Itinerary
- Day 1
Yosemite National Park
Your guide picks you up at Rush Creek Lodge or Curry Village for the shuttle to Happy Isles trailhead. From there, you'll hike to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall using either the John Muir or Mist Trails, and you'll see Upper Yosemite Falls, Liberty Cap, and Half Dome along the way. After grabbing lunch at a scenic overlook, you'll spend more time exploring Valley wonders before heading back to the lodge for dinner.
- Start point
- Yosemite Valley, HWY 140, Yosemite, California 95389, United States (Half Dome Village in Yosemite Valley)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at picturesque point overlooking the falls), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall via John Muir or Mist Trails
- Scenic views of Upper Yosemite Falls, Liberty Cap, Grizzly Peak, Panorama Cliffs, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point, and Half Dome
- Lunch at scenic point overlooking the falls
- Exploration of Yosemite Valley scenic wonders
Landmarks/POIs Vernal Fall Nevada Fall Upper Yosemite Falls Half Dome Liberty Cap Grizzly Peak Sentinel Dome Glacier Point - Day 2
Yosemite High Country
Head out early and drive up into Yosemite's high country via Tioga Pass Road. You'll stop at Olmsted Point for alpine views, then hike Lembert Dome summit in Tuolumne Meadows to see the Cathedral Range. Later after lunch, you'll hike to Gaylor Lakes Basin below the Sierra Crest, visiting high alpine lakes and potentially the abandoned 1870s Great Sierra Mine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stop at Olmsted Point for alpine mountain views and Half Dome views
- Guided hike to Lembert Dome summit (9450 ft) with Cathedral Range and Tuolumne River views
- Exploration of Tuolumne Meadows
- Hike to Gaylor Lakes Basin below the Sierra Crest
- Visit to high alpine lakes
- Optional visit to abandoned 1870s Great Sierra Mine
Landmarks/POIs Olmsted Point Tuolumne Meadows Lembert Dome Tioga Pass Gaylor Lakes Basin Great Sierra Mine Cathedral Range - Day 3
Glacier Point to Sentinel Dome
Start with a big breakfast, then head to Glacier Point for views of Half Dome, Mount Watkins, Vernal and Nevada Falls. The Pohono Trail hike offers panoramic vistas of El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and the Three Brothers. Lunch happens at Sentinel Dome summit (8,122 ft), where you'll stand at the location of one of Ansel Adams' well-known photographs, with views extending from the northern edge to Mount Lyell.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Big breakfast), Lunch (Lunch at Sentinel Dome summit), Dinner
Included Activities
- Big breakfast before hike
- Visit to Glacier Point viewpoint
- Guided hike on Pohono Trail with panoramic vistas
- Views of Half Dome, Mount Watkins, Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Three Brothers
- Visit to Taft Point
- Lunch at Sentinel Dome summit (8122 ft)
Landmarks/POIs Glacier Point Pohono Trail Sentinel Dome Taft Point Half Dome Mount Watkins El Capitan Yosemite Falls Three Brothers Mount Lyell - Day 4
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Travel to Mariposa Grove to explore Yosemite's largest giant sequoia stand. You'll hike the lower and upper loops, visiting the 2,700-year-old Grizzly Giant and many other giant sequoias. The recently restored Grove offers natural peace and quiet as you walk through the forest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Mariposa Grove lower loop
- Guided hike through Mariposa Grove upper loop
- Visit to Grizzly Giant sequoia (2700 years old, 25th largest tree on Earth)
- Exploration of multiple giant sequoia trees
Landmarks/POIs Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Grizzly Giant - Day 5
Mount Hoffmann Summit and Departure
After a hearty breakfast, you'll head out for the final hike to Mount Hoffmann, the geographical center of Yosemite. You'll hike uphill to May Lake, a sub-alpine lake with sheer granite cliffs framing it, then continue up Mount Hoffmann's flanks. From the summit, you get rare views looking down on Half Dome and Clouds Rest, with Cathedral Range peaks beyond. After descending and having a final lunch, you'll depart.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast), Lunch (Final lunch)
Included Activities
- Hearty breakfast at Rush Creek Lodge
- Guided hike to May Lake
- Guided summit hike of Mount Hoffmann
- Summit views of Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and Cathedral Range
- Final lunch
Landmarks/POIs Mount Hoffmann May Lake Half Dome Clouds Rest Cathedral Range
