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Backpacking with my 4 year old son

PostPosted: Thu May 03, 2012 7:03 pm
by jtborn
I'm looking for some advice.

I want to take my 4 year old son on a Short backpacking trip. I live in the central valley of CA. I was wondering where I could go off either highways 120, 108, or 4. I only want to take him in about a couple miles, tent camp one night, then head back to the car. it would be nice to be near a stream or water source. Not sure of where to park, where I can camp, permits, etc?

Any advice would be helpful!

Re: Backpacking with my 4 year old son

PostPosted: Fri May 04, 2012 5:45 pm
by AlmostThere
May Lake, Polly Dome Lakes, or Saddlebag Lake. The first two require permits from Yosemite and may be difficult to manage. Saddlebag is easy on the permitting - you get one from Inyo NF - and there is a ferry to cut miles off the hike around the lake, then it is easy walking to many small lakes in the area at which to camp.

Emigrant wilderness is a good option - no quotas for permits and there are lakes within a short hike of some of the trailheads.

For info on wilderness permits for all of these google each location and "wilderness permit."

Re: Backpacking with my 4 year old son

PostPosted: Fri May 04, 2012 9:50 pm
by jtborn
Thank you so much, I'll check those out!

Re: Backpacking with my 4 year old son

PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 2:19 am
by orion
Lake Eleanor is pretty accessible, reasonable altitude, just over a mile hike in, swimmable temps most of the summer, but rattlesnakes can be a concern with small children.

Re: Backpacking with my 4 year old son

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:05 am
by AlmostThere
redfox1939 wrote:Murietta Falls via Ohlone Wilderness Trail.It takes strong legs and an even stronger sense of humor to take on the trek to Murietta Falls. If you can laugh off the prospect of hiking six miles one way with over 4,000 feet of ascent for a waterfall without any actual water in it, you have a strong chance of enjoying this hike.

(spammy link removed)



Seriously, do you HATE four year olds?

Re: Backpacking with my 4 year old son

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 3:37 pm
by dan
AlmostThere wrote:Seriously, do you HATE four year olds?
Actually that was a spammer from the Philippines who doesn't have a clue.