Trip Reports - Yosemite and Desolation Wilderness with kids
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 1:28 pm
I took my 8 year old twins for a couple of 3 day/2 night trips last month in Yosemite (Cathedral Lakes - Sunrise - Tenaya Lake) and Desolation Wilderness (Lake Aloha from Echo Lakes). I'd recommend both as easy trips for 7-9 year olds, though Aloha is better as a first time outing since you can base camp and do a day walk with plenty of time for swimming. As previous commentators have said, there aren't many young kids out on the trail - none whatsoever in Yosemite, though we saw a big group of six dads and six kids on the way to Aloha.
In Yosemite we went in at Cathedral Lakes trailhead pretty late in the afternoon (about 3.15pm) after a drive up from the Bay Area. Weather was great and virtually no sign of the Wildcat fire (this was 13-15 August so before the latest fire). We got to Upper Cathedral Lake (3.7 miles, ~1000 ft climb) at just after 6pm, then rushed to make dinner. After seeing lots of people on the trail coming back from the lower lake, Upper Cathedral Lake was almost deserted, with only one other tent on the far side of the lake.
Next morning we walked over Cathedral Pass, stopping at the wonderful view below Columbia Finger.
Then down to where we expected Sunrise HSC to be for lunch. Unfortunately the camp itself is at the southern end of the meadow (an extra mile), not in the middle as it appeared from our map. We then walked over to Upper Sunrise Lake (total ~6 miles, 700ft of climbing) and found a great campsite by the lake, with great views of Half Dome and Clouds Rest at sunset and a fire ring for marshmallows after dark.
Finally we walked out on the third morning (all downhill, about 3.5 miles) to the Sunrise trailhead, passing dozens of daywalkers headed for Clouds Rest and caught the free shuttle back to our car.
Last weekend (Aug 28-30) we headed to Desolation Wilderness, with a fried who has a 7 yr old and 5 yr old, who haven't been backpacking before. The first day (Fri 28) was very overcast with the smoke from Yosemite, but it was a slight relief from the hot conditions. We took the boat across Echo Lake and then made it to Lake Aloha (3 miles, 800ft of climbing) in about 3.5 hours.
Next day it was much clearer and we decided to take an off-trail day walk across in the granite in the direction of Pyramid Peak.
We got to Waca Lake which was great for swimming, then walked back. The wind got up later that afternoon, but we still had a beautiful sunset.
Next morning we walked out a lot more quickly than we had walked in, with promises of In'n'Out Burger for lunch keeping the kids moving. Views down to Echo Lake were much better than on the way in.
In Yosemite we went in at Cathedral Lakes trailhead pretty late in the afternoon (about 3.15pm) after a drive up from the Bay Area. Weather was great and virtually no sign of the Wildcat fire (this was 13-15 August so before the latest fire). We got to Upper Cathedral Lake (3.7 miles, ~1000 ft climb) at just after 6pm, then rushed to make dinner. After seeing lots of people on the trail coming back from the lower lake, Upper Cathedral Lake was almost deserted, with only one other tent on the far side of the lake.
Next morning we walked over Cathedral Pass, stopping at the wonderful view below Columbia Finger.
Then down to where we expected Sunrise HSC to be for lunch. Unfortunately the camp itself is at the southern end of the meadow (an extra mile), not in the middle as it appeared from our map. We then walked over to Upper Sunrise Lake (total ~6 miles, 700ft of climbing) and found a great campsite by the lake, with great views of Half Dome and Clouds Rest at sunset and a fire ring for marshmallows after dark.
Finally we walked out on the third morning (all downhill, about 3.5 miles) to the Sunrise trailhead, passing dozens of daywalkers headed for Clouds Rest and caught the free shuttle back to our car.
Last weekend (Aug 28-30) we headed to Desolation Wilderness, with a fried who has a 7 yr old and 5 yr old, who haven't been backpacking before. The first day (Fri 28) was very overcast with the smoke from Yosemite, but it was a slight relief from the hot conditions. We took the boat across Echo Lake and then made it to Lake Aloha (3 miles, 800ft of climbing) in about 3.5 hours.
Next day it was much clearer and we decided to take an off-trail day walk across in the granite in the direction of Pyramid Peak.
We got to Waca Lake which was great for swimming, then walked back. The wind got up later that afternoon, but we still had a beautiful sunset.
Next morning we walked out a lot more quickly than we had walked in, with promises of In'n'Out Burger for lunch keeping the kids moving. Views down to Echo Lake were much better than on the way in.