Little Yosemite Hike – 10 Things To Know Before You Go

As the temperature rises and clears snow from trails, summer is the perfect time to explore nature. Nothing like looking at the mesmerizing landscapes and breathing fresh air, while soaking in the sunlight.

If you’re in the Bay Area and looking for a scenic hike, Little Yosemite is worth checking out. Located close to Sunol, California, this trail gives you everything you want from a national park. The plus side is – you don’t have to spend hours hiking to find all the beauty this trail has to offer.

Little Yosemite Info

Located close to Sunol, California, the Little Yosemite Trail is 2.2 miles. It is an out and back trail with an elevation gain of 196 ft. Along the trail, you will find beautiful flowers, gorgeous waterfalls, wading areas, and marshes. You can access little Yosemite Sunol all year round. Also, this hike is for people of all skill levels.

If this is the first time you’re visiting Little Yosemite, knowing what to expect will make sure you aren’t under-prepared for the hike. Here are 10 things you must know about this trail before you start packing your bags.

1. The best time to visit Little Yosemite

A common question you’ll have on your mind is when should you go to Little Yosemite. After all, you don’t want to miss out on staring at the jaw-dropping landscape due to a lack of planning.

Like most nature trails, the best time to enjoy this trail is during spring or early summer. If you go towards mid or late summer, the heat can be unbearable due to the exposed trail.

Around what time should you visit Little Yosemite? Keep in mind, this trail receives moderate foot traffic due to the popularity of this location. If you want to avoid large crowds, early morning is your best bet. As long as you are there before 10 a.m., you can have the time of your life exploring this trail. The park opens to the public at 8 a.m. However, the closing time varies depending on the season.

If you can’t arrive early, try going during the week as you can escape from the busy city lifestyle easily.

2. A list of things to carry before going to Little Yosemite

Before you go into Little Yosemite, you need to make sure you have all the essentials with you. After all, you don’t want to be in the middle of the hike, only to realize you left something important at home.

First things first, make sure you carry ample amounts of water with you. The hot weather, along with the hike will make you sweat profusely. You should know there isn’t any potable water in this location. Don’t forget to carry your hat and sunglasses as there isn’t a lot of shade on this trail.

Sunscreen is essential as you don’t want to get sunburned while exploring the beauty of Little Yosemite. Although it isn’t necessary to carry hiking shoes, you will find it easier to move about with them.

Download your favorite tracks if you want to listen to music while hiking. As you start approaching the trail, there won’t be any signal on your smartphone. If you’re carrying food, make sure you also take trash bags to collect the waste.

3. Pets in Little Yosemite

There isn’t anything like taking your dog along for a hike. It’s a great way for you and your canine to get exercise. You will be happy to know Little Yosemite is a dog-friendly trail.

If you plan on bringing your canine along, you have to pay $2. For guide and service dogs, there isn’t any entry fee. Once your dog is inside the trail, you must follow these rules. You should put a leash on your canine when you’re in areas where people gather. For instance, any developed portion of the trail, lawns, picnic areas, and parking areas have this rule.

However, if you want your dog to stretch its legs and explore the wilderness with you, don’t worry. You can remove the leash and allow it to go for a run. However, it should be within your sight. Make sure you carry the leash with you at all times. Also, you should be able to issue voice commands to bring your dog under control.

If you’re not sure which trails require your canine to be on a leash, always get in touch with a ranger.

4. Wildlife in Little Yosemite to keep an eye out for

There is plenty of wildlife in this region. You will find red-tailed hawks, yellow-billed magpies, and ground squirrels as you walk through the trail. If you are into bird watching, make sure you carry your binoculars as you don’t want to miss seeing them.

You will find birds such as the golden eagle, turkey vulture, black phoebe, acorn woodpecker, and titmouse easily. During the day, 20 – 40 species of birds will be visible in various regions of the trail.

If you’re lucky, you may get to see mountain lions. Although they are an occasional sighting, observing them in their natural habitat is a sight to behold. During summer, rattlesnakes come out to sunbathe. Staying vigilant will help you avoid them easily. There are also plenty of cows grazing throughout the park.

5.Pitstops in Little Yosemite

If you feel like taking a break to enjoy the scenery, you should follow the dirt path that takes you down to the creek. As you walk along this path, you’ll be able to get incredible views of Little Yosemite.

You can also hike up to the waterfalls if you want to get some exercise. However, you should know you have to come down to access them. This can be challenging as the rocks in these regions are huge. As they are wet, there is a high chance of slipping and getting hurt. Also, the sides along the creek are steep. If you are taking your children for the hike, you’ll need to help them get down.

