Get to know what it’s like to live in the intact wilderness of Yosemite! Apart from hiking in magnificent landscapes of Mount Hoffman, May Lake, Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, and countless waterfalls and crystal-clear lakes, this tour is made special for superb sunsets and being suitable for absolute backpacking beginners and those with very little hiking experience. Learn the basics of backpacking in a great company with superb guides who will take care of all the logistics.
All dates remain tentative until your guides confirm trailhead permits, usually 22-23 weeks in advance. Please refrain from making travel arrangements (that are unchangeable) until dates/permits are confirmed. Read more in our FAQ.
Meet your guide in Curry Village at 4:00 pm. Meet your group and do an extensive gear check. If time allows before dinner, you’ll be able to walk to some of Yosemite Valley’s iconic sightseeing spots. Get to know your group and your guides a bit better over dinner, before pitching a tent at Yosemite Valley Backpacker’s Camp.
Meals: /
After eating a quick breakfast at camp, relocate vehicles or use the park’s shuttle service to the trailhead near Tenaya Lake. Before hitting the trail, you’ll get a chance to soak in the alpine views at Tenaya Lake (8,150 ft / 2,484 m) before hiking approximately 3 moderate miles (4.8 km) up to May Lake. After setting up camp, you can opt for a four-mile hike to the summit of Mount Hoffman—the geographical center of Yosemite National Park and John Muir’s favorite summit view. After dinner, scramble up onto the secret bluff to witness the first amazing sunset of the adventure.
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Hiking: 2.7 miles + optional 4 miles (4.3 km + 4.8 km)
Elevation: +500 ft (152 m) and +1,650 ft (500 m) if hiking Mount Hoffman
Start your day with a hearty breakfast and proceed with hiking for about 7.5 miles (12 km). It’ll be a moderate downhill to Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp, where you’ll be rewarded by views of a spectacular waterfall and a swimming hole, where you’ll be able to get refreshed. After dinner, take a short stroll to a bluff overlooking the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne to enjoy another Yosemite sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 7.5 miles (12 km)
Elevation: +450 ft; -1,380 ft (+137 m; -420 m)
After a filling breakfast, hike with daypacks for 3.3 miles (5.3 km)—down to the Tuolumne River gorge and finally to Waterwheel Falls, passing California Falls and LeConte Falls along the way. Enjoy lunch within the spectacular Tuolumne River Gorge, before returning back to the Glen Aulin to camp. After dinner, take a short hike to a secret bluff behind and above Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp and enjoy the final (and typically the most amazing!) Yosemite sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 6.6 miles (10.6 km)
Elevation: +1,720 ft; -1,720 ft (+525 m; -525 m)
After breakfast, hike out 4.5 miles (7.2 km) along the meandering Tuolumne River until you reach Tuolumne Meadows. You’re expected to arrive there between 11 am and 1 pm—at the perfect time to enjoy a burger from the Tuolumne Grill and celebrate your achievements with fellow backpackers! Relocation to your vehicles and to the Curry Village will be coordinated and provided by your guides. Say goodbye to Yosemite or continue touring on your own!
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hiking: 4.5 miles (7.2 km)
Elevation: +700 ft (+213 m)
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
The best thing about these Yosemite guided backpacking trips is that they are open for beginner backpackers! However, even though no prior backpacking experience is necessary, you should be someone who regularly hikes (preferably engaging in shorter hikes a few times a month) and generally be a physically active person. The Amazing Sunsets itinerary includes daily hiking covering between 2.7 and 7.5 miles (4.3-12 km)—with an elevation gain of up to 1,650 feet (500 m) while climbing Mount Hoffman (which is optional). Similar in difficulty is the May Lake to Snow Creek itinerary, with daily hiking between 3 and 7.5 miles (4.8-12 km), again with an elevation gain of up to 1,650 feet (500 m) while climbing Mount Hoffman (optional).
During both 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.
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.
All dates listed for these itineraries remain tentative until your guides 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.
You can expect excellent backcountry cuisine throughout your 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 the 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 4pm 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.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency in the wilderness, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.
Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!