Yosemite Family Multisport
Hiking & Biking in the Sierra
You probably know the names. The Sierra Nevada. Half Dome. El Capitan. Bridalveil Fall. And maybe you've seen the photographs or had an Ansel Adams poster hanging in your college dorm. That's Yosemite. Everybody's heard the names but who's really explored them? Who has stood in awe of Bridalveil Fall? Watched pro climbers take on El Capitan? Hiked and ridden horses through Yosemite? Because the thing is, if you're going to hang pictures of Yosemite on your walls, wouldn't it be great if they had your family in them? Well, here's your chance.
- 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
Day 1 Walk amid the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite's largest stand of giant sequoias 
The landscape shifts from urban to pastoral to alpine on our scenic drive from San Francisco to the Sierra Nevada.
Day 2 Glorious hikes to thundering waterfalls, mountain meadows and spectacular panoramas Get acquainted with the Sierra National Forest on a fun-filled spin past an old-west corral to the ancient sequoias of Nelder Grove In the mood for some R&R? Kick back at the lodge, lounge by the pool or perhaps indulge at the spa.
Day 3 The historic Ahwahnee Hotel, the best way to stay in the valley Set out on foot from Glacier Point, savoring air perfumed with ponderosa and cedar, and relishing views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and the Sierras Climb to the top of immense granite-faced Sentinel Dome.
Day 4 Glean hidden secrets of Yosemite Valley from a local naturalist while the younger set saddle up for a mule ride Explore the valley any way you choose - visit the Ansel Adams Gallery, hike to the falls, bike with your family or float down the Merced river.
Days 5-6 Kid-friendly rock climbing class in Tuolumne Meadows and breathtaking hikes for grown-ups Take in stunning vistas of the valley from the Ahwahnee's celebrated dining room A walk from Camp Four to El Capitan Meadow leaves a memorable impression of Yosemite.
Adult Route Rating What's this?
- 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:
Yellowstone Multisport Canadian Rockies Multisport Arizona MultisportOther National Park Trips
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 32 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. 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
Premiere Inns
Tenaya Lodge
Fish Camp (2 nights) A family-friendly mountain resort near Yosemite's South Gate with plentiful amenities and panoramic forest views. (pool, spa)
Ahwahnee Hotel
Yosemite Village (3 nights) A National Historic Landmark - and as much an icon of Yosemite as Half Dome - the Ahwahnee features elaborate stained-glass windows, etched stone floors, original Miwok Indian arts and crafts, carved wood paneling, Oriental rugs and Shaker-style furnishings. (pool, tennis)
Yosemite Family Multisport
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Kid-Friendly Routes
The route options below are for adults and older kids with more biking experience who are up for longer rides or hikes. For all other kids (and adults who choose), we make it easy to do even less than the shortest option mentioned below, usually by taking a short lift in one of our support vehicles. We are here to make sure everyone has a great time so there's no need for you to worry about whether your child will be able to "keep up."
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1
1 Route Option Available
- Walking 3.7 miles
- 600 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Level 1 3 Route Options Available
- Biking 11, 16, 27 miles
- 350 - 650 feet elevation gain
- Optional Walking 1 mile
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 2 3 Route Options Available
- Hiking 2.5, 4.3, 5.5 miles
- 200 - 600 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Guided Nature Walk (Adults) 3 hours
- Mule Ride (Kids) 2 hours
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
- Hiking 3.3, 6 miles (Adults)
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
- Rock Climbing (Kids) 5 hours
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Hiking 2.8 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Please note: 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.