
Yosemite Family Multisport
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, intimate in feel yet grand in scale. Breathe in mountain air and the scent of pine in picturesque campgrounds, and visit the enduring and celebrated natural wonders nestled within the park.
Days 1-2 Stanislaus National Forest
Meet in San Francisco
Shuttle into the heart of the Sierra Nevada and California's Gold Country
Enjoy a barbecue lunch upon arrival
Take a short spin along quiet roads in the forest or explore the hiking trails surrounding our campground
Embark on a fantastic hike from Glacier Point, where we have panoramic views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and the Sierra Nevada.
Days 3-6 Yosemite
While kids saddle up for a mule ride, adults learn more about the park on a naturalist-led walk
Pursue a variety of optional activities, including museum visits, biking or hiking
Kids enjoy a rock climbing class, while adults hike in Tuolumne Meadows and up to Lembert Dome
Meander through the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias and marvel at these majestic trees, which John Muir deemed "nature's finest masterpiece"
Return to Evergreen Campground for our last night under the stars
Hike to powerful Carlon Falls in the Tuolumne River Valley before shuttling back to San Francisco.
MOUNTAIN RETREATS: Deluxe Camping
Evergreen Campground & Lodge (3 nights): Set in the Hetch Hetchy Valley and surrounded by the Stanislaus National Forest, this campground offers private bathrooms (including hot showers) and proximity to our activities.
Tuolumne Meadows Campground (2 nights): A welcoming campground nestled in the pristine high-country meadows. Hot showers require a short shuttle.
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Levels 1 to 2
2 Route Options Available
- Biking 11, 22 miles
- 200 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 3
3 Route Options Available
- Hiking 2.5, 4, 8 miles
- 200 - 750 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Mule Ride (Kids) 2 hours
- Interpretive Walk (Adults) 3 hours
- Free Time (options include hiking and biking)
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 2
2 Route Options Available
- Hiking 2.8, 5.9 miles (Adults)
- 600 - 850 feet elevation gain
- Rock Climbing (Kids) 6 hours
Day 5
- Level 1
2 Route Options Available
- Hiking 3 miles
- 50 feet elevation gain
- Walking 2.3 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1
1 Route Option Available
- Hiking 3.6 miles
- 200 feet elevation gain
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 mile | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
2010 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
- 7/11-16Price: $1998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $0 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/25-30Price: $1898 pp dbl. occ., (+ $0 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/15-20Price: $1898 pp dbl. occ., (+ $0 for sgl. occ.)
Recommended Kids Ages
Minimum Ages:
Recommended minimum age for the trip: 6 years
Minimum age restrictions:
- Rock climbing: 6 years
- Ride own bike: 7 years
- Mule ride: 7 years
General Info on Minimum Ages:
We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:
- 12+ cultural appreciation, difficulty/restrictions of activities and route
- 9+ several long adult dinners; difficulty/restrictions of activities and route
- 6+ several long adult dinners; parent may not be able to pull a Burley and/or there may be multiple activity restrictions
Guest Trip Reviews
We had a terrific trip. Our leaders were outstanding in every way, the scenery was awe inspiring and everyone had a wonderful time...so much natural beauty and fun experiences in one week!- Lancaster, PA
