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Yosemite Hiking Tours

From Half Dome's cables to giant sequoia groves, Yosemite offers a hiking trip for every pace and every level of commitment.
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Yosemite, decoded: what to know before you pick a trail

Half Dome: the hike everyone’s talking about

Half Dome isn’t just Yosemite’s most photographed hunk of granite—it’s the trip a lot of hikers plan their whole visit around. The classic route runs about 14–16 miles round trip from the Valley floor, gains roughly 4,800 feet, and ends with the infamous cable section: two steel lines bolted into bare rock for the final 400 feet to the summit. It’s not technical climbing, but it is exposed, and it’s not a hike to wing on your own.

    • A wilderness permit is required for the cables, issued through a preseason lottery plus a smaller daily lottery — competitive enough that most people either get lucky or go with someone who already holds permits.
    • Cables are typically up late May through early October; outside that window, the route is a different (and more serious) proposition entirely.
    • Going with a guide means you skip the permit gamble and the guesswork on pacing, water, and turnaround time.
Hiking Half Dome in Yosemite

One park, three ways to hike it

Yosemite doesn’t ask you to pick between “hardcore” and “comfortable”—it just asks you to pick which kind of trip actually fits your week. Backpacking trades a roof for the high country: multiple days deep in the backcountry, granite basins, alpine lakes, and the kind of solitude you only get once the day-hike crowds are miles behind you. Lodge and camp-based trips keep one comfortable base each night and send you out on big days — Half Dome, the falls, Clouds Rest — without the pack weight. Day trips strip it down further: no overnight commitment at all, just a guided day out, which also opens the door to nearby parks like Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Joshua Tree. Same granite, same guides, three very different paces.

Deer in front of a granite mountain in Yosemite.

Why a local guide changes the Yosemite equation

Yosemite’s bureaucracy is half the battle—wilderness permits, Half Dome lottery slots, bear-canister requirements, trailhead quotas. A guide who already holds permits and knows the granite (literally—route-finding on slab isn’t always obvious) turns a logistics project into a trip you just show up for. It’s the difference between spending your evenings refreshing a permit website and spending them watching the sun drop behind Half Dome from camp.

Redwood forest in Yosemite National Park

Reading Yosemite’s seasons

Yosemite changes character completely depending on when you show up, and that should drive your trip choice as much as your fitness level does.

    • Spring (April–June): waterfalls at their fullest—Yosemite Falls, the tallest in North America, is genuinely loud — but high-country trails can still be under snow.
    • Summer (July–September): the cables are up, the backcountry is fully open, and this is peak season for a reason — book backpacking permits early.
    • Fall (September–October): thinner crowds, crisp air, still-open high trails, and some of the best light of the year on the granite.
    • Winter: the Valley itself stays open and stunning, but backpacking and Half Dome are off the table until the cables go back up.

Beyond the Valley: sequoias, canyons, and desert boulders

Yosemite Valley gets the postcards, but it’s one stop in a much bigger California lineup. A couple hours south, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks hold some of the largest living trees on Earth—General Sherman among them—plus a canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon in places. Head the other direction and the landscape flips entirely: Joshua Tree, all sun-bleached granite boulders and namesake trees scattered across high desert. For hikers with more than a weekend, stacking a Yosemite trip with one of these is less an add-on and more a proper California hiking circuit—alpine one day, desert the next.

Vernal Fall hiker watching
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What do people think of Yosemite Hiking Tours?
Monica Jaime
about All-Women Yosemite Half Dome & Clouds Rest Backpacking Adventure

The most incredible experience. I learned so much, Jen, our guide, was the absolute best and such a gem! She made learning fun, she was encouraging throughout, and was so accommodating!

Jamie Castorena
about Yosemite Hiking Adventure: Women-Only Retreat

Truly the best experience for anyone looking to tackle their first backpacking adventure and gain the confidence to do it again!

Anthony Fantene
about Yosemite Falls Guided Hike: 3-Day Backpacking Trip

Backpacking with James was an excellent experience! I’ve done some backpacking myself, and already knew the basics, but James brought it to another level. Never before had I even considered eating pizza 3 days into a backpacking trip, but James made it happen! He planned every part of our trip but made sure I was informed every step of the way. It made it possible to fit this trip into an already busy schedule and to not worry about a thing. But my favorite part of all is that he let me bring my dog! Overall I’d highly recommend James to anyone who wants to do a backpacking trip, but might need a little extra help to make it happen. You’ll be in good hands!

Rick LaCaille
about Half Dome & Clouds Rest Tour: Backpacking in Yosemite

James is a great, personable guide who’s enthusiastic and patient. Really appreciated his balance of adventure with safety and willingness to share his knowledge. Would definitely climb with him again and again!

