%26#39;d do both. Just keep an eye on the kids around Taft Point...fissures are there...giant cracks from the rim of the valley down to the valley floor. Very cool, and not hazardous...unless running blindly around all over the place.

Mirror Meadow loop...ok so in he spring there%26#39;s a small lake, but even in August you%26#39;ll be walking along a small creek, just about at the base of Half Dome. There%26#39;s the 2 mile roundtrip up and back, but there%26#39;s a lovely, pretty much flat 5 mile loop on the same route. A good hike in the valley if you%26#39;re trying to escape the crowds.

2. Longer hikes: top of Vernal Fall...won%26#39;t be running hugely but will definitely have water. Uphill hike all the way, but follows the merced river, and travels next to the waterfall. Just don%26#39;t let anyone swim at the top even though the pool looks inviting. 3 hours roundtrip to the top of vernal and back (3 miles roundtrip. Not far...just a lot of uphill). Feeling ambitious? You can go further to Nevada fall.

Lembert Dome out of Tuolumne Meadows is 5 miles-ish roundtrip...uphill...takes you to the top of a dome where you get a nice view of the meadows and surrounding peaks.

3. not so much on the whitewater rafting in August...at least not on the merced river. The water level will be too low.

Horseback riding? Stables in the Valley, Wawona, and Tuolumne Meadows.

yosemitepark.com/Activities_MuleHorsebackRid鈥?/a>

Your kids might also enjoy the jr. ranger campfire...every night (I think?)...8pm? Check the Yosemite Guide (newspaper) online or when you arrive. It%26#39;s in the Happy Isles area so pretty close to where you are staying.

Day 1: Mirror Lake loop/ explore valley floor/rock climbing lesson with Yosemite Mountaineering School

Day 2: Vernal Fall hike, relax by the river some (swinging bridge or housekeeping camp beaches...great places to wade/swim). Check out a Yosemite Theater Live presentation (Lee Stetson as John Muir, Shelton Johnson%26#39;s Buffalo soldier program, rock climbing film)...see Yosemite Guide www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm

Day 3: Glacier Point/Taft/ ranger program at Glacier Point or valley floor.

Day 4: Sentinel Dome hike/ horseback riding in Wawona or Valley in the afternoon

Day 5: Tuolumne Meadows: Lembert Dome and relax near Tenaya Lake.

Driving times from the valley for your reference...

nps.gov/yose/鈥ileages9-2007.pdf

I would leave yourself some free time in your itinerary in case you find something while you%26#39;re there that catches your eye. Flexibility in Yosemite is always good.

Have a great time whatever you decide to do.

Yosemite - good hikes for kids 7,9,12?

The Tuolumne River will still be floating trips at the end of August, but I don%26#39;t think your kids are old enough for that river. If the Merced is still floating trips, then they would be old enough for that. You can find links to the rafting companies from our website, too many to remember: www.HotelCharlotte.com/rafting.html. There is mention of the companies that are listed as floating the Merced, a half day trip.

The Yosemite Today magazine has been a great resource to schedule around. If you find activities you want to do that are ranger lead, plan the rest of your day around when you have to be where for the activity.

(The new magazine is called Yosemite Guide)

www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/guide.htm

Have a great trip!

I would definitely recommend the climbing class for your son. I believe he can go alone if he wants, but it would be fun for one of the parents too. The introductory class is called ';Go Climb a Rock'; and you do actually climb and rappel.

They could probably arrange a class for your whole family, but that would be pretty expensive!

You could call the Mountaineering School for details and to reserve a spot (you probably don%26#39;t need to reserve yet, just ask):

yosemitepark.com/Activities_YosemiteBackpack鈥?/a>

We just returned from there a couple of weeks ago with kids 9, 8, and 5. We hiked up to Columbia Rock for the views, to the top of Vernal for the waterfalls, up and down at Mariposa Grove (great trees), Lembert Dome (park at Dog Lake lot and it is shorter), Sentinel Dome, down the four mile hike from Glacier Point, and Hetch Hetchy out to the falls and back. The kids were able to handle all of those hikes with proper hydration and food (candy for extra incentive). Seems like the little guy did better on the hills than the flatter trails, I guess we all have to take short steps so it evens out. One thing I can say is takes lots of water, it was somewhat hot and dry when we were there, especially at Hetch Hetchy.

Great advice from all of you! Thanks! If you think of anything else, by all means, let me know.

THANK YOU!

Bres88