Valley with 4/5 year olds...suggestions?

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Eddie

Trad climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 22, 2018 - 08:41pm PT
Hi team,

Headed to the Valley on Sunday for two nights with two little girls. I've really only weekend warrior'd at Yosemite...any suggestions of good things to do with wee ones?

Appreciate all advice!

Thanks!
Stephen McCabe

Trad climber
near Santa Cruz, CA
Apr 22, 2018 - 09:51pm PT
With my 2 girls, when they were young, I headed for sandy beaches near safe parts of the river.
the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Apr 23, 2018 - 12:51am PT
Happy Isles. Indian Caves. Walk to lower yo falls and/or bridalveil. Fern spring. Hang a little rope swing on Le Conte boulder. Bike rides with a trailer. Visitor center / Indian village. First floor of Awhanee to read stories or play board games. Walk to base of el cap (note it's a danger zone due to dropped objects etc). There's often good ranger talks/programs for kids.
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Apr 23, 2018 - 01:53am PT
Pretty much what The Fet said already.

Walk to Lower Yos Falls; "Spider Caves" in boulders on left on your way there.
Try to find some "Indian Pounding Rocks".
(In Ahwahnee Village, but also near Ahwahnee Hotel, at start of horse trail past Royal Arches).
Hang out in El Cap Meadow. (Swampy in places).
Walk to the base of El Cap.
Maybe play in snow off 120 near Crane Flat? (If they haven't seen snow before).
Gunkie

Trad climber
Valles Marineris
Apr 23, 2018 - 06:00am PT
Lots of fun things for little kids. Plenty of valley floor hikes that connect Yos Village with Curry Village and the ice cream. I think walking in from the road toward the toe of El Cap is awesome in itself.

Or Reticent Wall :)

Enjoy
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
Apr 23, 2018 - 06:09am PT

Dirt.
Off White

climber
Tenino, WA
Apr 23, 2018 - 06:27am PT
If you're looking to do a pitch with them (I did with mine when that age) I'd suggest Right Side of Monday Morning Slab.
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
Apr 23, 2018 - 06:49am PT
Wait? your taking 'cosmic' with you to the ditch? in-snide joke sorry,
thnx again , Off white.
Then there is a question; will you have backpack carriers? if so you might want to check this out, the length of the walk with a squirming toddler in your arms might not thrill Momz, but you could ride 'em on your shoulders, but if they get scared of dark places this could go south quick
[Click to View YouTube Video]
This seems like it might be better for 10 & up, Ymmv.
Flip Flop

climber
Earth Planet, Universe
Apr 23, 2018 - 08:57am PT
Kids gather and run amok on the Boulders behind Curry.
the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Apr 23, 2018 - 09:07am PT
Gotta grab a pic at tunnel view!
clifff

Mountain climber
golden, rollin hills of California
Apr 23, 2018 - 09:22am PT
A spectacular hike - the Vernal Falls trail. I once saw a group of 3 girls - ages 5, 7, and 9 charging up at a good pace up near the top of the Mist Trail section.
Eddie

Trad climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - Apr 23, 2018 - 12:24pm PT
Awesome, thanks everyone! I'm getting very excited. I hadn't even considered taking them climbing, but now I'm thinking I will.

Cheers!
Flip Flop

climber
Earth Planet, Universe
Apr 23, 2018 - 01:21pm PT
Ditto on staying away from the water. Cold liquid death right now
Matt Sarad

climber
Apr 23, 2018 - 02:02pm PT
My son, now 30, went with us to Yosemite when he was four. We camped out, rode bikes, bouldered around Swan Slab, walked the Mist trail, threw boomerangs in El Cap Meadow, and he came home with a squirrel puppet. That squirrel went across the country and to Europe with him.
looks easy from here

climber
Ben Lomond, CA
Apr 23, 2018 - 02:54pm PT
Get a couple cheap pairs of 4x binoculars. A couple so they each have their own, cheap so you don't care when they drop them, and 4x because that will make stuff noticeably larger for them, but it's low enough magnification nothing will ever be much out of focus.

As far as climbing, the Sunnyside Bench approach gully is a great scramble-rock on both sides and with you below there's no place for them to go if they slip, and a good snack ledge with a great view.

http://www.supertopo.com/tr/Raising-the-next-generation-of-adventurers-in-and-around-Yosemite-with-a-6-year-old-and-an-infant/t12765n.html
Mr_T

Trad climber
Northern California
Apr 23, 2018 - 03:09pm PT
Rivers are a death trip right now. Don't go near them with a kid.

Camp 4 slack lines are super fun! Also no cars in the camping area - safer than the other campgrounds. Plenty to do just poking around/exploring.

The Couch area up by Stair Case falls is neat. Maybe steer clear of going under the falls - rocks come down them all the time.

Talus caves near Lower Yosemite falls is good fun.

Swan slab was pretty challenging for my 5 yr old last year - the issue was some of the long reaches. YMMV.

the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Apr 23, 2018 - 06:01pm PT
Yup, long reaches are the challenge for little ones climbing anything rated 5.X.

Here's a decent place at Swan Slabs to the left of Oak Tree Flake. He's 5 years 9 months old in the pic.

Bargainhunter

climber
Apr 24, 2018 - 09:48am PT
Paging Jim Herson...
Eddie

Trad climber
San Francisco
Topic Author's Reply - May 1, 2018 - 09:13pm PT
Thanks all! We had a great time:
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
May 2, 2018 - 09:58am PT
Make sure they don't try to pet the raccoons.
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