A true jewel of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite was designated a protected wilderness area in 1864, with its many granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and serene meadows. In its very heart lies Yosemite Valley, framed by iconic landmarks like Half Dome and El Capitan, both world-class hiking destinations.
Endless hiking options
Epic backpacking opportunities
Visit iconic destinations
Half Dome
The crown jewel of Yosemite. This challenging hike rewards with iconic views from the granite dome’s summit. Permits are required – snag one well in advance!
El Capitan
This behemoth is a legendary climbing challenge, as well as a spectacular hiking destination. Witness its majesty from afar or watch climbers tackle its daunting vertical face.
Vernal Falls
A classic Yosemite hike with a refreshing payoff. Get ready for mist showers as you climb alongside the cascading falls.
We had an incredible experience with Lasting Adventures! It was our first visit to Yosemite and kicking off the trip with a guided hike was perfect. It was just our group of 4 (me, my husband, and 2 friends) which was great because we got to ask lots of questions and take the day at our preferred pace. Our guide, Michael, was absolutely wonderful – very welcoming and easy to get along with! He is so knowledgable about the park, its history, and the nature and wildlife. He came well-prepared with sunscreen, bug spray, and extra water and snacks for all. And he took a bunch of quality photos of our group! The hike included a great mix of epic sights from higher elevations, and provided us with a nice overview of Yosemite, as well as ideas for other hikes to do on our own during the rest of our trip. I highly recommend Lasting Adventures for your trip to Yosemite. We were blown away!
We were a group of 7 family members (ages 22-65 years old), for all of us was our first hiking/backpacking/camping experience. We all have such an amazing yet challenging experience, it was really worthy! Thank you so much to our guides Nicole and Jack for your cheers, your spirit, your cooking, your yoga time, your knowledge and for doing this family trip so great! We really enjoy it!!
I chose the Hidden Yosemite trip and joined two other Washingtonians that I hike with regularly. What an incredible trip. First and foremost, our guides Will and Bella were awesome. They kept us well fed, educated on the history of Yosemite. Who knew that the white powder on an aspen tree could be used as sunscreen? They made the whole journey memorable. I can’t imagine a better way to experience this amazing place. A sincere thank you to Lasting Adventures and to Will and Bella!
Spent five nights last week on a Lasting Adventures trip in Yosemite. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better way to see the park. Our guide was amazing and was a wealth of knowledge on the geology, trees, and history of the park. Finished the trip with a summit of Half Dome on our last day. The only way to really get a scale of Yosemite is to spend a few days backpacking through the park. Amazing food, good company, and some of the best scenery on earth. I highly recommend going with the experts at Lasting Adventures as this is truly their backyard.
Whether you need a reservation to enter Yosemite National Park depends on the date and time of your visit. Here’s a breakdown:
No reservations required:
Reservations required:
Note that even if you don’t need a reservation to enter the park, you’ll still need to pay the entrance fee. Also, if you plan on camping or staying overnight inside the park, you’ll need a separate reservation for your campsite. You can make these reservations through https://www.recreation.gov/.
Yes, there are many guided hikes available in Yosemite National Park. These hikes can be a great way to explore the park with a knowledgeable guide who can teach you about the history, geology, and ecology of the area. They can also be a good option if you’re not familiar with the trails or are looking for a challenge.
Determining the absolute “most popular” trail in Yosemite National Park is tricky. However, Vernal and Nevada Falls via the Mist Trail consistently ranks very highly among visitors and receives excellent reviews on various hiking platforms due to its stunning scenery and accessibility.
Determining the absolute “most popular” trail in Yosemite National Park is tricky. However, Vernal and Nevada Falls via the Mist Trail consistently ranks very highly among visitors and receives excellent reviews on various hiking platforms due to its stunning scenery and accessibility.
The number of days you need to hike Yosemite depends on what you want out of the experience. Here’s a breakdown:
Yosemite National Park boasts a diverse range of trails catering to all experience levels.
Beginner-friendly 2-mile hikes like the Mirror Lake Loop and the Sentinel Dome Trail provide easy access to spectacular views. They are short, relatively easy, and doable with children or seniors.
Trails like the Mist Trail and the Yosemite Falls Trail will be more challenging, with tougher terrain and more significant elevation gain. Decent fitness levels are required.
For advanced hikers looking to challenge themselves, strenuous treks like the Half Dome Hike & Cloud’s Rest Hike have high elevation gain, rough terrain, and steep inclines. We recommend having excellent fitness levels and prior hiking experience before attempting them.
