Savour stunning mountain settings and local craft beer on this 5-day hiking tour
The love of hiking and love of craft-beer make the perfect pair on this 5-day tour. Spend five glorious days exploring the Ansel Adams Wilderness with nights spent stargazing, accompanied by a specially brewed craft beer by Southgate Brewery.
The Ansel Adams Wilderness boasts dream-like natural landscapes with high rocky peaks above fragrant meadows of wildflowers and pines. You’ll wonder if you just stepped into a desktop background in real life. The itinerary has you at the same lakeside camp for three nights, so you can get acquainted with the surrounding area on various day hikes led by your guide. When you return each evening, get cozy under the stars as your guide whips up some delicious dinner and pairs it with an unnamed craft beer specifically made for your trip. Your group can brainstorm each night and decide on a name!
You’ll be well-taken care of on this trip with the aid of your guide and pack support to carry heavy camp gear. Enjoy these hiking days unencumbered and the nights with a tasty brew. What a dream combination! Cheers!
Please check out this blog to find out more about the COVID-19 precautions during the tour.
Highlights of the Ales and Trails Hiking Tour
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Ales and Trails Hiking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Bass Lake
Welcome to California! Check-in to the hotel in Bass Lake after 4pm and settle in. At 6pm, head to the Southgate Brewery in Oakhurst to meet your guide and group for appetizers, a pint of the local brew, and a trip info session. Grab dinner on your own or with your group, then return to the hotel for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bass Lake
Distance: None
Meals: Appetizers + Beer
Day 2 Hike into Ansel Adams Wilderness
Rise early and meet after breakfast at 7:30am. In your own transportation, drive to the pack station to drop off gear for the pack mules, then continue to the trailhead. All you need to bring for the hike is your daypack, water, and camera. Follow your guide into the Ansel Adams Wilderness, a stunning region replete with lush grass and wildflower fields, immense rocky peaks, and pines covering the landscape. You’ll reach a sparkling alpine lake to set up camp for the night. Relax while your guide prepares dinner and pours you a pint of the specially crafted beer for this trip. Cheers!
Overnight Location: Camping
Distance: 6 mi, 1,709 ft of ascent, 321 ft of descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner + Beer
Day 3 Explore Upper Lakes Basin
Once you’ve finished breakfast, it’s time to venture off for a day hike. Your guide will lead you on- and off-trail towards the upper lakes basin for breathtaking vistas of peaks and lakes, galore. The trail’s distance and difficulty will depend on the group’s preferences, but no matter which route is chosen, finish back at the lakeside camp for another jovial evening of gathering for food and beer. If the skies are clear, partake in some stargazing.
Overnight Location: Camping
Distance: 1–6 mi (distance and elevation varies depending on group)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner + Beer
Day 4 Optional Summit of 10,000 ft Peak
After breakfast, your guide will discuss the day’s trail options. If the group is keen, you can summit one of the nearby 3,048 m / 10,000 ft peaks on the border of Yosemite National Park. Expect a challenging climb leading to impressive panoramic views of massifs and valleys as far as you can see. Shorter day hikes are also an option, or you can hang out at camp, swim, fish, and take hundreds of photos. End the day with an exceptional dinner and a refreshing beer. It’s your last night here, so make the most of it.
Overnight Location: Camping
Distance: 1–6 mi (distance and elevation varies depending on group)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner + Beer
Day 5 Return to Bass Lake + Farewell
Get up early and catch the sunrise for your last morning in the wild. After breakfast, descend through the deep backcountry leading to the trailhead. The tour ends here, so bid farewell to your group and guide. Maybe you all want to meet at the brewery for one last pint together?
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 6 mi, 321 ft of ascent, 1,709 ft of descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Ales and Trails Hiking Tour Price and Dates
This guided tour in the Sierra Nevada is always run as a fixed-departure tour, therefore the price is fixed and only depends on the number of people sharing the room or a tent.
The prices below are per person:
Accommodation on the Ales and Trails Hiking Tour
The hotel on this trip is 3-star. You will also camp in the wilderness for 3 nights in a high-quality tent with gear like sleeping bags and pads provided. Rooms are double occupancy, and single travelers will pay a supplement.
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 of $240 USD to have a private room in a hotel (first night of the tour). We can match the single travellers up, however, in case there aren’t any matches, you’ll have to pay a supplement of $120 USD.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Pines Resort in Bass Lake
This charming hotel offers the right amenities to propel the comfort of your stay: a pool, mountain view, restaurant, bar, and a picnic area!
Camping in Sierra Nevada
Spend the night in a high-quality tent with comfy sleeping pads. Fall asleep under the stars and wake up amid pristine nature.
What’s included in the Ales and Trails Hiking Tour?
Meals
4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodation for 4 nights is included in the tour.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation for your camping gear is included during this tour with pack mule support. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the trailhead.
Also Included
- 4 Southgate Brewery craft beers
- Custom S/S pint glass
- English-speaking guide services
- 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
- Pack mules to carry camping gear, limit to 15 lbs per person
Not included
- 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 Ales and Trails Hiking 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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