Yosemite Family Multisport
Hiking & Biking in the Sierras
This memorable Backroads family vacation begins with a taste of the Wild West in California’s Gold Country before forging into Yosemite itself, a breathtaking sanctuary of dense forests, sprawling meadows, thundering waterfalls and dramatic granite peaks. Immortalized by famed photographer Ansel Adams and cherished by legendary conservationist John Muir, Yosemite is one of our nation’s most stunning national parks and celebrated natural wonders, intimate in feel yet grand in scale. Overnight stays in a mountain resort and a historic lodge are the perfect complement to this inspiring journey.
Trip Planning Links
- Glorious hikes to thundering waterfalls, alpine meadows and spectacular panoramas
- Glean hidden secrets of Yosemite Valley from a local naturalist
- Walk amid the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite’s largest stand of giant sequoias
- Kid-friendly rock-climbing class in Tuolumne Meadows
- Ahwahnee Hotel, the best way to stay in the valley
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Days 1-2 Fish Camp
Meet in San Francisco and shuttle into the heart of the Sierra Nevada 
A hike in the famous Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias reveals some of the world’s largest and oldest trees Get acquainted with the Sierra National Forest on a fun-filled spin past an old-west corral to Nelder Grove 
Kids embark on an afternoon horseback ride or historic train ride while adults enjoy the lodge’s full-service spa, swimming pools, Jacuzzis or nearby hiking trails.
Days 3-6 Yosemite Village
Begin hiking at Glacier Point, with views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and the Sierra Nevada Climb to the top of giant granite-faced Sentinel Dome or descend along a trail that offers views of thundering Nevada and Vernal Falls A layover day in the valley allows ample time for an array of activities - a morning interpretive hike with a local guide, a visit to Bridalveil Falls, a bike ride with your family through the valley, Junior Ranger programs or horsebacking to Mirror Lake Shuttle to Tuolumne Meadows for a full day of exploration in the alpine meadows, with rock climbing for kids and hiking for adults Revel in stunning views of the valley from the celebrated dining room of the Ahwahnee Savor one last memorable impression of Yosemite on a hike from Camp Four to El Capitan Meadow before heading back to San Francisco.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
Other Trips You Might Like:
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
Our Backroads trip in Yosemite was an experience of a lifetime for our family. The activities, accommodations, cuisine and leaders were beyond exceptional. Over and over again, Backroads delivered!- Glastonbury, CT All Guest Reviews
For 30 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. For multisport tours in , trust our in-depth connections. To see all our multisport tours click here. For our selection of award-winning biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here.
Yosemite Family Multisport
AMID NATURE: Premiere Inns
Tenaya Lodge
Fish Camp (2 nights) A relaxing mountain resort near Yosemite’s South Gate, which offers panoramic forest views, indoor and outdoor pools and a spa.
Ahwahnee Hotel
Yosemite Village (3 nights) Designated a National Historic Landmark - and as much an icon of Yosemite as Half Dome - the Ahwahnee is a luxurious and stunning hotel on a grand scale, with elaborate stained-glass windows, etched stone floors, original Miwok Indian arts and crafts, carved wood paneling, Oriental rugs and Shaker-style furnishings.
Yosemite Family Multisport
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insider Trips | Explore at a leisurely pace—on village walks, market strolls, art history excursions, hands-on cooking classes and more. | ||
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Walking 3.5 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Level 1 3 Route Options Available
- Biking 5, 11, 17 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
- Horseback riding (older kids) or historic train ride (younger kids)
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 4 4 Route Options Available
- Hiking 2.5, 4, 8, 10 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Free Time in Yosemite Valley
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
- Hiking 3, 6 miles (adults)
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
- Rock Climbing (kids)
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Hiking 3 miles
On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with no significant gain or loss in elevation. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.