Yosemite and backpacking: a match made in heaven. Spend between 4 and 6 days strolling through some of the world’s most beautiful places, from gemstone lakes surrounded by fairytale meadows to dramatic granite walls and misty waterfalls. Let your feet grow tired from climbing up towering domes—before pitching your tent and getting ready for the rest of your adventure. With the logistics taken care of and an expert guide by your side, all you have to do is choose an itinerary and show up! Get busy making life-long memories and reveling in million-dollar views: Yosemite never fails to amaze.
Amazing backpacking experience through Yosemite. I learned a lot, the guides were very knowledgeable and nice, and the group was a great one. Definitely an great experience! The guides meal prepped for the trip delicious food and we always had good food through the trip.
I was completely new to backpacking and had the time of my life with Lasting Adventures! I did the 5 day trip from Cathedral Lakes to Yosemite Valley and had a great time getting to the top of Cloud’s Rest and Half Dome. The hikes are challenging but the scenery is incredible and our guide, Quinn, really made the trip. He was friendly, professional and gave our small group the encouragement we needed to make it through each day. We woke up to fresh, hot coffee every morning and were treated to gourmet camp food the entire trip. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I can’t wait to come back!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
The best thing about these Yosemite guided backpacking trips is that they are beginner backpackers! However, even though no prior backpacking experience is necessary, you should have some hiking experience and be a physically active person. That said, the three itineraries offered vary in difficulty. The Glacier Point to Half Dome itinerary includes daily hiking covering between 3.5 and 7 miles (5.6-11.3 km)—with an elevation gain of up to 2,700 feet (823 m) while climbing Half Dome. More strenuous is the Cathedral Lakes, Clouds Rest & Half Dome itinerary, with hiking between 3 and 10 miles (4.8-16 km), again with an elevation gain of up to 2,700 feet (823 m) while climbing Half Dome. Similar in distances and elevation gains is also the third itinerary—from Tuolumne Meadows to Half Dome—but it is the longest one, which makes it the most challenging.
During all three adventures, all participants should be able to carry a 30-50lb backpack. Temperatures can get very high in the summer nights and it can also get pretty cold during the nights (due to high elevations). Your guides will always be by your side during hikes and will notice if it gets too strenuous for anyone in the group, making frequent breaks. They will also teach you all the necessary skills you need for backpacking.
If you’re looking for something a bit more challenging, check out another multi-day Yosemite hiking tour we have on offer.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, trekking poles, camp pillows, bowls, mugs and sporks are all included in the price of the trip. However, feel free to bring any of these items if you have your own. Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. Make sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast and adjust your packing list accordingly. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans. A comprehensive equipment list will be made available upon booking.
You can expect excellent backcountry cuisine throughout the guided Yosemite backpacking tour! Typical breakfasts might include burritos, oatmeals, pancakes, dried fruit, bagels, etc. For dinner, your guides will prepare a variety of pastas, risottos, beans, couscous, meats, vegetables, etc. Lunch will consist of trail food with fruits, vegetables, pita, bagels, salami, cheeses, hummus, trail mix, energy bars, etc. All special dietary requests (vegan, keto, gluten-free, vegetarian—you name it) can be easily accommodated, just let your guides know in advance!
Group sizes and prices:
Backpacking in Yosemite National Park can be arranged for larger or for private groups (with a custom date). Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Yosemite, most people fly into Sacramento International Airport which is around three hours away from the park or the Fresno/Yosemite International Airport which is also three hours away. Another option is flying into the San Francisco International Airport, just over four hours away from the park. From here, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service.
You will meet your guide in Curry Village at 4 pm on day 1, which means you can travel to the park on the same day. If arriving the day before, we suggest finding accommodation in Curry Village, Yosemite Village, Foresta, or El Portal.
All dates listed for these itineraries remain tentative until your gudies confirm trailhead permits, usually 22-23 weeks in advance. Although their success rate is high, should they not gain the exact dates through permitting, you will be contacted and offered choices including new dates and/or different itineraries. Should no alternative work, a full cancellation/refund will be granted.
Please refrain from making travel arrangements (that are unchangeable) until dates/permits are confirmed.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Yosemite, CA, please refer to the Government of California website.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
Deposits
You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Early Bird booking
Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.
As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.
More about how Early Bird bookings work below:
Recently finished a backpacking trip planned and guided by Lasting Adventures. This was my first trip to Yosemite and the trip far exceeded my expectations. The hiking was rigorous but the experience and the views were very much worth the effort. The tents, sleeping bags etc were all great quality and it was helpful to not have to tote our own stuff across country. Jenna Levy was our guide and she was terrific. She has a great personality and worked tirelessly to make our trip special. I have no reservation recommending Lasting Adventures to anyone interested in visiting Yosemite.