Backyard Beat: Little Yosemite Area

I knew wasn’t going to see giant granites and jaw-dropping precipices here. But I must admit it was the name of the place that caught my attention, aroused my curiosity, and made me want to trip to Little Yosemite Area in Sunol, California. I just had to see why it was called (Little) Yosemite.

And it didn’t disappoint. I would say it is a good place for some outdoor time when the weather is pleasant. 

It was an early-February day when we went that way. The sky was a beautiful cobalt blue. And the sun was shining but it wasn’t hot. And it wasn’t raining even though it was a Californian winter day. It was perfect for a family hike. 

Where exactly is Little Yosemite?

Little Yosemite Area lies in the southeastern part of Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness. It is a peaceful yet not-so-deserted part of the park.

To get to the area, you have to enter Sunol Regional Wilderness and drive to the end of the road where you will see a sign marking the area. You’ll see a long brown bridge. That’s where you begin the hike.

The hike 

The hike to Little Yosemite Area starts at the end of Geary Road. The unpaved Camp Ohlone Road is a broad trail to the area. It begins on a long brown bridge over Leyden and Alameda Creeks. 

The path is graveled and runs along the Alameda Creek. For a good part of the hike, you can hear water gurgling down the stream. As you hike further into the park, Camp Ohlone Road goes up and down and around a few hills. You’ll see several small side-trails that take you towards the creek.

We stopped at one place that had a bench and several trails leading downhill. The view was wild and rocky and it was refreshing to listen to water gushing down a narrow path. 

Further up the trail, there was a gate with a cattle grate. We walked to the edge of the flat area there and saw a lovely sight. Down there was a rocky area and the creek making a few falls before it flowed downstream. 

After spending some time there we walked further up the road and there was the ravine and —I believe — the place that is actually called The Little Yosemite Area. This place too was filled with rocks and the water seemed to rush down making quite a bit of noise, a very pleasing one at that.

Most people who were out hiking that day seemed to stop around there. We walked for a few more minutes and came across a pretty spot where the creek bed was flat and quite dry. The water was also quite still with pools of reflections of the trees and plants of the area.

And I also spotted the curious-looking rectangular boulder looking out of the foliage.

What you need to know before you go for the hike:

1. Wear comfortable shoes. This hike falls in the moderate category (because of the gravel and the ups and downs, I guess) and is a little over 2-miles in length. 
2. Don’t forget to carry some water. 
3. You might want to use the restroom at the parking area. There’s only one further up near the Little Yosemite Area (near the marker) and it is something like a squat toilet. 
4. It is a dog-friendly hike. If I’m not mistaken you pay a 2 dollar fee for your pet in addition to your $5 for entry & parking. [Feb. 2020]
5. Be careful when you walk towards the edges of the trails and side trails that lead to the creek. 

Happy Hiking!!

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Trip to Yosemite National Park, CA

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