Compare Best of Yosemite Tour by Wildland Trekking

Day 1

Shuttle: 45 minutes each way

Hiking Mileage: 5-6 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 2000 feet

Accommodations: Rush Creek Lodge

Your guide will pick you up at Rush Creek Lodge (pre-trip lodging is included) or at Half Dome Village in Yosemite National Park (if you opt out of the pre-trip lodging) and we'll make our way to the first day's hike at Happy Isles trailhead. Our day begins with a moderate hike to two of Yosemite’s crown jewels, Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, along the John Muir or the Mist Trails. While many of Yosemite's hikes are centered on a final destination, this route features stunning views the whole way, from Upper Yosemite Falls across the Valley, to the phenomenal granite heights of Liberty Cap, Grizzly Peak, the Panorama Cliffs, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point and even Half Dome soaring above our heads.

After we lunch at a picturesque point overlooking the falls, we’ll return to the Valley floor and explore more of the scenic wonders of this fantastic place. Then we return to our lodge where we'll get cleaned up and meet for a much-deserved dinner that evening.

Day 2

Shuttle: 1.5 hours each way

Hiking Mileage: 6 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1800 feet

Accommodations: Rush Creek Lodge

Today we will arise early and drive up into Yosemite's high country. We'll head east along the Tioga Pass Road, stopping at Olmsted Point for a mesmerizing view of Yosemite's alpine mountains and Half Dome in the distance. We'll reach our morning trailhead in Tuolumne Meadows: a series of vast, alpine meadows with mountain streams snaking their way through the tall grass and plentiful wildflowers. Here, we’ll get an overview of the meadows from our hike to the summit of Lembert Dome. This hike involves some scrambling before topping out at the 9450 ft. summit with its amazing views of the Cathedral Range and the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River.

Afterwards we’ll head up to Tioga Pass, the highest highway crossing in California and the Sierra. Our after lunch hike will take us up the steep trail to the Gaylor Lakes Basin just below the rugged Sierra Crest. We’ll visit high alpine lakes and perhaps, the abandoned 1870’s Great Sierra Mine before returning to our lodge and resting up for dinner.

Day 3

Shuttle: 1.5 hours each way

Hiking Mileage: 5 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1600 feet

Accommodations: Rush Creek Lodge

Today is the highlight of the trip for many of our guests. We'll have a big breakfast before heading to Glacier Point - one of the world’s great view points - with most of Yosemite’s iconic features on display below your feet, including amazing views of Half Dome, Mount Watkins and Vernal and Nevada Falls. From here, after soaking up the incredible views, we head up to the Pohono Trail which offers some of the best panoramic vistas of the Park. The views of El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, the Three Brothers and other iconic features of the west end Yosemite Valley change constantly as we amble along the trail 3000 ft. above the Valley floor. Taft Point is one of the most dramatic lookouts but we’ll have lunch at the high point of our hike, the 8122 ft. summit of Sentinel Dome. This is the site of one of Ansel Adams most recognized photographs and the views extend from the northern edge of the park to the highest peak in the park: Mount Lyell at over 13,000 ft.

Day 4

Shuttle: 1.75 hours each way

Hiking Mileage: 5-6 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1200 feet

Accommodations: Rush Creek Lodge

Today’s hike takes us into Yosemite's biggest trees and the largest and most impressive trees on earth - the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. We'll hike the lower and upper loops, which provide for a wonderful day of hiking. We'll visit the 2700 year old Grizzly Giant, the 25th largest tree on earth, as well as many other of these giants. The Park Service has recently completed a restoration of the Grove and removed much of the man-made infrastructure-returning much of the natural peace and quiet to this special place. From the high point of our hike at Wawona Point, we’ll have an unparalleled view of the historic Wawona Valley, one of the earliest settled areas in Yosemite.

Day 5

Shuttle: 1 hour each way

Hiking Mileage: 6 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 2000 feet

Shuttle: 2 hours

On our final day, we'll pack up and enjoy a hearty breakfast before leaving Rush Creek Lodge. We'll turn east and enjoy one last, special treat: a summit attempt on Mount Hoffmann, a peak at the geographical center of Yosemite National Park! Our hike takes us uphill to May Lake, a charming sub-alpine lake framed by sheer granite cliffs. We'll take a break at the lake before continuing up the flanks of Mount Hoffman. This summit involves only hiking, but is an exciting ascent up a picturesque mountain peak.

The highlight of today comes when we reach the summit, which some people say offers the best view of any in Yosemite! From its high perch we will be looking down on Half Dome and Clouds Rest - a rare vantage point - and over to the bright granite peaks of the Cathedral Range. We'll snap some pictures and soak up the views before heading back down to May Lake and back to the trailhead. After our hike and a final lunch we'll contemplate the unforgettable week we've just experienced, and most likely start hatching new plans for future trips to special places like Yosemite!