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Hidden Gems of Yosemite: Backpacking Tours

Itinerary
Hidden Northern Yosemite
Guide(s)
Scott Gehrman, Lasting Adventures
Trip options

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Deposits

When booking a trip, you can either pay for it in full or reserve your spot with a 30% deposit. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

Cancellations

After 48 hours, booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. You can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

Basic
  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 90 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled within 89 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period.
Flexible
  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 90 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled 60-89 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after 48 hours grace period.
Super Flexible
  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled within 59 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after 48 hours grace period.
Hidden Gems of Yosemite: Backpacking Tours
Itinerary
Hidden Northern Yosemite
People
1 Person
Date(s)
--
Duration
6 day
Guide(s)
Scott Gehrman, Lasting Adventures
Reserve deposit (30%) $0
Second Payment Amount: $0

  • Get ready for an unforgettable adventure through the hidden northern reaches of Yosemite National Park. This backpacking tour is a 6-day journey into untouched Yosemite wilderness, with its granite peaks and breathtaking scenery. We’ll camp beside pristine rivers and backcountry lakes, surrounded by deep canyons and dense forests. Led by experienced guides, this trip promises an authentic wilderness experience in one of the last true wilderness areas of the Sierra Nevada. All permits, meals, and equipment are provided for a hassle-free adventure.

    • Meet your guide in the parking area of the Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Permit Center at noon. Get acquainted with the group and your gear while enjoying your lunch. Afterward, our group will go on a six-mile hike out of the Tuolumne Meadows, heading north towards the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne—a breathtaking glacier-cut river canyon. This mostly downhill hike meanders through alpine meadows and across massive granite slabs. We’ll set up camp at the Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp (7,980 ft/2,432 m) next to a pristine swimming hole. 

      Hiking: 6.3 mi (10.1 km)
      Elevation: -700 ft (-213 m)

      Tent in a forest, in Yosemite.

    • We’ll get an early start and do the regular morning activities—breakfast and packing up. Today, we’ll continue hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail. We’ll trek seven miles through the Cold Canyon before reaching an amazing vista overlooking Virginia Canyon and beyond. Then we’ll descend until we reach a campsite near Return Creek at 8,500 ft (2,591 m). We’ll set up our tents and enjoy dinner in great company.

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Hiking: 8.0 mi (12.9 km)
      Elevation: +1,700 ft, -700 ft (+518 m, -213 m)

      Rugged terrain in Yosemite.

    • After a leisurely breakfast and packing up, continue your trek along the Pacific Creat Trail and into the Spiller Canyon. After that, your group will climb to Miller Lake. Enjoy time at this high alpine lake before setting up a camp. Spend another evening in great company, with tasty food and interesting conversations by the campfire. 

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Hiking: 4.5 mi (7.2 km)
      Elevation: +800 ft (+244 m)

      Hikers on Miller Lake

    • Once we’re done with breakfast and packing up our stuff, we’ll ascend out of the Miller Lake basin before dropping into Matterhorn Canyon. We’ll leave the Pacific Crest Trail and continue deep into Matterhorn Canyon, surrounded by spectacular geological formations. We’ll continue hiking until we reach the camp for the night. Later, our group will proceed with regular evening activities.  

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Hiking: 8.4 mi (13.5 km)
      Elevation: +1,200 ft, -1,300 ft (+366 m, -396 m)

      Miller Canyon in Yosemite.

    • After breakfast, we’ll climb over Burro Pass at 10,600 ft (3,231 m) before descending into the Slide Canyon. We’ll climb out of Slide Canyon and over the Mule Pass (10,440 ft/3,182 m) as we exit Yosemite. We’ll proceed about 1,5 miles more past the extraordinary eastern Sierra pinnacles to camp along the shore of Crown Lake (9,450 ft/2,880 m). This is our last evening, so we’ll take a chance to celebrate a little before going to sleep. 

      Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
      Hiking: 6 mi (9.7 km)
      Elevation: +2,200 ft, -2,000 ft (+671 m, -610 m)

      Granite mountains in Northern Yosemite

    • After breakfast and breaking down our tents, it’s time to continue hiking. We’ll continue our descent through the Eastern Sierras, passing lakes, rivers, streams, and small waterfalls on our way to Annett’s Mono Village Resort on the east side of Twin Lakes at 7,092 ft (2,161 m). Once there, we’ll reward ourselves with lunch, cold beverage, and/or ice cream before catching the scheduled shuttle back to Tuolumne Meadows to retrieve vehicles. Say goodbye to your Yosemite hiking guide, fellow hikers, and Yosemite—or continue touring on your own. 

      Meals: Breakfast
      Hiking: 7.2 mi (11.6 km)
      Elevation: +100 ft, -2,550 ft (+30 m, -777 m)

      Backpackers in the hidden, northern part of the Yosemite National Park.

    • What you get on this adventure:

        • Experienced, Yosemite hiking/backpacking guide(s) with extensive knowledge of the area
        • A 5-day or 6-day Yosemite hiking & camping tours (depending on your chosen itinerary)
        • Backpacking permits
        • Required Park Reservations
        • Meals during the adventure (as indicated in the itinerary)
        • Personal backpacking equipment — backpacks, single-person tents, sleeping bags, pads, trekking poles, eating utensils (upon request)
        • Group camping equipment
        • Overnights at camping sites
        • All transit during the adventure

      What’s not included:

        • Transportation to and from the meeting point
        • Accommodation before and after the adventure — if applicable
        • Travel/medical insurance — recommended
        • Park entry fee
        • Personal expenses before heading into the backcountry
        • Guide gratuities

    • These Yosemite hiking tours require strong hiking experience and, preferably, some backpacking experience as well. These tours are open for people who hike regularly and are generally physically active. The Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne itinerary includes daily hiking covering between 5.5 and 9.5  miles (8.9-15.3 km)—with an elevation gain of up to 2,250 feet (685 m). Similar in difficulty is the Hidden Yosemite itinerary, with daily hiking between 4.5 and 8.4 miles (7.2-13.5 km), and an elevation gain of up to 2,200 ft (670 m).

      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:

        • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
        • Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
        • Camp sandals/shoes
        • Underwear/undergarments (synthetic preferred for hiking) and long underwear
        • Spare clothes for layering
        • Light waterproof rain jacket, fleece/warm wool jacket, and warm synthetic jacket for mornings and evenings
        • 1-2 Pairs of lightweight hiking pants and shorts
        • Sunhat, beanie, bandanas/buffs, mosquito head net
        • Swimwear, camp pillow and towel
        • Personal medication
        • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
        • Headlamp or flashlight
        • Sunglasses
        • Camera — optional (but recommended)
        • Cards, small games, book and other things for entertainment at the camp — optional 

      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:

        • For these group adventures, the maximum client-to-guide ratio is 5:1. The number of participants in a group is usually between 4 and 8.
        • The cost does not decrease as the group grows

      Yosemite hiking & camping tours can be arranged for larger or for private groups (with a custom date). Contact us to make arrangements.

      Min. age requirements:

        • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
        • Minors younger than 18 are permitted to join, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. Both adventures are family-friendly! 

      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 at the White Wolf Campground for the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne itinerary at 4pm on Day 1 and at the Tuolumne Wilderness Center for the Hidden Yosemite itinerary at 12pm on Day 1. 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!

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