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Trip itinerary
We designed this trip as an intermediate-advanced expedition suitable for experienced and fit backpackers. By starting our hike in Tuolumne Meadows and thru-hiking to Yosemite Valley, we’re able to see the complete range of Yosemite’s backcountry ecosystems and have a generally downhill trend to our hike. With an included first-night stay in the cozy canvas tents of Curry Village, it’s a great bang for your buck.
Backpacking requires flexibility. So please note that the exact details of our itineraries are occasionally adjusted due to permit availability, trail conditions, or other factors outside our control. If something comes up you can rest assured that we’ll do everything in our power to stick to our plan or beat it with something better.
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After making your way into Yosemite National Park, you’ll meet your guide at Curry Village where you’ll receive your gear. As our group assembles, you’ll have free time to settle into your rustic canvas tent. The group will meet for dinner in Curry Village where we’ll give an overview of the days ahead and get to know each other over some tasty pizza.
Hiking distance:
0 miElevation gain / loss:
0 ft gain / 0 ft lossMeals included:
Dinner -
After everyone gets breakfast on their own, we’ll meet at 7:30 AM packed up and ready to hit the trail. We’ll leave our cars behind and ride a shuttle about an hour and a half to Tuolumne Meadows – one of the highest-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada, and the starting point for our hike. We’ll follow the legendary John Muir Trail to the picturesque Cathedral Lakes for a break. From there, the trail gradually ascends to our night’s camp near Sunrise High Sierra Camp.
Hiking distance:
7.5 miElevation gain / loss:
1,854 ft gain / 1,065 ft lossMeals included:
Lunch, Dinner -
We’ll have an early and hearty breakfast for our first big day. We’ll climb to the summit of Clouds Rest, a prominent peak offering unparalleled views of Yosemite Valley. The sense of accomplishment at the summit, where we’ll discuss the glacial forces that shaped this landscape, is unmatched. Descend on the other side to our next campsite, which we’ll make on the banks of a babbling creek beneath Moraine Dome.
Hiking distance:
9.7 miElevation gain / loss:
1,817 ft gain / 3,807 ft lossMeals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
Today is the highlight of the trip as we climb the iconic Half Dome. We’ll rise early to beat the heat and the crowds and carry only the essentials in order to lighten our load. Everyone will don gloves as we climb the famous cables leading to the summit of Half Dome. From the top, we’ll be rewarded with spectacular 360 degree views of Yosemite Valley and the entire park. After we recharge with lunch, we’ll descend back to our camp. We’ll rest well tonight after a hearty dinner.
Hiking distance:
5.6 miElevation gain / loss:
2,260 ft gain / 2,260 ft lossMeals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -
We’ll enjoy our last morning together in the wilderness with a final tasty breakfast. After packing up camp, we’ll start our mostly-downhill hike through the tranquil Little Yosemite Valley and join the famous Mist Trail. Nevada and Vernal Falls will cool us with their spray as we pass day-hikers huffing and puffing up the steep ascent. We should be back to our cars in Curry Village by midday.
Hiking distance:
5.8 miElevation gain / loss:
747 ft gain / 3,977 ft lossMeals included:
Breakfast, Lunch
Why Wilder Walks
The goal of each Wilder Walks adventure is to help you feel comfortable, confident, and present outdoors so you can deepen your connection with nature. Our trips are built around:
Ultralight and minimalist gear to help you focus on the world around you rather than the weight on your back
Small group sizes with lots of personal attention and opportunities to practice essential backpacking skills
Unique routes designed to showcase the unique ecological qualities of the places we explore
Expert guidance from a highly experienced and professionally trained trip leader
What’s included
Comprehensive backpacking instruction: two virtual pre-trip preparation sessions, on-trail lessons on essential backpacking skills, and interpretation of local natural history.
State-of-the-art ultralight backpacking gear including everything you need to hike, sleep, and eat all weighing less than 10 lbs (not including food and essential clothing).
Lightweight, nutritious, and delicious backcountry breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that we’ll whip up together. Hot coffee and tea to start each day.
All group gear including a fully stocked camp kitchen, water filters, and group first aid kit.
