Little Yosemite

Even though we have already been several times to the Sunol Wilderness we haven’t visited one of its popular highlights yet. I mean the Little Yosemite area indeed. I wasn’t expecting much, especially because the closest parking it’s just a mile walk to get there.



We cross the wooden bridge over Alameda Creek and continue on the Canyon View Trail. Climbing up we have to be careful not to slip on the big acorns. They are everywhere and very tempting to Maarten who keeps collecting them all the time.



Over the Alameda Creek valley the views of the highlands are again beautiful.



A little bit out of the wind we enjoy our lunch but Maarten can’t sit still. He rolls his bottle down the hill till he thinks of doing it himself. He has so much fun but I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to get all the dry grass and thorns out of his clothes. We have to look for his shoe. It’s stuck somewhere under a mossy rock but I guess he even haven't noticed that.



Approaching the Little Yosemite area we meet still more people. Would it be crowded like the ‘real’ Yosemite Valley? Is this the reason why they call it so? ;-)
It’s nothing spectacular but still a lovely place that features something of the Sierra's namesake.



Little Yosemite is a scenic rocky gorge on Alameda Creek shaded by big oaks. The creek tumbles through the rocky canyon with forested hillsides.
Of course you can’t expect to enjoy some solitude here during the weekend.



Now we have reached the creek and we should continue on the fire road. We’ve already walked some 2 miles and Maarten noticed that too. It becomes difficult to keep the ‘boring’ fire road enough exciting to him.
We are happy to collect and carry so many acorns in our pockets! Tossing them in front of us Maarten finds it very amusing to run after it. Great! We even move forward in (for us) an uncommon fast pace!


PS: a ghost tree found along the equestrian trail...