What you get on this adventure:

• • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 4 days of hiking and 6 nights of lodging in Rush Creek Lodge
  • Transportation to/from day hikes throughout the duration of the trip
  • All meals from breakfast on Day 2 through dinner on Day 5
  • Guides emergency gear and water purification.
  • Permits

What’s not included:

• • Transportation to/from Yosemite National Park
  • Dinner on Day 1 and breakfast on Day 6
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Single supplement
  • Guide gratuities — optional
  • Travel and medical insurance — optional

Single travelers requesting a shared accommodation will need to pay a “forced single supplement” when there are no other travelers of the same sex also requesting shared accommodations.

The best thing about this camping tour in Yosemite is that it is suitable for all skill levels. You will hike 2-7.2 miles/ 3-11.5 km per day, totaling about 27 miles/42 km. You don’t need previous experience of multi-day hikes but you should be at a fairly good level of fitness. You need to be able to hike for 4 full days, carrying just a daypack with things you’ll need throughout the day.

You will shuttle out daily from your campsite to selected hiking destinations. Along the way, your professional and knowledgeable guide will share the history of Yosemite as well as information about the geology, natural history, plants, and animals of the area. This is a top-choice for first-timers to Yosemite!

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

• • Daypack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
  • Duffle bag for your clothes and personal items
  • Hiking poles — optional
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
  • Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
  • Comfortable hiking clothes
  • Spare clothes for layering
  • Waterproof rain jacket
  • Sunhat
  • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
  • Mosquito head net
  • Headlamp or flashlight
  • Sunglasses
  • Camera — optional (but recommended)

Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

You can leave the cooking to your lodge and your experienced outdoor guides, known for providing tasty and satisfying meals. Each day you will have breakfast and dinner at your accommodation and a lunch box and snacks on trail. Your guides have experience accommodating a variety of dietary choices and concerns. Your lodge has restaurants on-site as well as within a 15 minute drive.

Every night you will stay at the Rush Creek Lodge in rooms of your own choosing. Your options include a King Room which hosts 4 or a Hillside Villa perfect for 6 participants.

Room amenities in Rush Creek include the usual air conditioning, free wifi and even an Alexa entertainment device. You will sleep in comfortable Sealy beds and luxurious, hypoallergenic feather pillows and when you wake up, feel free to enjoy a freshly brewed cup of gourmet Keurig coffee brew or complimentary tea. At the end of the day, relax your tired muscles with Earth Therapy bath products.

• • Air conditioning
  • Alexa and wifi
  • Comfy beds and hypoallergenic pillows
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • Linens and towels
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Daily New York Times Digest
  • Hair dryers and irons
  • Earth Therapy bath products
  • In-room safe

Group sizes and pricing

• • For this group adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
  • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate.
  • Single travelers are welcome but will need to pay a “forced single supplement” when there are no other travelers of the same sex also requesting shared accommodations.

Hiking and lodging in Yosemite can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

You will meet your guides at Rush Creek Lodge in Yosemite National Park at 7 pm on Day 1 for orientation and introductions. To get to Rush Creek Lodge in Groveland, CA, most people fly into Fresno/Yosemite International Airport (FAT), 2.5 hours away. Other options include coming from Sacramento (3 hours away) or San Francisco (4 hours away).

From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service. The public roads are maintained year-round—except for the eastern entrance on Tioga Road (Highway 120 through the park). Cars are welcomed in Yosemite National Park, and visitors pay an entrance fee of $35. There is free parking in Yosemite but it is limited.

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 on or off the mountain, 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. For more information on travel recommendations and restrictions in Yosemite National Park, please refer to the California Department of Public Health.

If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!