Family Trips in Northern California: Redwoods, Yosemite Waterfalls and Lassen’s Mudpots
The best family trips in Northern California are Yosemite Valley in late spring for the waterfalls, Lassen Volcanic in late summer for the boiling mudpots, the coast redwoods on US-101, and Muir Woods as a half day from San Francisco. Yosemite needs no entry reservation in 2026. Muir Woods does, for every car and shuttle rider. Redwood National Park itself is free to enter.
Five family trips compared
| Trip | Best months | Easiest walk | Reservation or fee note | Our itinerary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite Valley | May and June for waterfalls | Lower Yosemite Fall, 1 mile paved loop | No entry reservation in 2026 | 2 day itinerary |
| Lassen Volcanic | Late July to early October | Bumpass Hell boardwalk, about 3 miles round trip | $30 per vehicle, April 16 to November 30 | 2 day itinerary |
| Redwood National and State Parks | Year round | Short redwood grove walks | Park entry free; Fern Canyon has an $8 day use fee | West Coast road trip |
| Muir Woods | Year round | Valley floor boardwalk | Reservation required for every car and shuttle rider | Half day from San Francisco |
| Sierra loop with Sequoia | May to September | Mariposa Grove and Giant Forest | Varies by park | 10 day family loop |
1. Yosemite Valley
Yosemite does not require an entry reservation in 2026; the park is managing crowds with real-time traffic and parking control instead. Weekends and holidays still fill up, so arrive early or come midweek.
The valley waterfalls run on snowmelt, which makes May and June the best months to see them and August the weakest.
- Lower Yosemite Fall. A 1 mile paved loop, mostly flat, ending at a footbridge below the lower fall. Strollers can manage the eastern side of the loop.
- Bridalveil Fall. About half a mile round trip on a rebuilt, gently graded path. It keeps flowing later into summer than most of the valley falls.
- The Mist Trail to the Vernal Fall footbridge. About 1.6 miles round trip, paved but steep. A good turnaround point for younger kids.
Our Yosemite 2 day itinerary fits the valley and Glacier Point into a weekend, and our Yosemite waterfall hikes for families guide ranks the falls from easiest to hardest.
2. Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen is where kids see a volcano working. Bumpass Hell is the park's largest hydrothermal area, a basin of boiling mudpots, steaming vents and blue pools, and a boardwalk keeps you above the hot ground. The trail is about 3 miles round trip and starts at around 8,200 feet, so it feels harder than the distance suggests. Keep children on the boardwalk the whole time: the crust around the features is thin and the water underneath is near boiling.
Timing matters. At that elevation the trail is often under snow until mid-July, so the dependable window is late July through early October. The vehicle entrance fee is $30 from April 16 to November 30 and $10 in winter. Our Lassen Volcanic day hikes itinerary pairs Bumpass Hell with Kings Creek Falls and Manzanita Lake, and our Bumpass Hell trail guide covers parking and conditions.
3. The coast redwoods on US-101
Redwood National and State Parks are free to enter, though some day use areas in the state parks charge a fee: Fern Canyon is $8 per vehicle. The Kuchel Visitor Center near Orick, the main southern gateway, is about 312 miles and 6 hours from San Francisco straight up US-101.
If that is too far for one day, break it at Humboldt Redwoods State Park, where the 32 mile Avenue of the Giants runs alongside US-101 through old growth redwood. Eureka is the usual overnight. Our San Francisco to Redwood National Park guide has the full drive, and the West Coast road trip builds the redwoods into a two week trip along the coast.
4. Muir Woods from San Francisco
The closest old growth redwoods to the city are across the Golden Gate Bridge at Muir Woods National Monument, near Mill Valley. It is the easiest redwood trip with small children, but it needs planning: reservations are now required for all personal vehicles and all shuttle riders, and are made at gomuirwoods.com. There is no cell service in the monument and pets are not allowed.
5. A longer Sierra loop
With ten days, the California national parks family loop links Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point and the giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove with Sequoia and Kings Canyon to the south, where the General Sherman Tree and Moro Rock are short walks from the road. It runs May through September. The southern half is in Central California rather than the north, but for most families it is the natural extension of a Yosemite trip.
Fitting two parks into one summer
The seasons do not line up neatly. Yosemite's waterfalls are strongest in May and June, while Bumpass Hell at Lassen is often under snow until mid-July. If you want both on one trip, go from late July to September: Lassen's high trails are open, and Yosemite still has Bridalveil Fall, which keeps running later than the others. If waterfalls matter most, do Yosemite in late spring and save Lassen for a separate late summer weekend.
The redwoods and Muir Woods have no such problem. They are open year round and the walks are low and shaded, which makes them the natural choice for a hot inland week or a winter trip.
Getting around Yosemite Valley with kids
Parking in the valley is the hard part on busy days. The free valley shuttle stops near the trailheads, including stop 6 for Lower Yosemite Fall, so park once in the morning and use the shuttle for the rest of the day. Our best time to visit Yosemite with kids guide covers school holidays and crowds.
Which trip for which family
- Toddlers and strollers: Lower Yosemite Fall, Muir Woods and the short redwood groves.
- School age kids: Bumpass Hell at Lassen and the Mist Trail to the Vernal Fall footbridge.
- Visiting in winter: the redwoods and Muir Woods, which are open year round.
- One week or more: the Sierra family loop, or Yosemite and Lassen together.
For pacing, snacks and what to carry on the trail, see our guide to hiking with kids.
Family Trips in Northern California: Redwoods, Yosemite Waterfalls and Lassen’s Mudpots FAQs
Yosemite Valley in May or June, when the waterfalls are at their peak. The Lower Yosemite Fall trail is a 1 mile paved loop that works for strollers, and there is no entry reservation in 2026.
No. Yosemite dropped its entry reservation system for 2026 and is managing traffic and parking in real time instead. Weekends and holidays are still busy, so arrive early.
Yes. Reservations are required for all personal vehicles and all shuttle riders, and are made at gomuirwoods.com.
For school age kids, yes. It is about 3 miles round trip with a boardwalk over the mudpots and vents. It starts near 8,200 feet, so go slowly, and keep children on the boardwalk at all times.
Entry to Redwood National and State Parks is free. Some day use areas in the state parks charge a fee, including Fern Canyon at $8 per vehicle.
The high trails, including Bumpass Hell, are often under snow until mid-July. The dependable hiking window is late July through early October.
Yes. The worked day-by-day plan is California National Parks Family Loop: A 10-Day Itinerary (10 Days), with the permits, the stays and the drive times already sorted. Tell us your dates and we will put it together for you and confirm what is genuinely open on those days. Asking is free: no card, no deposit, and nothing is held until you say yes.
