Discover the peak highlights of the Yosemite Valley on this 4-day hiking tour
Explore the highlights of the magnificent Yosemite Valley on this 4-day hiking tour. Your expert wilderness guide will lead you on- and off-trail to the valley’s most incredible vantage points. For landscape photographers, this is your weekend tour!
Start the tour at the Upper Pines Campground, where you’ll meet your guide and group and settle in for your first night. You will spend the next three days hiking along some of the most stunning trails the Yosemite Valley has to offer. Walk along Mist Trail to find the waterfalls and observe the views of surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. While you’re not hiking through the gorgeous landscapes, you’ll be served up some delicious backcountry meals prepared by your guide. On the last day, the group will reach the base of both Yosemite Falls and El Capitan, two massive feats of nature that will take your breath away when you stand before them.
Treat yourself to a long-weekend hiking getaway deep in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Get your blood pumping while appreciating this stunning protected land, learning about geology, and sleeping comfortably in the Great Outdoors.
Please check out this blog to find out more about the COVID-19 precautions during the tour.
Highlights of the Hiking in Yosemite Valley Tour
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4-Day Hiking in Yosemite Valley Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Yosemite Valley
Welcome to Yosemite National Park! Find your way to the Upper Pines Campground by 5pm to meet your guide and your group. Your guide will discuss the days ahead; then you’ll enjoy a hearty meal around the campfire, or unforgettable stargazing if the campfires are restricted. If the group wants, you can take a short walk to the nearby Merced River before snuggling up in the tent for the night.
Overnight Location: Camping
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Hike Trails in Yosemite Valley
Enjoy a filling breakfast prepared at camp by your guide, then head out for a fantastic morning hike. Spend the first part of the day exploring the well-known Mist Trail that leads to Vernal, Nevada, and Illilouette Falls. Have lunch next to the Merced River, then return to camp. In the afternoon, follow your guide to the eastern part of the valley, admiring the land formations and learning about the local flora and fauna. Hike to a vantage point to witness a phenomenal sunset over Half Dome. Return to the Upper Pines Campground for a well-deserved dinner and rest.
Overnight Location: Camping
Distance: 6-9 mi, 1700 ft of ascent, 1700 ft of descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Hike to Glacier Point via the Four Mile Trail
Prepare for some epic panoramic views today. After an early breakfast, set out to reach Glacier Point lookout. From this point, dramatic landscapes of the famous Yosemite peaks line the horizon: El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and the Clark Range. You’ll have plenty of time to snap hundreds of photos. The view never ceases to amaze. Continue to the South Rim of the valley to Taft Point, which offers superb views of El Capitan. The fun doesn’t stop here—keep hiking to summit Sentinel Dome where you’ll see breathtaking 360-degree views of the High Sierra and Yosemite Falls. Return to camp for your last night under the stars.
Overnight Location: Camping
Distance: 5-7 mi, about 1300 ft of ascent, 1300 ft of descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Yosemite Falls, Base of El Capitan and Departure
After enjoying breakfast and some hot coffee or tea, your guide will lead you to the western end of the valley. Here, you will get up-close to the tallest waterfall in North America, Yosemite Falls, towering off the cliff at 739 m / 2,425 ft. Any climbing enthusiasts will be interested in the next stop at the base of the enormous El Capitan (the rock face featured in the movie Free Solo). Your guide will discuss the geology of the area while you try to spot climbers and learn that it takes 3.5 days on average to climb the face of El Capitan. You can rest your hands on this majestic granite beast before returning to the trailhead by the afternoon. Bid farewell to your group and guide and continue onto the next leg of your journey.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 3 mi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hiking in Yosemite Valley Tour Price and Dates
This guided hiking tour in the Yosemite Valley is run as a fixed-departure tour where you’d be joining a group, however, custom private tours can be organized for those willing to travel with their group only (please contact us with your preferred date and the number of people in your group and we will create the itinerary just for you). Please note, that for private custom tours, the accommodation is only available in lodging, therefore the price is increased. Due to limited accommodation options in the Valley, we suggest you plan your trip a long time in advance.
Prices below are per person. Please note, that in case the campgrounds are not available, this tour can be run in lodges. This would increase the tour price by $400 USD per person.
Accommodation on the 4-Day Hiking in Yosemite Valley Tour
You will camp in the wilderness for 3 nights in a high-quality tent with gear like sleeping bags and pads provided. For lodge-based tour package, rooms are double occupancy, and single travelers will pay a supplement.
There is a lodge-based version of this tour. Spend 3 nights at Curry Village, where the guide would meet you on the morning of Day 2.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a lodge while traveling with your group.
Campground Accommodation
Camping in the Yosemite Valley
Spend the night in a high-quality tent with comfy sleeping pads. Fall asleep under the stars and wake up amid pristine nature.
Lodge Accommodation
Curry Village Lodge
Stay in comfortable lodge at Curry Village, while enjoying the surrounding valley views, as well as the comfort of cozy rooms.
What’s included in the 4-Day Hiking in Yosemite Valley Tour?
Meals
3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners are included for campground-based package, while the lodge-based tour package does not include breakfasts and dinners.
Accommodations
Accommodation for 3 nights is included in the tour.
Transportation during the Tour
You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the campground.
Also Included
- English-speaking guide services
- Mules to carry your gear
- Group gear: stove, cookware, water filters, first aid kit
- Personal gear available: backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trekking poles
- Tent
- Backcountry camping permits
- Trail snacks
Not included
- Transportation to and from campground
- Personal expenses + gratuities (recommended 10-20% for excellent service)
- Trip insurance
- Flights
- Voluntary or involuntary evacuations
- Anything not mentioned as “Included”
Optional Extras
- Extra nights in Bass Lake
Frequently Asked Questions about Hiking in Yosemite Valley Tour
SYMG was started in 1991 by three friends offering hiking trips into California's mountains in hopes of more closely meshing lifestyle with work. The combination proved successful and SYMG has become a leader in the active travel and mountain guiding world, providing carefully planned and executed trips in the most spectacular wilderness areas of California and beyond. Now, 30 years later, we've shown thousands of people the beauty of Yosemite and the High Sierra and have been named one of the "Best Outfitters on Earth" by National Geographic Adventure Magazine.
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