California Yosemite National Park Hiking Tour

Your Guides

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The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Joel C.

There’s an old saying here in the desert,” I once heard Joel say. “What you see in the desert is a reflection of your own soul.” Never without his old battered hat, given to him by his grandfather, Joel has a passion for the wide-open spaces of the West. He has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, the Appalachian Trail, the Arizona Trail, and charted his own cross-country trek across the Mojave Desert, a total hike of approximately 10,000 miles. Joel is an experienced guide with four years leading horse rides in Southern Utah, and ten years leading adventure tours throughout the West. Despite it all, Joel doesn’t think of himself as a hiker per se. “Walking is just a nice pace to see the world,” he says. Off duty you’ll find him on the tennis court, playing ping pong, volunteering, and reading Western history alongside a cup of coffee.

Brad Indy H.

Growing up in the Adirondack region of upstate New York, Indy was embedded with the love of the outdoors and desire for exploration. Now married for over 30 years with two adult children out doing their own thing for nearly 5 years, he decided to change life plans and travel the country to look, learn, explore, and enjoy life on a new level. And level up he did! Indy has been able to hike all over the US including tackling the Appalachian Trail, take on class 5 whitewater rapids, and throws in marathons when he's able to. So far, he's completed marathons in 30 different states. Even with all these adventures, his desire to explore and journey to new places is continuously growing. Adding guests to his ventures only heightens the travel experience where he can share in his knowledge and love of the outdoors.

John H.

From a very young age, John has always been at home in the great outdoors. As a child, he spent summers with his family, road-tripping and camping throughout the western US. This time spent outdoors has instilled a profound passion for nature and all things outside. As a young adult, John spent his time further delving into the outdoors through backpacking, mountain biking, road cycling, and surfing. His favorite outdoor memory is hiking the John Muir Trail with a complete stranger. Beyond spending his free time in nature, John has built his career in the outdoors. As a previous Outdoor Educator, Tour Guide, and Park Ranger for various agencies in Southern California, John brings a wide breadth of knowledge and experience to his tours.

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                    [Headline] => Hike Mariposa Grove & Transfer to Yosemite Valley
                    [ActivityOverview] => 1.5-2 hours/3 miles hiking with 50\' elevation gain and loss 
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Welcome to Fresno, California. An MT Sobek representative will pick you up this morning from your pre-trip hotel. After an orientation meeting at a local park, transfer to Mariposa Grove for a stunning hike among a grove of more than 500 giant sequoias trees. Marvel at the most famous trees, including the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant. After a picnic lunch, continue to Yosemite Valley with a stop at Tunnel View. Settle into your home for the next 2 nights and meet for dinner. 
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Embark on a rewarding, mostly flat hike on the valley floor today, through lesser-traveled meadows, forests, and paths along the Merced River, past icons such as El Capitan, Sentinel Rock, Three Brothers, and Bridalveil Falls. Break for a trailside lunch along the way. There will be an opportunity to swim in the Merced River during an afternoon break. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon.
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                    [Headline] => Walk Among Yosemite\'s Waterfalls & Giant Sequoias
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Check out early and climb 2,000 feet alongside Vernal Falls to admire the vista from the top of neighboring Nevada Falls. Return to Yosemite Valley in the early afternoon, then travel to your lodge, situated on the northern boundary of the park. En route, enjoy a late afternoon walk to gaze up at giant sequoias, among the oldest and largest living organisms on the planet! Check in to your room this evening and enjoy dinner at the lodge.
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                    [Headline] => Hike to Yosemite Valley\'s North Rim
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Spend the day in Yosemite\'s high country. Begin your hike at 8,800 feet and enjoy a gradual descent through ponderosa pines, meadows, and along granite bluffs to marvel at the park\'s only intact arch. After a trailside lunch, hike to the top of North Dome (7,543\') on the North Rim of Yosemite Valley and delight in the eye-popping views of its most famous landmark, Half Dome, along with the valley floor 3,500 feet below. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon. 
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Admire the beauty of Tuolumne Meadows (8,600\'), one of the highest meadows in the Sierra Nevada range, on a day hike among its famous granite domes. Depending on conditions, the group will either follow an out-and-back trail to Cathedral Lakes (8 miles) or Mono Pass (7.4 miles). Both routes offer breathtaking mountain and meadow views, and are among the best hikes in the park. Return to your hillside lodge this evening. 
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Following breakfast at the hotel, take a 2.5-hour transfer to the airport and depart. 
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Accommodations

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Comfortable three-star, lodge-style accommodation in a five-star alpine setting. Includes the historic Ahwahnee Hotel.

Rush Creek Lodge

Comfortable Hotel

Rush Creek Lodge is a superbly designed property located at the West Entrance of Yosemite National Park. The décor is inspired by the breathtaking expanse of nature surrounding its 20-acre wooded hillside setting. All rooms have been thoughtfully designed and tastefully appointed with modern amenities like comfy beds, feather pillows, gourmet coffee brewers, games, and books. Relax after the day's adventures in the outdoor pool and hot tubs or cozy up around the fire pit for stargazing and s'mores.

The Ahwahnee Hotel

Luxury Hotel

The historic Ahwahnee Hotel (formerly known as the Majestic Yosemite Hotel) is located in the heart of the stunning Yosemite Valley. Constructed from steel, stone, concrete, wood and glass, the hotel was specifically designed to highlight its natural surroundings - featuring Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and Glacier Point. The Ahwahnee is a premier example of National Park architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. The accommodations are comfortably appointed while still providing an authentic National Park Lodge experience.

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