Discover the wild scenery spanning Yosemite National Park on foot
Lace up your hiking boots and traverse 83 kilometres of Yosemite National Park’s wildly scenic backyard on this 7-day guided Red Peak Pass Backpacking Tour. Spend 5 nights camping alongside lakes and rivers, such as the unbelievably stunning Ottoway Lakes and the truly magical, impressive Merced River.
This 83-kilometre backpacking route is challenging but so rewarding. It traverses through an array of meadows blanketed with wildflowers, by roaring waterfalls, and takes you to phenomenal views, including one of the main highlights of this trekking adventure, which unveils a painting of inspiring vistas: Red Peak Pass. Be sure to get your fitness up before going, so that you can better enjoy the entertaining scenery coating Yosemite National Park.
Please check out this blog to find out more about the COVID-19 precautions during the tour.
Highlights of the Red Peak Pass Backpacking Tour
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Red Peak Pass Backpacking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Begin in Yosemite National Park
Meet and greet your guide in Curry Village in Yosemite National Park at 6 pm at the Mountain Shop. You can check into Curry Village after 5 pm. During your meeting, you’ll briefly go over your upcoming adventure. Enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants spanning the area. You are in charge of paying for your dinner.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Curry Village
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Hike to Clark Fork
Enjoy breakfast before meeting up with your guide at the Mountain Shop. You’ll go over your gear and pack your backpack. Head to Yosemite Lodge, where you’ll hop in the shuttle that will take you to the trailhead. It’s about a one-hour drive from Yosemite Lodge to the starting point of your backpacking trip. You’ll hike along the Illilouette Creek drainage before stopping at the banks of Clark Fork and setting up camp here—just below the imposing shadow of Mt. Clark.
Overnight Location: Camping at Clark Fork
Distance: 6 mi, 1171 ft ascent, 1306 ft descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Go to Ottaway Lakes
Admire the Clark Range views as you gradually climb from Clark Fork to the ever-so scenic Ottaway Lakes. Upon arrival, enjoy cooling off in the shimmering waters! This is also the first “living glacier” in the High Sierra that John Muir discovered.
Overnight Location: Camping at Ottaway Lakes
Distance: 8.5 mi, 2900 ft ascent, 433 ft descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Ascend Red Peak Pass
Get ready for the most challenging part of your backpacking journey! Today you’ll climb up Red Peak Pass. This is the highest point you can reach via any trail in Yosemite. Admire the lakes tucked into the mountainous scenery! Meander through alpine meadows before joining up with the Merced River, situated under the Triple Divide Peak. Set up camp and enjoy a relaxing evening amid the lush meadow and fresh-smelling Lodgepole pines.
Overnight Location: Camping at Merced River
Distance: 8.5 mi, 2080 ft ascent, 2703 ft descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Hike along Merced River
Pack up camp and begin your descent along the scenic Merced River. Stop at some stunning spots along the way: waterfalls, wildflower meadows, and water holes just waiting for you to jump in and cool off. Arrive at your wild campsite along the Merced River in the afternoon.
Overnight Location: Camping at Merced River
Distance: 10 mi, 430 ft ascent, 2274 ft descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Head to Little Yosemite Valley
Enjoy a fulfilling breakfast before packing up and continuing along the trail downriver. You’ll notice the river’s roar increasing in intensity as you walk. Eventually, you’ll reach your campsite in Little Yosemite Valley. Spend the evening relaxing at the beach along the Merced River!
Overnight Location: Camping at Little Yosemite Valley
Distance: 8 mi, 682 ft ascent, 1818 ft descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Hike along the Mist Trail
Wake up early, pack up camp, and lace up your boots for your final day of hiking. Expect to walk by a reel of stunning views, such as the Vernal and Nevada Waterfalls set along Mist Trail. You will reach the trailhead by lunchtime! If you’re hiking in August, you may have the option to the Half Dome variation. This route has you summiting Half Dome, which stands tall at 8,845 feet. You’ll toss your bags to the side and hike without the extra weight, making the climb up more enjoyable. Admire views of Yosemite Valley sprawled below and of the Sierra high country. On your way back, grab your bags, enjoy a quick lunch, and continue walking to Yosemite Valley. You’ll also get to marvel at the waterfall views en route. Expect to arrive back in Curry Village between 3-5 pm.
Overnight Location: None
Regular Option Distance: 5.5 mi, 673 ft ascent, 2802 ft descent
Half Dome Option Distance: 12 mi, 3239 ft ascent, 5387 ft descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Red Peak Pass Backpacking Tour Price and Dates
This guided tour in the Sierra Nevada is always run as a fixed-departure tour where you would be joining a group, 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 Red Peak Pass Backpacking Tour
This backpacking adventure will have you staying in a cozy luxurious campground one night. The specialty lodging has modern necessities that will keep you comfy and relaxed. Keep in mind that rooms are double occupancy, but you can always upgrade to single occupancy for an additional fee. Single travellers are also required to pay a supplement. You will spend the remaining 5 nights backcountry camping.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may be swapped for other similar accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement of $165 USD to have a private room in a hotel. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible. However, if there are no options, solo travellers will pay a supplement of $80 USD.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Curry Village in Yosemite National Park ★
Curry Village offers a “glamping” experience. They have a combination of rooms: heated tents, unheated tents, cabins, and hotel rooms.
Camping in Yosemite National Park
Revel in the mountainscapes as you camp at lakefront and riverside spots below a blanket of stars.
What’s included in the Red Peak Pass Backpacking Tour?
Meals
6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners, and trail snacks along the route are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 1 night in Curry Village. 5 nights of wilderness camping are also included. Accommodations before and after the tour in Yosemite Valley are not included.
Transportation during the Tour
Receive a free private shuttle ride from Curry Village (Yosemite Valley) to the trailhead on Day 2.
Also Included
- Guide
- Personal backpacking gear (per request), such as sleeping bags, backpack, sleeping pads, tents, trekking poles
- Group gear, such as stoves, group first aid kit, cooking items, water filters, etc.
- Hot coffee and tea in the mornings
Not included
- Flights and transportation to get to and from Yosemite Valley
- Personal clothing and shoes
- Accommodations before and after the adventure tour in Yosemite Valley
- Personal expenses + gratuities (recommended 10-20% for excellent service)
- Evacuations
- Insurance
Optional Extras
- You can upgrade to a single occupancy in the hotel for an additional fee
- Extra night in Curry Village before or after the tour
Frequently Asked Questions about Red Peak Pass Backpacking 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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