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Meet the guides in the area

5
Jesse
With a dad in the Marines, Jesse was born ready to move around the world and discover all its secrets. Having worked as a walking history tour guide all around NYC, he soon started sharing his outdoor passion by guiding hikes in Upstate New York. He also worked as a sea kayaking guide in Prince William Sound, a fly-in backpacking guide in the Alaskan backcountry, and he led therapeutic wilderness programs in the desert of Utah. One of Jesse’s favorite memories was backpacking the full Pacific Crest Trail. Jesse is a friendly, knowledgeable guide who will make you feel right at home in the wild. Talk to him about Russian novels, his love of scary movies, or ask him to entertain you with his storytelling skills!
Jo guide
5
Jo
Jo has spent years guiding trips through Yosemite, building itineraries around thoughtful planning, expert routes, and small groups that never feel rushed. Many departures are created specifically for women looking to explore the park in a supportive, welcoming setting, alongside private and personalized trips for other travelers. Jo works alongside an experienced team of Yosemite guides who share the same commitment to safety, hospitality, and care, so every trip reflects the same standard whether personally guided by Jo or not.
5
Scott
Scott has been a backcountry guide and Director of one of the most prominent West Coast outfitters for over 30 years. In Yosemite, his program continues to guide the most people into the wilderness and to the top of Half Dome each year. Their small-group backpacking trips are all-inclusive, as they offer free use of quality gear from corporate partners such as Gregory, Big Agnes, and Leki. In addition to supporting you along the trail and in camp, their professional, fun, and caring guides handle all meals, cooking, and camp chores. Their fresh, tasty backcountry cuisine has earned many of their more than 1,600 5-star reviews. On top of this, Scott’s program is a 501(c) nonprofit organization that benefits youth through their summer backpacking camps. Choosing an adventure with Scott’s program helps sustain their mission of supporting youth, families, and disadvantaged communities through positive experiences in America’s National Parks and natural spaces.
5
James
Meet James, a professional mountain guide with over ten years of experience exploring and leading in some of the most iconic landscapes of the American West, from Arizona’s red rock canyons to the alpine peaks of California and Colorado! An AMGA Apprentice Rock & Alpine Guide, Wilderness First Responder, and Leave No Trace Master Educator, James blends technical precision with a deep respect for the natural world. Known for his backcountry gourmet touch and thoughtful, safety-first approach, he crafts adventures that challenge, inspire, and restore—helping others feel at home in the mountains and confident on their path to the summit.
57hours is committed to supporting local guides around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions About Yosemite Hiking Tours

  • Yes. Every trip on this page is led by a professional guide who knows Yosemite’s trails, permit system, and terrain inside and out. Whether you’re backpacking into the high country or out for a single day hike, you’re in the hands of someone who’s done the route more times than they can count.

  • It depends on the trip, but the basics are usually covered: your guide, permits, and either lodging or camping gear, plus some meals. Multi-day backpacking trips tend to include more of the heavy lifting, think permits, bear canisters, full camp setup, than a single day hike does. Check the individual trip page for the exact breakdown before booking.

  • Day trips and lodge-based hikes suit a fairly wide range of fitness levels, especially with shorter route options built in. Half Dome and multi-day backpacking are a different story: 4,000+ feet of elevation gain and full days on your feet with a loaded pack. A solid hiking base and some training beforehand make a real difference, and your guide can help you match your fitness to the right trip.

  • Yes, for two of the park’s biggest draws:

      • The Half Dome cables require a lottery-issued permit, awarded through a preseason draw plus a smaller daily lottery.
      • Overnight backcountry travel requires a wilderness permit, also limited and competitive in peak season.

    Going with a guide who already holds permits is the most reliable way around the lottery gamble.

  • Spring brings the waterfalls to full roar, though high trails can still hold snow. Summer is peak season: the Half Dome cables are up and the backcountry is fully open. Fall trades some crowds for crisp air and still-open high trails. Winter keeps the Valley open and stunning, but backpacking and Half Dome are off the table until the cables return.

  • Yes. Several day trip options extend beyond Yosemite into Sequoia and Kings Canyon’s giant sequoia groves or Joshua Tree’s desert boulder fields. With more than a few days to spend, it’s worth treating these as one California hiking circuit rather than a single park trip.

      • Backpacking: multiple days in the backcountry, carrying your own gear and camping out.
      • Lodge and camp-based: a comfortable base each night, with day hikes out to the big sights.
      • Day trips: no overnight at all, back at your hotel or car by evening.

    Same park, same guides, different levels of commitment.

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