All necessary permits and campsite fees.
5% donation to Big City Mountaineers, helping fund backpacking trips for California youth
Fun times and good company!
What’s not included
Essential clothing, footwear, or any other personal items. Gear selection is a core part of our program, and we will provide guidance on the best gear to bring.
Personal trail snacks. Our pre-trip preparation sessions cover meal planning, and sorting out your own snacks is your chance to practice your new skills.
Transportation to and from the meeting place.
Yosemite National Park entrance fees which you will pay at the park entrance.
Trip insurance, which we highly encourage.
Trip difficulty
This trip is rated Intermediate-Advanced, after scoring a 4.1 out of 5 on our Trip Difficulty Matrix. To join this trip, you should have some experience backpacking, be in good hiking shape, and feel comfortable with extreme height exposure.
You should be fit enough for consecutive days of hard hiking including the very challenging ascent of Half Dome which has extreme height exposure. The route is at high altitudes, ranging between 4,000 to 9,930 ft of elevation. The route will be almost entirely on well-maintained trails but will also include a class 3 climb up Half Dome, requiring gloves, holding onto cables, and careful footwork. We will cross some streams and rivers which should be manageable without getting wet (though it’s always a possibility).
Expand each of the criteria to learn more about the different dimensions of difficulty for this trip.
Unsure about whether this trip is right for you? Contact us and we’ll figure it out together.
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Rating: Intermediate-Advanced
We’ll be hiking with full gear for four consecutive days and camping three nights. The first day is an arrival day, and the first night is spent in a canvas tent with shared facilities.
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Rating: Intermediate
7.2 miles daily average, with longer days at the beginning of the trip, and shorter days towards the end.
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Rating: Intermediate-Advanced
9.7 max daily mileage with full gear, which will be on day two as we climb over Clouds Rest.
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Rating: Intermediate
1,669 feet average daily elevation gain.
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Rating: Intermediate-Advanced
2,260 feet of elevation gain on our third day when we climb Half Dome.
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Rating: Advanced
With the exception of some slightly off-trail campsites and the climb up Half Dome, this route is entirely on well-maintained trails. The advanced rating is due to the Half Dome climb that requires donning gloves and carefully ascending the cables to the summit. There will be minimal creek crossings.
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Rating: Advanced
The majority of the hike has limited height exposure. However, there is significant height exposure atop Clouds Rest (day two) with steep drops on either side of the trail. There is also very significant height exposure as you climb the cables to the summit of Half Dome (day three). The climb up Half Dome is very challenging and not for the faint of heart. If you’re uncomfortable with heights or needing to hold on to cables while you climb, this trip is not for you. Expect some mosquitoes near water sources. We’ll have extended sun exposure with periodic shade while hiking and at rests.
Trip logistics
Meeting place
We’ll meet at Curry Village where we’ll be parking our cars and checking in to our first night in shared canvas tents. You’ll be able to enter the park earlier that day if you’d like to explore before meeting up. If you’re entering more than 24 hours before your trip start date, you’ll need to make a separate reservation or enter during off-peak hours.
Meeting time
Plan to meet at the meeting point by 5:00 PM on the first day of your trip. Though you’re welcome to arrive at the park earlier to see some of the other sights, the earliest you’ll be able to check in to your tent is 4:00 PM.
Ending time
Our goal is to return to our cars by 1:00 PM on the final day, so please plan your flights or post-trip travel plans accordingly.
What to expect after you book
You’ll get an automated confirmation that we’ve received your deposit and that your spot on the trip has been reserved.
Shortly after, we’ll send you an email outlining the payment plan, pre-trip preparation process, and some initial gear guidance and training tips.
We’ll schedule the two virtual pre-trip preparation sessions where we’ll cover the essentials of proper preparation including our route, what to expect, what to bring, and how to get ready.
“Alex’s thorough pre-trip preparation was top-notch. I felt confident in our gear, route, and options to adjust for weather as we went along”
“I consider myself a skilled backpacker but to put the planning process and decision-making in Alex’s hands was a true gift. Alex was super informative and engaging and had so much great information on geology specific to the area.”