If you want to go down to the waterfall, pay close attention to every step you take. Hiking shoes are a must as they give you the right grip to avoid slipping off the rocks.

Once you’re at the creek, you can take a break to cool off. Another great place to make a pit stop is the outhouse, located on Camp Ohlone Road. You can stop here for a picnic with your family and friends.

Remember, the picnic spots are available to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Certain areas will only be open via reservation during the weekend. Call 1-888-EBPARKS to make group reservations.

6. Fees for visiting Little Yosemite

As this is open to the public, you don’t need a permit to visit Little Yosemite. However, if you want to park your vehicle, you have to pay $5 per car on holidays and weekends.

If you drive a trailer, the parking cost is $4. For buses, you have to pay $25 per vehicle. Even though the park is open, there is limited parking. During weekends and holidays, it fills up easily. As a result, the authorities may ask you to visit the park at a later time.

7. Vegetation in Little Yosemite

As you walk along the trail, pay attention to your environment. There is plenty of florae throughout the Little Yosemite Area. One popular region is Alameda Creek, the largest stream in Alameda County.

Here, you will find trees such as American Sycamore, Willows, and Alder. Coast Live Oak, Gray Pine, Elderberry, Madrone, and Blue Oak are there throughout the trail. If you visit during spring, you will come across a myriad of wildflowers.

Lupines, goldfields, mustard, and California poppies are common wildflowers in this region. Make sure you have your camera ready as these flowers create a beautiful carpet in blue, yellow, and orange hues.

8. Swimming in Alameda Creek at Little Yosemite

When you visit Alameda Creek at Little Yosemite, the water looks tempting to take a dip. Even if you are an excellent swimmer, you should avoid swimming at all costs. According to the rules in Little Yosemite, you cannot swim in Alameda Creek.

The owner of the property is the San Francisco Water Department. You can visit this region due to a lease agreement. While you hike in Little Yosemite, make sure you pay attention to the boundary signs. Avoid trespassing onto lands owned by the Water Department as they aren’t included in the lease agreement. While hiking, you may be able to see the replacement project for the Calaveras Dam.

9. Description of Little Yosemite hike

How do you hike the Little Yosemite trail? Most people come to Geary Road and park their vehicles at the end. The parking spot is after the Visitor Center and Horse Corral. They try to stay close to the park’s bathroom. When you reach here, you can start the hike on Camp Ohlone Road.

As you follow the dirt road, you will see why thousands of people visit Little Yosemite every year. If you want to go back to the parking lot, don’t worry. All you have to do is follow the road back.

Another way to return to the parking lot is to go through Little Yosemite’s picnic area. To get back to Ohlone Road, you have to climb the bank, all the way to the downhill road.

Make sure you follow the trail to avoid getting lost. The best way to know you’re on the right path is to look at the vegetation. As you keep hiking, you’ll see a bridge. Keep walking till you come across a gate. If you keep going, you’ll end up in the parking area.

From here, you can walk on the paved road as it will take you to the Visitor Center.

10. Where to stop first in Little Yosemite?

If you’re going to Little Yosemite for the first time, make sure you stop at the Visitor Center before starting your trek. You can think of this place as an information hub, giving you everything you need to know about this park.

It also acts as your starting point, making it easy to navigate the trail. If you need to identify the wildflowers along the path, look at the identification kit. At present, you can check out the Visitor Center as it is open. In-person programming is allowed.

However, the operating hours and capacity of the Visitor Center are limited. While you’re here, you can inquire about the various activities led by naturalists. They offer backpacking, camping, hiking, and walking programs.

You will also find souvenirs at this place. The officials keep replicas of Indian artifacts, which you can purchase. You will also find history books on the nature and culture of this region. Similarly, there are study items for nature, available to the public. At the sales counter, you will also find topographical maps. These maps will give you information on all the hikes.

On Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Visitor Center remains closed.

Additional Little Yosemite Hiking Information

When you visit Little Yosemite Sunol, you may feel like going off the path and exploring. After all, you want to check out different spots while following the trail. While this is okay, there are certain restrictions in the park.

For instance, you may find it compelling to take a shortcut to reach your destination in the trail quickly. This might involve crossing steep parts of the park.

Similarly, when you see the banks or the grass growing on the hillside, it looks tempting to slide on these terrains. Avoid these types of activities as they are harmful to the park. They cause erosion of the soil to take place. As a result, it spoils the beauty of the park for other people. Also, it is quite expensive to control soil erosion.

Little Yosemite is an incredible trail to go on a hike. After the park receives winter rains, the hills will have different shades of green.