Yosemite National Park scavenger hunt for kids

What makes Yosemite National Park worth investigating

Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wild area, and much more.

President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant in 1864, making it the first time the U.S. government protected land specifically for public enjoyment, paving the way for the national park system.

El Capitan, the largest exposed granite monolith in the world at over 3,000 feet tall. Yosemite Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in North America at 2,425 feet. Mariposa Grove with over 500 mature giant sequoia trees. Half Dome, an iconic granite dome rising 4,737 feet above the valley floor. The best seasons to visit are spring, summer, and fall. Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March).

10 things to look for

Use this as an observation menu, not a race. Choose fewer items for younger children, pause for questions and sketches, and leave every natural and historic object where it belongs.

• Steller's Jay Wildlife
  A bright blue bird with a dark crest on its head, commonly seen at picnic areas Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Giant Sequoia Tree Nature
  One of the massive ancient trees in Mariposa Grove with reddish-brown bark
• Yosemite Falls Nature
  The tallest waterfall in Yosemite, visible from the valley floor
• Glacial Erratic Boulder Geology
  A large boulder deposited by glaciers thousands of years ago, sitting on smooth granite
• Black Bear Wildlife
  A black bear foraging for food in meadows or along trails Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Ahwahnee Hotel History
  The historic 1927 lodge built with granite boulders and timber beams
• Mule Deer Wildlife
  Deer with large ears often seen grazing in Yosemite Valley meadows Observe only from the required distance; a sound, track, or other safe sign may count.
• Granite Polish Geology
  Smooth, shiny patches on granite rock surfaces polished by ancient glaciers
• Pacific Dogwood Nature
  A small tree with large white flower-like bracts that bloom in spring
• Rock Climbers on El Capitan Nature
  Tiny figures scaling the massive granite face of El Capitan

Checklist items describe things a visitor might observe. A sighting is never guaranteed. Do not approach wildlife, cross barriers, leave approved areas, or handle protected objects to complete an item.

Adapt the hunt by age

Turn “I want to go there” into a family plan

1. The child finds Yosemite National Park in the HomeSchool.You park catalog and taps the heart.
2. The parent receives an in-app alert that the child wants to visit.
3. Yosemite National Park appears in the child’s Travel Wish List inside the parent area.
4. The family chooses timing together, checks current conditions, and prints or opens this hunt.
5. After exploring, the child can save visit memories and progress in the park passport.

Respect the place

An adult should supervise the entire visit. Observe wildlife from the required distance, stay on allowed routes, follow posted and ranger instructions, pack out waste, and do not collect plants, rocks, cultural objects, or animals. HomeSchool.You is an independent learning platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service or any state or local park agency.

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