Yosemite’s High Sierra Highlights Loop

After making your way into Yosemite National Park, you’ll meet your guide at the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge. As our group assembles, you’ll have free time to settle into your rustic canvas tent with its cozy wood fireplace. The group will meet for dinner in the dining hall where we’ll give an overview of the week ahead and get to know each other.

Hiking distance:
0 mi

Elevation gain / loss:
0 ft gain / 0 ft loss

Meals included:
Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll kick off our adventure from the famous Tuolumne Meadows. Following the legendary John Muir Trail, the day holds sweeping meadow vistas and crisp mountain air. The trail gradually ascends, offering glimpses of distant peaks. We’ll stop for breaks and talk about the flora and fauna. Our destination, near Sunrise High Sierra Camp, nestled in the heart of the Yosemite backcountry, is where we’ll cook up a nourishing dinner and spend our first night under the stars.

Hiking distance:
7.5 mi

Elevation gain / loss:
1,854 ft gain / 1,065 ft loss

Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll have an early breakfast for our first big day. We’re climbing to 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 mi

Elevation gain / loss:
1,817 ft gain / 3,807 ft loss

Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we’re traversing through Little Yosemite Valley, a lush landscape nestled between granite walls. The Merced Pass Trail leads us up a gradual ascent towards our next campsite. A confluence of babbling creeks offers a tranquil setting for unwinding and learning about Yosemite’s indigenous people, the Ahwahneechee.

Hiking distance:
9.9 mi

Elevation gain / loss:
2,169 gain / 2,332 ft loss

Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gear up for our most challenging day as we climb Red Peak Pass, the highest trailed pass in Yosemite. The demanding ascent follows in the footsteps of Ansel Adams, the photographer and environmentalist who scouted this route in the 1920s. We’ll talk about his place in Yosemite’s history. The views atop the pass are breathtaking. The descent leads us to an alpine lake, providing a picturesque camping spot. After all those miles, dinner will taste extra delicious tonight.

Hiking distance:
13.2 mi

Elevation gain / loss:
4,611 ft gain / 1,938 ft loss

Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following the meandering Merced River, today's journey will be accompanied by the music of flowing water. We’ll talk about the creation of America’s National Park System and Yosemite’s starring role. Our camp near Washburn Lake provides a peaceful spot to reflect on the day's adventures and soak in the natural beauty that surrounds us.

Hiking distance:
10.1 mi

Elevation gain / loss:
867 ft gain / 3,123 ft loss

Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll start early on our ascent of Vogelsang Pass, a high-altitude adventure with breathtaking views. The climb rewards us with a campsite near Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, surrounded by majestic peaks. On our final night, we’ll consider the concept of wilderness within the context of a national park and reflect on the past week.

Hiking distance:
10.4 mi

Elevation gain / loss:
3,990 ft gain / 1,498 ft loss

Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our final day will feel relatively chill, with a long and steady downhill journey, tracing the path along Rafferty Creek back to Tuolumne Meadows and our starting point. Before we part, we’ll take time to remember the incredible landscapes, the challenges overcome, and the camaraderie and connections forged during this special trip to Yosemite.

Hiking distance:
9.5 mi

Elevation gain / loss:
406 ft gain / 1,966 ft loss

Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch

Rating: Advanced

We’ll be hiking with full gear for seven consecutive days and camping six nights. The first day is an arrival day, and the first night is spent in a canvas tent with shared facilities.

Rating: Advanced

10.1 miles daily average, relatively evenly distributed across all seven hiking days of the trip.

Rating: Advanced

13.2 max daily mileage with full gear, including 4,611 ft of elevation gain on day four, our hardest day.

Rating: Intermediate-Advanced

2,347 feet average daily elevation gain.

Rating: Advanced

4,611 feet of steady elevation gain spread across the first ten miles of the 13.2-mile fourth day.

Rating: Beginner-Intermediate

With the exception of some slightly off-trail campsites, this route is entirely on well-maintained trails. There will be minimal creek crossings.

Rating: Intermediate-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 that may challenge you if you have a fear of heights. The drops themselves are sloping and several feet away from the trail itself. Expect some mosquitoes near water sources. We’ll have extended sun exposure with periodic shade while hiking and at rests.